The North Central River Forecast Center will begin using a new software program called "QUESO" to generate RVF forecasts on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024.
This new software has more functionality in terms of creating forecasts, and it has many more formatting options for the RVF products. It is nationally supported and is available in both our local AWIPS and backup operations systems at the National Water Center. This is a significant step forward for the river forecasting process.
Below are two RVF products, one generated with our legacy software and the other with QUESO. The SHEF messages use the same parameter codes, so there should not be a need to make any changes to any databases. However, the appearance and content of the actual text is changing, as you can see.
If you have any questions about this change, please contact us.
Current Format:
RIVER FORECAST
NWS NORTH CENTRAL RIVER FORECAST CENTER TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
515 PM CDT SAT OCT 26 2024
: THIS PRODUCT HAS PRELIMINARY DATA THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO REVISION.
: REFER TO YOUR LOCAL WFO FOR THE LATEST OFFICIAL RIVER FORECAST.
:
: NOTE... This product includes observed precipitation, plus
: forecast precipitation for the next 48 Hours.
:
:
: Wapsipinicon River De Witt - DEWI4
: HSA=DVN Flood Stage=11.0 FT Fcst Issuance Stage=10.0 FT
: ------------------------------------------------------------
: Forecast based on rainfall during the past 6 hours and significant
: QPF in the Wapsipinicon Basin.
: ------------------------------------------------------------
: CREST FORECAST
.A DEWI4 1027 Z DH12/DC10262215/HGIFFX 11.1
:
.ER DEWI4 1026 Z DH00/DC10262215/HGIP/DIH06 :6-Hr Obs Stage (ft)
.E1 5.1/ 5.0/ 5.0/ 5.0
.ER DEWI4 1027 Z DH00/DC10262215/HGIFF/DIH06 :6-Hr Fcst Stage (ft)
.E1 6.4/ 11.0/ 11.1/ 11.1/ 10.8/ 10.1/ 9.8/ 9.1
.E1 8.3/ 7.7/ 7.1/ 6.8/ 6.6/ 6.6/ 6.6/ 6.6
.E1 6.6/ 6.6/ 6.6/ 6.6/ 6.7/ 6.8/ 6.9/ 7.1
.E1 7.1/ 7.2/ 7.2/ 7.2/
:
:
:END
NOTE... This product includes observed precipitation, plus
forecast precipitation for the next 48 Hours.
$$
FCSTR EXT: 2540
New Format starting December 3rd:
RIVER FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NWS NORTH CENTRAL RIVER FORECAST CENTER; CHANHASSEN MN 515 PM CDT SAT OCT 26 2024 : THIS IS A NWS GUIDANCE PRODUCT FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL RIVER : FORECAST CENTER. PUBLIC FORECASTS AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY NWS : WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES. : : FORECAST GROUP IS TIA : : FORECASTS INCLUDE 48-HOURS OF FUTURE PRECIPITATION (QPF) IN : 6 HOUR INCREMENTS : :************************************************************ :WAPSIPINICON RIVER, DEWI4 :DE WITT 4S, IA - DVN : :ACTION STAGE 10.0 FT MINOR STAGE 11.0 FT :MODERATE STAGE 11.5 FT MAJOR STAGE 12.5 FT : :THE RIVER STAGE WAS 5.0 FT AT 2130 Z ON OCT 26 :RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AROUND 06 Z ON 10/27/2024 .AR :CREST: DEWI4 1027 Z DC202410262215/DH1200/HGIFFXZ 11.1 :Crest near 11.1 FT around 12 Z on Sun, Oct 27 :FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE AROUND 21 Z ON 10/27/2024 .ER DEWI4 1026 Z DC202410262215/DH00/HGIFFZZ/DIH6 :RIVER FORECAST / 12Z / 18Z / 00Z / 06Z .E1 : 1026 : / 6.4 / 11.0 .E2 : 1027 : / 11.1 / 11.1 / 10.8 / 10.1 .E3 : 1028 : / 9.8 / 9.1 / 8.3 / 7.7 .E4 : 1029 : / 7.1 / 6.8 / 6.6 / 6.6 .E5 : 1030 : / 6.6 / 6.6 / 6.6 / 6.6 .E6 : 1031 : / 6.6 / 6.6 / 6.7 / 6.8 .E7 : 1101 : / 6.9 / 7.1 / 7.1 / 7.2 .E8 : 1102 : / 7.2 / 7.2 : : ***THE TABLE BELOW IS THE QPF FOR THE LOCAL DRAINAGE : AREA AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE QPF FOR ANY UPSTREAM : WATERSHEDS*** : : QPF (IN) / 12Z / 18Z / 00Z / 06Z : 1026 / 1.21 / 1.13 : 1027 / 0.51 / 0.00 / 0.00 / 0.00 : 1028 / 0.00 / 0.00 : : 48-hr QPF Total Ending on Oct 28 is 2.85 inches : :FORECASTER COMMENTS... : :Forecast based on rainfall during the past 6 hours and :significant QPF in the Wapsipinicon Basin. : :******************************************************************* : $$ : FCSTR EXT: 2540 : :...END of MESSAGE...
