Welcome

Welcome to the RTMA/URMA VLab community!

The purpose of this community is to facilitate feedback and discussion on the RTMA/URMA system. 

Meeting notes are available under the Google Drive Folder linked above.

To learn more about our next upgrade, see the asset publication below.

Use the System Overview to learn more about the system in general.

Use the forum to ask questions about the system and join the discussion with other users and the development team. 

Note that there are two forums: one for precipitation issues and one for all other variables.

You can post to the precip issues forum by sending an email to qpe.rtma.urma.feedback.vlab@noaa.gov.  For all other issues, you can post by sending an email to rtma.feedback.vlab@noaa.gov.  Please note that you must have a user account to post to the forum.  If you do not have an account, please contact matthew.t.morris@noaa.gov.

We recently added the ability for NWS Regional or WFO personnel to request that stations be removed from the analysis.  To access this, click on the "Station Reject Lists and Requests" tab.

There has been recent interest in knowing exact station locations, especially those of METAR sites.  Our METAR information table is under the "METAR Location Info" tab.

Users may also be interested in the National Blend of Models VLab community.

We appreciate any feedback on how this page or community could be improved.  You can submit such feedback via the above email handle or forum.

 

What's New

December 2017 Implementation Summary

Document

Overview of upgrade scheduled for December 2017. Note that this was originally scheduled for October 2017, but has been pushed back due to technical issues.

Forums

Back

Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

KM
Kristian Mattarochia, modified 5 Years ago.

Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 4/7/16 Recent Posts

Utility Companies SoCal Edison and PG&E are installing hundreds of stations across California. These stations are proving that some of our RAWS and mesonet sites are inaccurate. How long will it take for these newly installed stations to become a part of RTMA/URMA? They are showing up in IRIS and Mesowest. The SoCal Edison stations are labeled as SC-EDISON and PG&E are PGE.

Here's an example, a station I just submitted for blacklisting is E2888, it has a large warm bias. A SC-EDISON station just to the north called RECTOR LANE (PG233) has proven that warm bias. Although, the RECTOR LANE station is being ingested on the Google Earth image that shows all the RTMA stations, some are not. We've met with PG&E and observed the SoCal Edison stations and they are of high quality, at least for my CWA. I think ingesting them into RTMA/URMA ASAP would really provide improvements to NBM in our most geographically challenging areas. Thanks. 

BM
Brian Miretzky, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

Youngling Posts: 47 Join Date: 1/8/13 Recent Posts
Kris,

Get them in contact with MADIS so that they are added to it. That is the way to go.

Thanks,

Brian

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 1:47 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Utility Companies SoCal Edison and PG&E are installing hundreds of stations across California. These stations are proving that some of our RAWS and mesonet sites are inaccurate. How long will it take for these newly installed stations to become a part of RTMA/URMA? They are showing up in IRIS and Mesowest. The SoCal Edison stations are labeled as SC-EDISON and PG&E are PGE.

Here's an example, a station I just submitted for blacklisting is E2888, it has a large warm bias. A SC-EDISON station just to the north called RECTOR LANE (PG233) has proven that warm bias. Although, the RECTOR LANE station is being ingested on the Google Earth image that shows all the RTMA stations, some are not. We've met with PG&E and observed the SoCal Edison stations and they are of high quality, at least for my CWA. I think ingesting them into RTMA/URMA ASAP would really provide improvements to NBM in our most geographically challenging areas. Thanks. 


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097705 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
SL
Steven Levine, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

Youngling Posts: 174 Join Date: 11/13/14 Recent Posts
Kristian,

If the utility company is providing data to MesoWest, and you can see the relevant obs on MesoWest, that means that we *should* be getting the data already through MADIS.  

I can confirm that the site you have listed (PG233) is getting to us and except for winds is getting into URMA.  However the station is reporting to us simply as MesoWest without any subprovider info, and that makes it harder to slice and dice.  We are getting many other stations with ID's starting with PG in the general area as well.  I can't confirm all of them at the moment but I'll take that as a good sign.

If you have a list/spreadsheet of relevant stations we can cross-check to confirm.

I see the flag requests you've put in over the past couple of weeks, and I should get to those by mid-week.

Steve

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 2:24 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kris,

Get them in contact with MADIS so that they are added to it. That is the way to go.

Thanks,

Brian

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 1:47 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Utility Companies SoCal Edison and PG&E are installing hundreds of stations across California. These stations are proving that some of our RAWS and mesonet sites are inaccurate. How long will it take for these newly installed stations to become a part of RTMA/URMA? They are showing up in IRIS and Mesowest. The SoCal Edison stations are labeled as SC-EDISON and PG&E are PGE.

Here's an example, a station I just submitted for blacklisting is E2888, it has a large warm bias. A SC-EDISON station just to the north called RECTOR LANE (PG233) has proven that warm bias. Although, the RECTOR LANE station is being ingested on the Google Earth image that shows all the RTMA stations, some are not. We've met with PG&E and observed the SoCal Edison stations and they are of high quality, at least for my CWA. I think ingesting them into RTMA/URMA ASAP would really provide improvements to NBM in our most geographically challenging areas. Thanks. 


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097705 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Brian Miretzky RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097863 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
KM
Kristian Mattarochia, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 4/7/16 Recent Posts
Hi Steve, 

I will have to check known PG&E and SoCal Edison stations to see how they show up on your google earth URMA page with regards to IDs. There are hundreds being installed between the two companies, we need to know which company owns which. However, I do have the boundaries of PG&E's service area, which does not include our entire CWA. Msot of these "new" stations will be PG&E except for many that have gone up in southern Kern. 

On Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 9:51 AM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kristian,

If the utility company is providing data to MesoWest, and you can see the relevant obs on MesoWest, that means that we *should* be getting the data already through MADIS.  

I can confirm that the site you have listed (PG233) is getting to us and except for winds is getting into URMA.  However the station is reporting to us simply as MesoWest without any subprovider info, and that makes it harder to slice and dice.  We are getting many other stations with ID's starting with PG in the general area as well.  I can't confirm all of them at the moment but I'll take that as a good sign.

If you have a list/spreadsheet of relevant stations we can cross-check to confirm.

I see the flag requests you've put in over the past couple of weeks, and I should get to those by mid-week.

Steve

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 2:24 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kris,

Get them in contact with MADIS so that they are added to it. That is the way to go.

Thanks,

Brian

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 1:47 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Utility Companies SoCal Edison and PG&E are installing hundreds of stations across California. These stations are proving that some of our RAWS and mesonet sites are inaccurate. How long will it take for these newly installed stations to become a part of RTMA/URMA? They are showing up in IRIS and Mesowest. The SoCal Edison stations are labeled as SC-EDISON and PG&E are PGE.

Here's an example, a station I just submitted for blacklisting is E2888, it has a large warm bias. A SC-EDISON station just to the north called RECTOR LANE (PG233) has proven that warm bias. Although, the RECTOR LANE station is being ingested on the Google Earth image that shows all the RTMA stations, some are not. We've met with PG&E and observed the SoCal Edison stations and they are of high quality, at least for my CWA. I think ingesting them into RTMA/URMA ASAP would really provide improvements to NBM in our most geographically challenging areas. Thanks. 


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097705 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Brian Miretzky RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097863 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Steven Levine RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7161199 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Kris Mattarochia
Science and Operations Officer 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - HNX
Hanford, CA
(559) 584-0583 x224

SL
Steven Levine, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

Youngling Posts: 174 Join Date: 11/13/14 Recent Posts
Kristian and all,

SoCal Edison, PG&E, and San Diego Gas & Electric stations are now definitely flowing through MesoWest and into RTMA/URMA.  In addition, in our new version, all of these stations will be marked at being 6 m (rather than 10 m) above the ground as part of our wind-adjustment routine.

Steve

On Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 3:19 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Hi Steve, 

I will have to check known PG&E and SoCal Edison stations to see how they show up on your google earth URMA page with regards to IDs. There are hundreds being installed between the two companies, we need to know which company owns which. However, I do have the boundaries of PG&E's service area, which does not include our entire CWA. Msot of these "new" stations will be PG&E except for many that have gone up in southern Kern. 

On Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 9:51 AM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kristian,

If the utility company is providing data to MesoWest, and you can see the relevant obs on MesoWest, that means that we *should* be getting the data already through MADIS.  

I can confirm that the site you have listed (PG233) is getting to us and except for winds is getting into URMA.  However the station is reporting to us simply as MesoWest without any subprovider info, and that makes it harder to slice and dice.  We are getting many other stations with ID's starting with PG in the general area as well.  I can't confirm all of them at the moment but I'll take that as a good sign.

If you have a list/spreadsheet of relevant stations we can cross-check to confirm.

I see the flag requests you've put in over the past couple of weeks, and I should get to those by mid-week.

Steve

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 2:24 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kris,

Get them in contact with MADIS so that they are added to it. That is the way to go.

Thanks,

Brian

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 1:47 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Utility Companies SoCal Edison and PG&E are installing hundreds of stations across California. These stations are proving that some of our RAWS and mesonet sites are inaccurate. How long will it take for these newly installed stations to become a part of RTMA/URMA? They are showing up in IRIS and Mesowest. The SoCal Edison stations are labeled as SC-EDISON and PG&E are PGE.

Here's an example, a station I just submitted for blacklisting is E2888, it has a large warm bias. A SC-EDISON station just to the north called RECTOR LANE (PG233) has proven that warm bias. Although, the RECTOR LANE station is being ingested on the Google Earth image that shows all the RTMA stations, some are not. We've met with PG&E and observed the SoCal Edison stations and they are of high quality, at least for my CWA. I think ingesting them into RTMA/URMA ASAP would really provide improvements to NBM in our most geographically challenging areas. Thanks. 


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097705 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Brian Miretzky RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097863 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Steven Levine RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7161199 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Kris Mattarochia
Science and Operations Officer 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - HNX
Hanford, CA
(559) 584-0583 x224


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7162493 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
KM
Kristian Mattarochia, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Hundreds of New PG&E and SoCal Edison Stations in California

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 4/7/16 Recent Posts
Thanks Steven!

On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 10:29 AM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kristian and all,

SoCal Edison, PG&E, and San Diego Gas & Electric stations are now definitely flowing through MesoWest and into RTMA/URMA.  In addition, in our new version, all of these stations will be marked at being 6 m (rather than 10 m) above the ground as part of our wind-adjustment routine.

Steve

On Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 3:19 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Hi Steve, 

I will have to check known PG&E and SoCal Edison stations to see how they show up on your google earth URMA page with regards to IDs. There are hundreds being installed between the two companies, we need to know which company owns which. However, I do have the boundaries of PG&E's service area, which does not include our entire CWA. Msot of these "new" stations will be PG&E except for many that have gone up in southern Kern. 

On Mon, Jul 22, 2019 at 9:51 AM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kristian,

If the utility company is providing data to MesoWest, and you can see the relevant obs on MesoWest, that means that we *should* be getting the data already through MADIS.  

I can confirm that the site you have listed (PG233) is getting to us and except for winds is getting into URMA.  However the station is reporting to us simply as MesoWest without any subprovider info, and that makes it harder to slice and dice.  We are getting many other stations with ID's starting with PG in the general area as well.  I can't confirm all of them at the moment but I'll take that as a good sign.

If you have a list/spreadsheet of relevant stations we can cross-check to confirm.

I see the flag requests you've put in over the past couple of weeks, and I should get to those by mid-week.

Steve

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 2:24 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Kris,

Get them in contact with MADIS so that they are added to it. That is the way to go.

Thanks,

Brian

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 1:47 PM VLab Notifications <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Utility Companies SoCal Edison and PG&E are installing hundreds of stations across California. These stations are proving that some of our RAWS and mesonet sites are inaccurate. How long will it take for these newly installed stations to become a part of RTMA/URMA? They are showing up in IRIS and Mesowest. The SoCal Edison stations are labeled as SC-EDISON and PG&E are PGE.

Here's an example, a station I just submitted for blacklisting is E2888, it has a large warm bias. A SC-EDISON station just to the north called RECTOR LANE (PG233) has proven that warm bias. Although, the RECTOR LANE station is being ingested on the Google Earth image that shows all the RTMA stations, some are not. We've met with PG&E and observed the SoCal Edison stations and they are of high quality, at least for my CWA. I think ingesting them into RTMA/URMA ASAP would really provide improvements to NBM in our most geographically challenging areas. Thanks. 


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097705 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Brian Miretzky RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7097863 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Steven Levine RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7161199 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Kris Mattarochia
Science and Operations Officer 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - HNX
Hanford, CA
(559) 584-0583 x224


--
Kristian Mattarochia RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7162493 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Steven Levine RTMA/URMA Discussion Group Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/715073/home/-/message_boards/view_message/7640398 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Kris Mattarochia
Science and Operations Officer 
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - HNX
Hanford, CA
(559) 584-0583 x224

Bookmarks

Bookmarks
  • 2011 RTMA Paper (Weather and Forecasting)

    The most recent peer-reviewed paper on the RTMA. Published in Weather and Forecasting in 2011.
    7 Visits
  • Public RTMA/URMA Viewer

    Another viewer of the current RTMA/URMA, with an archive going back 24 hours. This version is open to the public, but does not contain information about the (many) restricted obs used.
    54 Visits
  • RAP downscaling conference preprint (23rd IIPS)

    This link is to a presentation from the (then) RUC group on how the downscaling process works. Although we now use the RAP, HRRR, and NAM, the logic of the downscaling code is mostly unchanged from this point.
    2 Visits