WIFS-API - MDL
Background
WIFS is the World Area Forecast System (WAFS) Internet File Service. The service is provided by the United States to support international flight operations, and is hosted by the Aviation Weather Center (AWC). The United States and the United Kingdom share in the local distribution of WAFS products and operational meteorological information through WIFS (US) and SADIS (UK). WIFS provides gridded data for multiple parameters of aviation interest (i.e. turbulence and icing probabilities), significant weather (SIGWX) BUFR and PNG charts, and Operational Meteorology (OPMET) messages.
Upgrading Legacy WIFS
The WAFCs (London and Washington) are currently developing the next generation replacement services, transitioning from offering data files toward the use of OGC Application Programming Interface (API)-EDR services that will allow tailoring of requests and subscription to a constant flow of data. The WIAD data services team recently implemented a next generation version of WIFS utilizing the EDR-API (now known as the WIFS-API). A key benefit of the new WIFS API is that users can query specifically what they need instead of downloading bulk data files. The WIFS API service provides a query builder, giving users an interactive way to query the data. There are 3 types of data offerings: Gridded, Opmet and SigWx. Future iterations of the WIFS API will include Publication/Subscription support, adding probabilistic data, and allowing for the ability to do corridor extractions of data.
Additional Information on WIFS:
For further information, please contact steve.r.olson@noaa.gov.