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11.2 Real-time Data Access - Watches and Warnings

In this exercise, you will list and display severe thunderstorm, tornado and winter storm watches and warnings, as well as blizzard warnings and snow advisories.

  1. Display a map of the United States with all of todays watches, warnings and advisories plotted.

    Type: WWDISP USA TIME=0 23:59

    The output should look something like this:

    Sample output from WWDISP

  2. Find a state that has a box plotted and list the reports for that state (in this case, Colorado).

    Type: WWLIST CO TIME=0 23:59

    Replace CO with whatever state you would like listed. The list should look something like the following:

         WWLIST CO TIME=0 23:59                            
         Winter Storm Warning valid until 04 November 2003  0130UTC
         for the following zones
         CO:66                       CO:68
         Winter Storm Warning valid until 04 November 2003  0430UTC
         for the following zones
         CO:66                       CO:68
    
  3. Output the actual reports for the state.

    Type: WWLIST CO TIME=0 23:59 OUT=RAW

    This will output the actual textual report that was issued by the National Weather Service. The output may look like the following:

         WWLIST CO TIME=0 23:59 OUT=RAW     
         WWUS45 KPUB 032225                                              2003307 2225
         WSWPUB
         URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
         NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
         325 PM MST MON NOV 3 2003
         ...HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE EASTERN
         SAN JUAN AND LA GARITA MOUNTAINS...
         .MOIST SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING ADDITIONAL SNOW TO THE
         HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE LA GARITA AND EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
         GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO CAUSE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
         COZ066-068-040130-
         EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
         LAGARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
         INCLUDING...NORTH PASS AND WOLF CREEK PASS
         325 PM MST MON NOV 3 2003
         ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 AM MST TUESDAY REMAINS IN
         EFFECT...
         THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE LA GARITA AND EASTERN SAN JUAN
         MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING WOLF CREEK AND CUMBRES PASSES...WILL CONTINUE
         TO SEE SNOWFALL THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 5
         INCHES OF SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED.  SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 25
         MPH...WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...WILL CAUSE AREAS OF
         BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES.
         A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
         LIKELY OR ALREADY OCCURRING. IF PLANNING TRAVEL THROUGH THE WARNING
         AREA...LISTEN FOR THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND CONSIDER AN ANOTHER
         TIMETABLE OR ROUTE.
         $$
         ...
    


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