NWS Jackson, MS Product Guide--Forecast Products

The National Weather Service in Jackson issues a number of forecast products. These include forecasts for the public, aviation interests and fire weather interests. The pages below offer a brief explanation of each product, and links to a current example of each product.

Zone Forecast (ZFP)	Latest Zone Forecast
A zone is an area where essentially the same weather is expected, so that a single forecast can serve as the local forecast for all communities within the area. Some NWS offices use several adjoining counties as one zone. NWS Jackson issues forecasts for each county as its own zone. Zone forecasts cover a seven-day period, and have enough detail to give customers a clear statement of expected weather. Significant weather events, such as warnings, watches, and advisories are headlined in each zone forecast. The zone forecast is issued around 4am/pm local time, and updated as needed.
Area Forecast Matrices (AFM)	Latest Area Forecast Matrices
How to decode the AFM \| The Area Forecast Matrices are a tabular representation of our zone forecast. They provide information in three-hourly increments in groupings that match the zone forecast. Forecasts cover a seven-day period. The AFM is issued around 4am/pm local time, and updated as needed.
Point Forecast Matrices (PFM)	Latest Point Forecast Matrices
How to decode the PFM \| The Point Forecast Matrices are a tabular representation of our coded cities forecast. They provide information in three-hourly increments for the Jackson, Greenville, Greenwood, Meridian, Vicksburg, Natchez and Hattiesburg areas. Forecasts cover a seven-day period. The PFM is issued around 4am/pm local time, and updated as needed.
Tabular State Forecast (SFT)	Latest Tabular State Forecast
The Tabular State Forecast covers the service area of each individual office (despite being called a "state forecast". It contains the forecasts for the same locations as the PFM, but also includes the Columbus area as well. It contains expected daytime weather conditions, highs and lows, and precipitation probabilities for the next seven days. It is issued twice daily, around 4am/pm local time, and updated as needed.
Area Forecast Discussion (AFD)	Latest Area Forecast Discussion
The Area Forecast Discussion is a narrative taking users inside the mind of a NWS forecaster, and their thoughts about forecast evolution during the next seven days. In some cases, a 'preliminary forecast' is provided of temperatures and precipitation chances at the bottom of the discussion. The AFD is issued just before each forecast package (generally around 4am and 4pm), and usually with each forecast update as well.
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)	Latest Terminal Forecast: Jackson / Meridian / Greenwood Greenville / Golden Triangle/ Hattiesburg / Hawkins / Natchez
The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast is a forecast for aviation interests. It provides forecasts of sky cover(amount and height of cloud ceilings), visibility, wind, and expected weather at local area airports in a universally-coded format, for the next 24 hours. NWS Jackson issues TAFs for the following airports: Jackson-Evers International Airport(JAN), Hawkins Field (HKS), Greenville Municipal (GLH), Greenwood (GWO), Golden Triangle (GTR), Meridian Key Field (MEI), Hattiesburg Bobby Chain Municipal Airport (HBG), and Natchez (HEZ). The TAF is issued every six hours, and updated as needed. The TAF is not a weather briefing. A brief discussion of the TAF will be included in the Area Forecast Discussion.
Recreational Forecast (REC)	Latest Recreational Forecast
The Recreational Forecast is a forecast of several parameters considered helpful to boaters. These include expected weather, wind, and water conditions. The forecast is issued twice daily -- by 7am, and again around 3pm.
State Forecast (SFP)	Latest State Forecast
The State Forecast is a forecast for the entire state of Mississippi. It combines the forecasts issued by all of the NWS offices that service the state. This forecast is divided into three sections(North, Central and South) and gives a seven day forecast for each area. This product is issued twice a day, at 4am and 4pm with updates as necessary.

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