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Significant and High Impact Severe Weather Event is Underway

A powerful spring storm continues across the country with multiple high impacts in the forecast. Life-threatening, catastrophic, and potentially historic flash flood event continues across the Lower Ohio Valley and Mid-South. A couple rounds of significant severe weather expected from the Mid-South through the Ozarks and ArkLaTex with very large hail and strong tornadoes possible. 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