AFD and ZFP question

[weatherlover427]

Is it normal for updates for the 2:30 PM package (it is 4:44 PM here) to come out this late?

[Stormsfury]

Joshua, it depends ... sometimes, particularly if there are significant weather events going on can cause a delay in the AFD/ZFP.

Also, not to mention, sometimes, power/station problems - transmission problems can also attribute to delays.

SF

[Aslkahuna]

but sometimes delays happen for one reason or another-such as Comm delays, computer problems or because the forecasters wish to study the situation further. In a perfect world, the AFDs and ZFP's would always come out on time, but in the real world they are sometimes late.

Steve

[weatherlover427]

At 5:10 PM I noted that the ZFP was finally issued, now we are waiting on the AFD. Thanks for your input Mike and Steve.

[ColdFront77]

If the Forecast Discussion comes out late for whatever reason should it indicate the time it was actually released... in this cast 4:44 PM PDT, rather than the 2:30 PM PDT it sounds like it indicated?

[weatherlover427]

They sure did indicate 2:30 PM Tom...

ZONE FORECAST FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
230 PM PDT TUE AUG 5 2003

CAZ042-061030-
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
230 PM PDT TUE AUG 5 2003

.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR EXCEPT FOR PATCHY CLOUDS AND FOG LATE. LOWS 58 TO 66.
.WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY EXCEPT FOR PATCHY CLOUDS AND FOG EARLY. HIGHS 76 TO 92.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. PATCHY CLOUDS AND FOG LATE. LOWS 58 TO 66.
.THURSDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY EXCEPT FOR PATCHY CLOUDS AND FOG EARLY. HIGHS 76 TO 92.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. PATCHY CLOUDS AND FOG LATE. LOWS 60 TO 68.
.FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY EXCEPT FOR PATCHY CLOUDS AND FOG EARLY. HIGHS 78 TO 94.
.SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY NIGHT AND MORNING FOG. LOWS 62 TO 70. HIGHS 80 TO 96.
.MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF CLOUDS AND FOG NIGHTS AND MORNINGS. LOWS 60 TO 68. HIGHS 74 TO 88.

[Scott_inVA]

Is it normal for updates for the 2:30 PM package (it is 4:44 PM here) to come out this late?

Typically the ZFPs come out by 0400 and 1600 hrs...AFDs usually a bit before that... but that's often left up to the period met or office practice. There are some offices that don't post AFDs until after ZFPs go out. Other period forecasts seem to float somewhat dependant on conditions. NWS is no longer required to update 4X/day.

There are, as noted, comm difficulties. Other times Offices will run coordination conf calls or jump in their chat room :o before updating ZFPs.

My understanding is protocol will be to have forecasts out by 0400 and 1600, effective this Fall.

HiH.

Scott