ATCF Guidance

[timtrice]

Numerous computer forecast models are available from the NHC's FTP server.

ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/atcf/aid_public/

FILE CONVENTION:  a<basin><storm-number><YYYY>.dat

<basin> = al "for Atlantic basin"
        = ep "for East Pacific basin"
        = cp "for Central Pacific basin"

<storm-number> = 01 - 30 "numbered storms with forecasts
                         issued and numbers are *not* recycled
                         until the next season."
                 90 - 99 "Invest, areas of interest watched
                         by forecasters for possible
                         development and these numbers are
                         re-used periodically throughout the
                         season"
                 80 - 89 "Internal training storm numbers
                         which are to always be ignored"
    
<YYYY> = 2003  "4-digit Year"

Example:  aal102002.dat   "Atlantic basin, Storm #10 of 2002"
          aep902002.dat   "E. pacific basin, Invest #90
          acp882002.dat   "Central Pacific basin, Test system #88
                          which is to be ignored."

These files are gzip compressed and contain, it appears, one data file with all forecast model output for every advisory. So, during active storms, this file will be appended.

Translation of these data files can be found on the Navy's Monterey Lab site.

Each of the mode's acronyms can be found on the NHC's FTP server (see "nhc_techlist.dat").