**[NOWGRIDS]{.underline}**

Bob Stauber

NWS/WFO PHI

**[Version 3.1 Documentation]{.underline}**

**[BUILD:]{.underline}** Developed on OB8.2

Date: March 14 2008

**[Purpose and Background]{.underline}**

The NowGrids program was originally based on Initialize written by Brian
Smith of LZK.

NowGrids was written to simplify the process of populating grids with
the latest analysis, (RTMA, erhLAPSsfc, OBS data) and then interpolate
grids forward into the future by an amount determined by the forecaster.
Additional SmartTools and Procedures are provided to derive other grids,
such as PoP, Weather, and WindGust.

A summary of the edited elements is provided below. The grids available
for the "Analysis" will vary based on the observation choice. The
analysis elements listed below are based on grids available with RTMA.

  -------------- ----------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Analysis**   **Derived**             **Interpolated**

  T                                      T

  Td                                     Td (then checked for Integrity)

  Wind                                   Wind

  Sky                                    Sky

  QPF                                    

                 MaxT                    

                 MinT                    

                 WindGust                WindGust (from interpolated Wind)

                 RH                      RH (from interpolated T, Td)

                 ApparentT               ApparentT (from interpolated (T,
                                         Td, Wind)

                 PoP12hr                 

                 QPF6hr                  

                 SnowAmt6hr              

                                         
  -------------- ----------------------- -----------------------------------

**[Program Useage]{.underline}**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="5.997916666666667in"
height="6.639583333333333in"}

NowGrids is run from under the "Edit" menu (or as setup within the
NowGridsConfig file). NowGrids now automatically loads Weather Elements
that are needed by included programs.

*Initialize Grids Using:* The forecaster can choose which analysis to
use. RTMA is selected by default.

*Choose Element to Initialize:* The forecaster can manually choose the
elements they wish to initialize. All elements are selected by default.

*Make These Dependent Grids:* Dependent grids are based on the base
grids that are selected. If the \"As Needed\" option is selected, this
will override any other selections and the dependent elements that are
populated are based on the base grids that are chosen to be initialized
(for example RH will be calculated if T and Td are selected). Otherwise,
only the dependent elements selected will be made.

*Use MPE for QPF:* Ask the forecaster whether to use the MPE data from
radar as the analyzed QPF. The "PcpnZero" option assigns zero pcpn to
the grids since the RTMA has erroneous precip sometimes. The default is
"No".

*Slider Bars:* The 2 slider bars are set by the forecaster. The first
slider bar sets the amount of hours of analysis data is put into the
grids before the current hour. The second scroll bar allows
interpolation into the future from the observed grids that were
previously input.

*Use Satellite for Initialization:* The forecaster can choose whether to
override the Sky analysis with data from Satellites. The default is set
to "No". If the tool is run, the forecaster has the option of manually
forcing Clear (0 percent) and Cloudy (100 percent) conditions.

*Which Tool for Weather:* The forecaster can choose which tool to run to
make the Wx grids.

*Recheck Grids after manual edit:* This option is for when one has
manually edited grids and wants to make sure the dependent grids are
repopulated and checked for internal grid consistency.

Interpolation into the future is only done for T, Td, Wind, WindGust,
RH, and ApparentT.

The baseline interpolation function and associated options (linear,
cubic) are used. The interpolation is done using the latest analysis
grid, and the grid at the selected future time. For example, consider a
situation where the analyized temperature is 80 F, and you wanted to
interpolate four hours into the future to your forecast grid, which has
a value of 84 F. The resultant result of linear interpolation is shown
schematically below:

![](media/image2.png){width="3.5416666666666665in"
height="1.2083333333333333in"}

Since the latest grid will always be the current or previous hour,
interpolation into the future is not affected by how many hours before
current time grids are input. Weather, PoP, and QPF grids do not change
into the future and are left as the forecaster previously had them.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="5.995833333333334in" height="5.675in"}

The above picture shows the grids before running NowGrids.

Note that PoP, Wx and QPF grids are stretched for 12 hr periods.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="5.995833333333334in" height="5.675in"}

The above picture shows the grids after NowGrids has been run using the
default of bringing in 6 hrs of past data and interpolating 2 hrs into
the future. T, Td, Sky, Winds and QPF all initially will show a 'P' and
included hourly data Populated for the 6 hrs before current time. (P is
still in the example for QPF and Wind). T and Sky have been changed to
'm' (for modified) since they were Smoothed. Td was changed since it was
compared against T. Wx, PoP, T, Winds and Sky have been interpolated 2
hrs into the future. Td was also interpolated into the future, but shows
'm' because the grid has been compared to T to ensure Integrity. MaxT
and MinT were compared to the T grids and wherever the hourly grids did
not agree with the MaxT or MinT grids, the MaxT or MinT were updated to
reflect the observed T data.

**[Caveats]{.underline}**

If configuration for Populating grids is not setup correctly, then the
associated grids could be affected, namely from RTMA and erhLAPSsfc.

"NowGridsQPF_CheckvsPOP" performs the functions of the nationally
recommended "NDFD_QPF_Checks", but does so much quicker and makes
changes on the fly.

If the program included is switched out to NDFD_QPF_Checks, just change
the line SmartToolForQPFcheck = "NowGridsQPF_CheckvsPOP" to
SmartToolForQPFcheck = "NDFD_QPF_Check"

It is recommended that a separate Weather Element group be made to have
at least the following elements included, T, Td, MaxT, MinT, RH,
HeatIndex, Wind, WindGust, WindChill, Sky, Wx, PoP, PoP12hr, QPF,
QPF6hr, SnowAmt, SnowAmt6hr. Otherwise, GFE could crash as procedures
are run. However, the program does have a setup included with it to
automatically load the elements needed.

Elements should not be edited until the Procedure completes, or GFE
could crash.

**[Installation]{.underline}**

**[For those who have previously loaded NowGrids, it is strongly
recommended you delete the previous version, and do a fresh install of
version 3.0.]{.underline}**

Databases for the desired analyses must first be setup. Instructions for
installation of RTMA is located at:

<http://140.90.90.253/~applications/STR/siteappinfoout.php3?appnum=1161&LAD>=

Instructions for installation of erhLAPSsfc is located at:

<http://140.90.90.253/~applications/STR/siteappinfoout.php3?appnum=1006&LAD>=

PHI files for including RTMA within the localConfig (RTMAlocalConfig)
and for erhLAPSsfc (erhLAPSsfclocalConfig) are provided. Also included
are the SmartInit Python files that each uses called RTMA.py and
erhLAPSsfc.py.

STEP 1: Bring NowGrids.tar.gz into AWIPS and run tar xzvf
NowGrids.tar.gz

The following files will be extracted into the /Nowgrids subdirectory:

1.  RTMAlocalConfig

2.  erhLAPSsfclocalConfig

3.  RTMA.py

4.  erhLAPSsfc.py

5.  NowGrids.Procedure

6.  NowGridsSatellite.Procedure

7.  NowGridsCollaborate_PoP_SnowAmt_QPF.Procedure

8.  NowGridsMPE_QPF.Procedure

9.  GFE_Module_installer.sh

10. ApparentTemperature.Tool

11. NowGrids_Assign100.Tool

12. NowGridsSkyFmIR11.Tool

13. NowGridsSkyFmVis.Tool

14. NowGridsSmoothMore.Tool

15. NowGridsCheck_Td.Tool

16. NowGridsMaxT_adjbyT.Tool

17. NowGridsMinT_adjbyT.Tool

18. NowGridsCheckPoPvsQPF.Tool

19. NowGridsQPF_CheckvsPOP.Tool

20. NowGridsTd_check.Tool

21. NowGridsWindGustChanger.Tool

22. WeatherTools.tar.gz which includes

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
1.  BufWxTool.Tool

2.  Wx_match_PoP.Tool

3.  Weather.Tool

4.  GFE_Module_installer.sh

The NowGrids Procedures and SmartTools have been named beginning with
NowGrids to prevent overwriting any previously installed SmartTools or
Procedures that may have the same name and that may have been locally
modified. Also, the WeatherTools.tar.gz includes several of Weather
SmartTools that an office may want to use, but the NowGrids.Procedure
can be modified to use office preferred Weather SmartTools.

With the exception of NowGrids.Procedure, all installed programs that
are prefaced with "NowGrids" have been set to "Hide".

STEP 2: Go to subdirectory NowGrids.

STEP 3: Run the command ./GFE_module_installer.sh This will install all
files into GFE as user site with the exception of
NowGridsConfig.Template.

STEP 4: Within the newly created NowGrids directory,

copy (cp) NowGridsConfig.Template to NowGridsConfig.Utility

STEP 5: Go to "Define SmartTools" under the GFE menu. Once open, Click
on the Windows menu and the "Show All Windows:. Now, under Utilities
there will be a file called NowGridsConfig. Manually edit NowGridsConfig
to your preferred settings as mentioned in the instructions below. (If
NowGridsConfig is not there, just create it and copy the contents from
the previously created NowGrids directory into NowGridsConfig)

STEP 6: Set up and install the MPE_QPF program from the STR. It is
located at:
<http://140.90.90.253/~applications/STR/siteappinfoout.php3?appnum=1175&LAD>=
once this is installed, the automatically loaded program called
NowGridsMPE_QPF.Procedure will run properly without any forecaster
intervention and all grids will be hourly.

[]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

**[Configuration]{.underline}**

NowGrids was written to allow each office to determine which SmartTools
or Procedures that office wishes to use for derived grids. For this
reason, there are many options for installation, but changes should be
simple. Also, since Integrity is important, several SmartTools have been
included to check the Integrity of each element.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="5.99375in" height="4.823611111111111in"}

The picture above is code from NowGridsConfig for reference. These are
the lines that are referenced below and may need to be modified locally.
If you change tools, you may wish to change the appropriate Procedure or
SmartTool within the NowGridsConfig.

Defaults should run automatically using the procedures included.

1\. Within GFE as user SITE, go into edit of the File called
NowGridsConfig. You should have previously copied this into Utilities
under the SmartTools Window.

2\. If you are at an office that does not Make ApparentT, change

"DoYouMakeApparentT" to "No" from "Yes"

3\. If you are at an office that does not Make PoP12hr or QPF6hr grids,
change

"DoYouMakePoP12hrQPF6hr" to "No" from "Yes"

4\. If you wish to use Satellite data as a default for Cloud Cover,
change UseSatellite to "Yes". The Satellite Procedure from the STR has
been renamed to NowGridsSatellite, if you have your own Procedure for
reading Satellite already installed, change this procedure name to you
preferred program.

5\. Edit PopulateDatabases with the databases you wish to be available
for Populating grids.

6\. Next, decide how you want the question "DoYouWantPoPWxQPFGridsdone".
NowGrids has been setup to allow the office to designate whether to
create PoP, Wx, and QPF grids. If you desire the forecaster to determine
on the fly whether these grids are made, then use "VariableList", If you
never want them done, change this to "No". To always do these grids,
select "Yes".

The rest of the lines concern what SmartTools are used to create derived
grids, and are described below. Each office can change these as they
feel fit.

1.  NowGridsMaxT_adjbyT and NowGridsMinT_adjbyT have been included as
    SmartTools. These 2 programs look at the hourly grids that have been
    created and then recalculate the MaxT grid by checking the hourly
    temps vs the MaxT base grid. If the hour temperature is higher than
    the MaxT in any grid box, MaxT will be adjusted accordingly.
    NowGridsMinT_adjbyT works similarly for MinT.

2.  NowGridsWindGustChanger allows a simple calculation of WindGusts
    based on either multiplying the winds by a percentage or adding an
    amount to the wind.
    <http://140.90.90.253/~applications/STR/generalappinfoout.php3?appnum=1059>

> Farther down on the configuration list is a question asking
> FullVersionWindGustChanger = "Yes", this allows the full popup window
> and forecaster selection to recalculate WindGusts. If this is set to
> "No", then the program will run automatically and only check the
> WindGusts.

3.  NowGridsQPF_CheckvsPOP will ensures compatibility between QPF and
    PoP based on NWS Integrity rules.

4.  NowGridsCheckPoPvsQPF assumes a QPF analysis grid has been
    populated. If QPF has been observed then a PoP of 100 will be
    entered into each box that QPF was observed, otherwise 0 will be
    entered.

5.  Collaborate_PoP_SnowAmt_QPF is an ER program to make 6hr QPF and
    SnowAmt grids and also a 12hr PoP grid.

6.  SmartToolsforWxInput is a list of the Weather SmartTools that an
    office wishes to use to derive Wx grids from PoP grids.

7.  SmartToolWxDefault is just the default SmartTool from the list of
    the SmartTools forWxInput.

8.  NowGridsCheckTd is a program Brian Smith /LZK wrote to ensure
    integrity of dewpoint vs temperature.

9.  MPE_QPF is the name of the program downloaded from the STR, it has
    been renamed to NowGridsMPE_QPF since code has been adjusted a bit
    to allow an automatic run without a Popup forecaster interface. If
    you change MPE_QPFfull = "Yes" to "No" then the program will run
    automatically without forecaster interface.

10. Within NowGrids (procedure) examine the VariableList. Setup which
    options you want available for Populating of the base T/Td/Wind/QPF.