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Active Weather for the West, Warming in the East

The potential for heavy snow at higher elevations in the western U.S. will continue for many spots through the weekend. In the meantime, the eastern half of the continental U.S. will transition to above normal temperatures ahead of a pair of cold fronts next week that will bring readings back to closer to normal as we approach Thanksgiving Day. Read More >

International Services and Communication Systems

National Program

Services

Weather.gov > International Services and Communication Systems > Services

 

The US National Weather Service "International Services and Communication Systems" (ISCS) activity is a collective group of message dissemination systems used to provide weather, water and climate information to segments of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) International community as described in WMO document No. 386 - Manual on the Global Telecommunication System. The ISCS systems provide service to WMO Regional Association IV (RA-IV) and are managed by the US National Weather Service (NWS) Dissemination Systems Branch (W/OPS17); they include:

ISCS systems are an integral part of the RA-IV Regional Meteorological Telecommunications Network (RMTN), which focuses on the timely collection and delivery of both time-critical and routine watches, warnings, observations and forecasts.

Additional telecommunication systems are identified as part of the RA-IV RMTN which supplement the capabilities of the ISCS systems for the exchange of messages. These other systems include:

  • Secure Socket Layer Virtual Private Network (SSL VPN) / NWSTG FTP Ingest Server
  • Email Data Input Service (EDIS)
  • WAFS Internet File Service (WIFS) receive service [FAA/ICAO system]

 

 

ISCS GeoNetCast Americas

 

GNC-A will operate as an alternate method to GIFS for RA-IV RMTN user to obtain GTS data products. If implemented, end users interested in receiving the GNC-A broadcast will need to purchase the receiver equipment and software for their site. A list of possible vendors for satellite equipment and installation will be provided in the future. The outcome of the NWS GNC-A investigation and the future implementation of this service is uncertain.

More information on GeoNetCast Americas can be found at https://www.geonetcastamericas.noaa.gov/.

 

GeoNetCast - Americas Broadcast Product Baseline
Sub Channels Files
Alert Alerts_120405.txt
WMO-WMC Washington WMO-WMC-Washington_120405.txt

 

 

 

 

NWS GTS Internet File Service (GIFS)


The Global Telecommunications System (GTS) Internet File Service (GIFS) is provided by the United States National Weather Service (NWS) for World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Association IV (RA-IV) Member States, and other WMO Regions that are adjacent to RA-IV, as a highly reliable Internet source of meteorological products. The purpose of GIFS is to provide access to WMO RA-IV related weather information in BUFR, GRIB, alpha-numeric text, and T4-FAX data types to facilitate Members' access to information needed for operational and some research activities between the United States and nations in the Caribbean, North America, and Central America. This service is available to all authorized WMO RA-IV Member States as well as other WMO Regions adjacent to RA-IV. The GIFS is the primary service for GTS data within RA-IV.

  • GIFS is the primary method for RA-IV RMTN users to obtain GTS data products.
  • GIFS allows WMO RA-IV RMTN users to download (pull) GTS data products from GIFS over the Internet.
  • GIFS makes available the entire suite of meteorological data products that were broadcast by the legacy ISCS satellite system.

The NWS is planning a satellite based broadcast service for backup:

Click here for more information on RA4 GIFS