WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

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Nicholas Langlieb, modified 8 Years ago.

WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/20/15 Recent Posts

TFX is running Forecast Builder V4.

We have had issues with too many Wx keys causing the Point & Click to fail after uploading the grids twice in the last two months.

I believe we are seeing this issue more often due to the many gradients of PoP, non-precip Wx, and PoT around the terrain, image is attached.

In both cases our meteorologists were able to fix the grids but not using Forecast Builder. I see the March release will highlight these Wx grids if they exceed Wx type thresholds, right now we are becoming aware of these because the Wx color scale gets maxed out.

What is the suggested method for reducing the Wx types if we run into this situation again? Do you think we need to develop a QC process for Wx to simplify the Wx as needed to reduce the amount of keys?

Thanks,

-Nick

Andy Just, modified 8 Years ago.

RE: WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

Youngling Posts: 89 Join Date: 6/2/15 Recent Posts

Nick,

I have to say this is the first instance I've heard of with a point-and-click failure for too many Wx keys, despite plentiful active weather in the central/northern U.S. the past few months. Can you make sure you have latest version of PoT_MergeWx, around version 4.1 or so. If not, re-run the ForecastBuilder install from tags/latest_stable which will ensure that PoT_MergeWx is up to date.

If you need to simplify wx types, I would recommend starting with the non-precipitation ones. For example pathcy fog in your case. Truthfully based on what I see on your Wx grid, with the holes of NoWx, I'm thinking you need a newer version of PoT_MergeWx.

I am going to document this, though, because the CRGMAT has been developing a strong case for a Wintry Mix wx type. This would greatly cut down on Wx types. The other alternative is to adjust a value in PoT_Config named configDict["MinPrecipMention"] By default it is set as 14, but if you increase it to say 30, that will help to remove lower "probability" p-type situations when those are not the dominant weather type.

Andy Just, modified 8 Years ago.

RE: WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

Youngling Posts: 89 Join Date: 6/2/15 Recent Posts

Nick,

An update. I did just download your service backup configuration and saw you are at version 4.1. Must have been the PoP grid then with the holes in it. Can you confirm?

Still, it would be good to re-run the ForecastBuilder install as there is a slightly newer version of the PoT_MergeWx procedure which corrects for dominance.

Nicholas Langlieb, modified 8 Years ago.

RE: WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/20/15 Recent Posts

Hi Andy,

I have attached the corresponding PoP grid from BOIShort.

I do think that the size of our CWA combined with diverse terrain play a large role in this issue. In this case there is a PoP gradient intersecting our northern plains and also wrapped around the terrain over the remainder of the CWA. There are also gradients in precip type that follow a cold front in the north and also wrap the terrain elsewhere. In addition there is a mention of drizzle/flurries in portions of the plains. I think if you were to combine the PoP gradients linearly they would stretch from western Montana into North Dakota.

Would there be value in an additional step that allows the number of Wx keys to be reduced automatically, possibly by dynamically adjusting the MinPrecipMentioned?

I will download the latest version and take your advice on increasing the value for the MinPrecipMention. I can see the value in the mixed precip weather type.

Thanks,

-Nick

Andy Just, modified 8 Years ago.

RE: WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

Youngling Posts: 89 Join Date: 6/2/15 Recent Posts

Nick,

Possibly we could do a reduction automatically. I should find out from NIDS what the maximum number of Wx keys is allowed. AWIPS allows 256 Wx keys.

You mentioned about the large size of your CWA. Does your PoT_Config for merge_edit_area equal your ISC_Send_Area? Too large of area can cause problems with the Wx grid due to number of keys.

Nicholas Langlieb, modified 8 Years ago.

RE: WR: Point & Click Fails, too many Wx keys

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/20/15 Recent Posts

Hi Andy,

We have our merge_edit_area set to "ISC_Send_Area".

I tried to change the MinPrecipMention to 30 but this didn't work like I had expected, it eliminated all mentions of precip to 30%+. This is not ideal for us, we need to be able to have slight chance PoPs.

I was thinking that it would keep the dominant precip type(s) and then eliminate any other precip types with PoP*PoT/100 < 30.

For example, if a grid had a 60% PoP, 100% PoTSnow and 40% PoTRain then the final outcome would be a grid with with Lkly S because 60*40/100 = 24% rain.

-Nick