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Rare Southern U.S. Winter Storm; Dangerous Cold Weather For Much of the Eastern U.S.; Critical Fire Weather for Southern California

A rare winter storm impacting the Southern U.S. will move offshore Wednesday morning. Behind the storm, arctic air will continue encompassing the eastern two-thirds of the Nation with only a slow return to normal temperatures expected by the end of the week. Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity will maintain Critical fire weather conditions in southern California into Thursday. Read More >

National Weather Service Dissemination

National Program

SAME Location Code with a Non-Zero First Digit

Weather.gov > National Weather Service Dissemination > SAME Location Code with a Non-Zero First Digit


Each six-digit Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) Location Code “PSSCCC” uniquely identifies a specific geographic area.  The "P" allows for subdividing or partitioning the area defined by the "CCC" into smaller parts in the case of a very large or uniquely shaped area, or because of widely varying climate, population, or geographic features.  The area defined by the “CCC” can be divided into 2 to 9 partitions.  Area partitions may be of unequal size and when combined will cover the entire "CCC" area without overlap. 

More Information

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Illustration of P = 1-9

Number and descriptive partition labeling

In actual use, partitions may be of unequal size and fewer than 9 partitions may used.

1

Northwest

2

North

3

Northeast

4

West

5

Central

6

East

7

Southwest

8

South

9

Southeast

Illustration of P = Zero

Defined as "All or unspecified portions"


 


1

Northwest


2

North


3

Northeast

4

West

0 
All or unspecified portions
5 Central

6

East


7

Southwest


8

South


9

Southeast

 
To program a receiver to alert for SAME alerts intended for a portion of a county or for the entire county, program the "P" digit in PSSCCC as shown specifically on the WFO pages listed at Offices using Partial County Alerting. To program a receiver to alert for all SAME alerts for a county, program the "P" digit in PSSCCC as zero "0".

 

Some examples of partitioned county patterns
 
(in 2 parts)  (in 3 parts)  (in 4 parts)
COUNTY SAME #   COUNTY SAME #  COUNTY SAME #
APPLE-NW 1SSCCC JUICE-N 2SSCCC PEAR-NW 1SSCCC
APPLE-SE 9SSCCC JUICE-Cen 5SSCCC  PEAR-NE 3SSCCC
RAISIN-N 2SSCCC JUICE-S 8SSCCC PEAR-SW 7SSCCC
RAISIN-S 8SSCCC GRAPE-W 4SSCCC PEAR-SE 9SSCCC
BANANA-W 4SSCCC GRAPE-Cen 5SSCCC BROCCOLI-NW 1SSCCC
BANANA-E 6SSCCC GRAPE-E 6SSCCC BROCCOLI-W 4SSCCC
CORN-NE 3SSCCC NUT-NE 3SSCCC BROCCOLI-SW 7SSCCC
CORN-SW 7SSCCC NUT-Cen 5SSCCC BROCCOLI-E 6SSCCC
RICE-NW  1SSCCC NUT-SW  7SSCCC CAULIFLOWER-N 2SSCCC
RICE-SE 9SSCCC PEA-NW 1SSCCC CAULIFLOWER-SW 7SSCCC
BEET-NE 3SSCCC PEA-Cen 5SSCCC CAULIFLOWER-S 8SSCCC
BEET-SW 7SSCCC PEA-SE 9SSCCC CAULIFLOWER-SE 9SSCCC
 
(in 5 parts)   (in 6 parts)  (in 7 parts)
COUNTY SAME #   COUNTY  SAME # COUNTY SAME #
CARROT-W 4SSCCC OKRA-NW 1SSCCC ARTICHOKE-NW 1SSCCC
CARROT-N 2SSCCC OKRA-N 2SSCCC ARTICHOKE-N 2SSCCC
CARROT-Cen 5SSCCC OKRA-NE 3SSCCC ARTICHOKE-NE 3SSCCC
CARROT-S 8SSCCC OKRA-SW 7SSCCC ARTICHOKE-W 4SSCCC
CARROT-E 6SSCCC OKRA-S 8SSCCC ARTICHOKE-Cen 5SSCCC
OKRA-SE 9SSCCC ARTICHOKE-E 6SSCCC
ARTICHOKE-S 8SSCCC