POINT FORECAST MATRICES Quick Decoding Key

For detailed explanations of each parameter, please visit the PFM page.

Wind Character Codes

LT Light <8 mph
GN Gentle 8-14 mph
BZ Breezy 15-22 mph
WY Windy 23-30 mph
VW Very Windy 31-39 mph
SD Strong/Damaging >= 40 mph

Sky Cover Codes

Code Stands for: Traditional Text Equivalent Percent of Sky Covered with Clouds
CL Clear Clear/Sunny 0-6%
FW Few Mostly Clear/Mostly Sunny 7%-31%
SC Scattered Partly Cloudy/Partly Sunny 32%-69%
BK Broken Mostly Cloudy 70%-94%
OV Overcast Cloudy 95%-100%

Precipitation Type

  Translation:
RAIN Rain
RAIN SHWRS Rain Showers
SPRINKLES Sprinkles
TSTMS Thunderstorms
DRIZZLE Drizzle
SNOW Snow
SNOWSHWRS Snow Showers
FLURRIES Snow Flurries
SLEET Sleet/Ice Pellets
FRZNG RAIN Freezing Rain
FRZNG DRZL Freezing Drizzle

Probability of Precipitation Codes

S Slight Chance <=20%
C Chance 30%-50%
L Likely 60%-70%
O Occasional/periods of 80%-100%
D Definite 80%-100%
   
IS Isolated <=20%
SC Scattered 30%-50%
NM Numerous 60%-70%
EX Extensive 80%-100%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visibility Obstruction Codes

F Fog
PF Patchy Fog
F+ Dense Fog
PF+ Patchy Dense Fog
H Haze
BS Blowing Snow
K Smoke
BD Blowing Dust
VA Volcanic Ash

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