Figure 7 shows the locator map interface which depicts the spatial area of influence for the temporal editor. The user has the capability of modifying large amounts of data with little effort when using the selected points influence. The capabilities and methodology of AFPS will radically change the manner in which the NWS will prepare forecasts in the future. Forecasters will no longer need to type forecasts in various formats for the multiple services, a tedious task takes time away from the meteorology. Only text products are available today and the limited set of products produced may not always be consistent with each other.
Forecasting using grids potentially eliminates many of the current drawbacks.
Various product formats may quickly and automatically be produced at little expense to the forecaster. Products will always be consistent since they are generated from the same data grids. The forecaster should be able to concentrate more on the forecast and less on composing texts. Operational Forecasting With AFPS . Preprints, Eleventh International Conference on Interactive Information and Processing Systems for Meteorology, Oceanography, and Hydrology , Atlanta, Amer.