AWIPS Build Changes - OCLO
Recent Training-Related AWIPS Build Changes
Build 23.4.3 has started deployment in May 2026 and is expected to conclude in late summer 2026. This build is mainly comprised of Hazard Services Version 4, which contains Hazard Services Convective, some Fire Weather functionality, and a few additional tools. A 23.4.3 build overview module and an in-depth, hands-on Hazard Services Convective training course have been released with additional information (see below).
- AWIPS 23.4.3 Overview in CLC (16 min; CLC, non-CLC web, PDF) Training
- Hazard Services Convective Jobsheets Homepage
- Jobsheet: Hazard Services Fire Weather (5 min)
- Jobsheet: Combining Hazards (5 min)
- Jobsheet: Remove Conflict Overlap Tool (5 min)
- Living Release Notes
- Hazard Services Convective (HSC)
- Training: Hazard Services Convective Course (~2 hours plus extra time for setup and optional worksheet at end; CLC, must use a cloud instance from CLAS for hands-on practice)
- Ability to issue all convective products previously issued in WarnGen using Hazard Services
- Storm Track Tool for tracking hazards and drawing convective polygons
- Many changes to the Console and HID to support the new convective functionality
- Copy to New Event functionality
- WarnGen still available for use but there are compatibility issues with HSC
- Your office HSC go-live will be scheduled after configuration and testing
- Jobsheets: Hazard Services Convective Jobsheets Homepage
- Hazard Services Fire Weather
- Can now issue Fire Weather Watches (FW.A) and Red Flag Warnings (FW.W) in Hazard Services
- Option for offices to use out-of-the-box legacy formatting or HazSimp formatting
- Fire weather functionality can be enabled after local configuration and testing
- Jobsheet: Hazard Services Fire Weather (5 min)
- Combining Hazards
- Combine Hazards Tool has been removed from Tools menu in build 23.4.3
- Now access in right-click menu when multiple hazards with same hazard type/start time/end time highlighted in Console
- Jobsheet: Combining Hazards (5 min)
- Remove Conflict Overlap Tool
- New Remove Conflict Overlap Tool can crop area from a proposed/pending hazard that conflicts with another hazard
- Jobsheet: Remove Conflict Overlap Tool (5 min)
- Ability to issue Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tags for Blizzard Warnings (BZ.W) and Ice Storm Warnings (IS.W)
- Extreme Wind Warnings (EW.W) not available in HSC until after 2026
- Under-the-hood code changes to support future functionality like Threats-In-Motion
-
- Because this is primarily an operating system release, there is no overview module. This page contains a summary of the changes.
- For more details on the installation see the 23.4.2 Install Overview
- Redhat8 replaces Redhat7 (slight desktop changes)
- OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) Virtualization replaces HCI as the underlying container
- provides virtual machine extension
- Four-Dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI) officially removed
- New dynamic radar cross sections are being implemented in the bottom of the radar menus to replace FSI. The new Cross Section menus are still in development, so forecasters are urged not to use the new radar cross sections until further testing/development occurs and training is released. Training will be released when the dynamic cross sections are considered operational.
- Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) officially removed
- Due to the small nature of this emergency release, there is no overview module. This page contains a summary of the changes.
- Cold Weather Turnkey
- One page review of changes made to Hazard Services for NPW and Winter and supporting documentation for the Oct 2024 turnkey
- Freeze Watch/Warning replaces Hard Freeze Watch/Warning
- Extreme Cold Watch/Warning replaces Wind Chill Watch/Warning
- Cold Weather Advisory replaces Wind Chill Advisory
- Temperature/Wind radio button in HID informs the "What Bullet" with "Very cold temperatures" or "Very cold wind chills"
- All new hazards are within the NPW hazard type
- RPG Build 23 Support
- VCP 34
- 0.5, 0.9, 1.3, 1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 4.5° scans in 10 minutes
- Expected to replace VCP 31
- VCP Comparison Table for RPG Build 23
- Raw ZDR Radar Data
- Best resolution comparable to Raw CC with 0.25 kilometer range gates and either 0.5° on SR cuts or 1.0° otherwise
- Not Centrally collected
- VCP 34
- Digital Precipitation Array (DPA) Radar Product Removed
- Hourly Digital Accumulation Array (DAA) products can be used instead
- Misc. bug fixes and optimizations to D2D and GFE
- AWIPS 23.2.1 Overview in CLC (10 min; CLC, non-CLC web, PDF) Training
- Jobsheet: Multi-Panel Layouts (5 min)
- Jobsheet: Rain Rate Classification (RRC) Product (5–10 min)
- Jobsheet: Canadian Radars (5–10 min)
- Jobsheet: D2D TAF Display (5 min)
- Living Release Notes
- Multi-Panel Layouts (Fig)
- 19 layouts available to optimize space on horizontal or vertical monitors
- Jobsheet: Multi-Panel Layouts (5 min)
- Rain Rate Classification (RRC) Product
- Shows which rain rate relationships are being used to calculate dual pol QPE
- Requires RPG Build 21 (RPG build lookup)
- Jobsheet: Rain Rate Classification (RRC) Product (5–10 min)
- Canadian Radars
- Canadian S-band radar data anticipated to flow on SBN before the end of 2024
- 24 sites near the U.S./Canadian border available
- Full dual pol suite available for Canadian dial radars (except no hydro classification algorithm)
- Jobsheet: Canadian Radars (5–10 min)
- Canadian Radars Reference Page
- Legacy LSR application has been removed
- Duplicate SBN data requests for non-dedicated radar connections are being filtered
- SPC Day 4–8 Probability of Severe has been added
- NSHARP Tool from Tools menu now supports multiple soundings
- AWIPS Interactive Reference "Reference on Product" searches are now working again (URLs fixed)
- New D2D TAF Display
- Multicolor and sampleable
- Jobsheet: D2D TAF Display (5 min)
- GFE-based experimental HeatRisk product anticipated in a dash release for all CONUS sites shortly after 23.2.1 deployment
- AWIPS 21.4.1 Overview in CLC (15min; CLC, non-CLC Web, PDF) Training
- Jobsheet: VCP/VMI Change Request (2min)
- Jobsheet: Multi-Panel Keyboard Shortcuts (5-10min)
- Jobsheet: NSHARP Loader GUI (10-15min)
- Jobsheet: Local Radar in Volume Browser (15-25min)
- Jobsheet: NSEA Digital Cursor Readout (30-40min)
- Jobsheet (ITOs): CAVE Performance Preference (10-15min)
- Living Release Notes
- Hazard Services NWP and Winter
- NPW 1st - focal points configure NPW, set up GFE case for forecasters to use to take jobsheets
- Jobsheets (Focal Points): NPW VLab Focal Point Jobsheet Page
- Jobsheets (Forecasters): NPW VLab Forecaster Jobsheet Page (coming soon)
- Winter 2nd - focal points configure winter, set up GFE case for forecasters to use to take jobsheets in preparation for 2024-2025 winter season
- Jobsheets (Focal Points): Winter VLab Focal Point Jobsheet Page
- Jobsheets (Forecasters): Winter VLab Forecaster Jobsheet Page
- NPW 1st - focal points configure NPW, set up GFE case for forecasters to use to take jobsheets
- Recent Performance Improvements (Fig)
- 20.2.3 HCI
- New LX workstations video card 5GB WFOs and 16GB NCs
- 21.4.1 CAVE 8GB WFOs and 31GB NCs
- NSHARP faster and model contour labeling faster
- Rotatable 27" monitor replacing 19" monitor (coming soon)
- CAVE->Preferences->Performance->Video Card Texture Cache Size (Fig)
- Divide video card memory by number of CAVEs loading GPU-intensive data and select closest option under that to prevent running out of video card memory
- GPU intensive data - MRMS, radar mosaics, radar in the Volume Browser, large multi-panels with large frame counts containing radar/satellte data
- Use nvidia-smi at a command terminal after setting up workstation and looping through data to see how much video card memory is being used
- e.g. WFO 5GB video card memory/ 2 CAVEs loading data GPU-intensive = 2.5GB, so choose 2GB
- Divide video card memory by number of CAVEs loading GPU-intensive data and select closest option under that to prevent running out of video card memory
- NSEA Digital Cursor Readout now baselined (Fig)
- NSHARP Tool Upper Air (Fig)
- NSHARP Tool Point Forecast Sounding (PFC; Fig)
- VCP/VMI Velocity Measurement Interval (Fig)
- Multi-Panel Layout Keyboard Shortcuts (Fig)
- Ctrl+Alt+[0-6] extends zooming in to panels 10-16 of a 16 panel with one product loaded per panel
- Other useful keys above keyboard arrows (not keypad)
- Delete - cycle forward
- Backspace - cycle backward
- End - return to multi-panel layouts
- MRMS on SBN (Fig)
- check for missing data and clean up old overrides (doc)
- WDTD V12.2 products course released in 2022
- MRMS Products Guide
- MRMS Product Distribution List - check for what is on SBN
- MRMS Operational Viewer - online archive back to 2020 with access to more data than SBN
- Local Radar in Volume Browser (Fig)
- Backup Services (Fig)
- AWIPS Build 20.2.3 Informational Overview in CLC (10min; CLC, non-CLC Web, PDF) Training
- Jobsheet: Custom Contouring
- 20.2.3 Hazard Services Hydro Changes (10min; CLC, non-CLC Web, PDF) Training
- Hydro Haz Simp (CLC, non-CLC Web, PDF) Training
- Jobsheet: Hydro Hazard Simplification Changes Walk Through
- Requires local Hazard Services configuration before taking
- Warning Content: Impact Based Warnings (25min; CLC, non-CLC Web) and SPS for Near Severe Storms (15min; CLC, non-CLC Web) Training
- Jobsheet: IBW Changes for SVR/TOR/SPS
- Requires local WarnGen configuration before taking
- 20.2.3 Hazard Services Overview for Focal Points (15min; CLC, non-CLC Web, PDF) Training
- Hazard Services Hydro Changes
- River Pro WWA hazard generation discontinued (non-WWA continues)
- Hydro HazSimp (only in Hazard Services and not WarnGen)
- Workstation will be setup for practice mode
- Turnkey shortly after 20.2.3 deployment (no more WarnGen for hydro)
- Multi-panel Layouts (Fig)
- Multi-color and Multi Line-style contouring (Fig)
- Faster looping options
- Display previous 3 model runs (Fig)
- IBW severe WarnGen changes (turnkey after 20.2.3 deployment)
- Radar
- KGJX, KFSX, KDLH sites added to scan below 0.5 degrees
- Dual pol raw products are now restored in data quality menu for stations that scan below 0.5 degrees (Fig)
- FFMP Basin table works again (those who removed ARIs to fix the previous table launching problem should remove the FFMPSourceConfig.xml and bounce EDEX to restore ARIs)
- Satellite
- Aerosol detection dust and smoke derived products automatically rename the editor tabs
- "Alter" function in procedures to switch out satellite products (Fig)
- Frame count display (Fig)
- Can use AWIPS Interactive Reference (AIR) to access reference and training material from GFE, Hydro, and MPE perspectives (Fig)
- Ingest and display National Blend of Models (NBM) v3.2 from Volume Browser (Fig)
- New time loading options
- Reverse
- Refresh
- ITOs and focal points
- Hazard Services new methods changing requires configuration during install to restore hydro operations
- Addition of GOES-R composite products into NOAAPORT_OPT
- BLU alerts added to HazCollectTrigger.template
- Unified dictionary - Hazard Services, GFE, collaboration, text WS
- Flag tdwrCollectionLimited - removed from the Radar Server
- FFMP broke previous build - new fix, can restore ARIs workaround
- AWIPS Build 19.3.1 Informational Overview in CLC (12min, CLC, link for non-CLC users, PDF speaker notes, NSHARP Hail and Tornado Parameters Reference, PGEN Static Overlay Jobsheet)
- Hazard Services Hydrologic (IOC) - see Hazard Services VLab reference page for references
- New hazard generation software in AWIPS (Fig)
- Use it to issue all watch, warning, and advisory products for hydro
- Replaces WarnGen hydro component, RiverPro, GHGH
- Only hydro in this build
- Winter, Convective, Marine, etc will be progressively added over the next 2 years
- Lots of training
- User and focal point online training (Link)
- Focal Point residence workshops in at WDTD in Norman, OK
- Radar
- More sites scan below 0.5 degrees (Fig)
- NSHARP (NSHARP Hail and Tornado Parameters Reference)
- FFMP Basin Trend plots all hours independent of the time duration slider bar (Fig)
- Display PGEN as background data (Fig)
- Obs time match basis now works again (Fig)
- Distance Scale Tool new units added (Fig)
- Nautical miles (nm), kilometers (km)
- Data Delivery
- GUI Changes
- filtering options removed from the Dataset Discovery Browser
- ability to filter by group removed from the Data Delivery Subscription Manager
- active period handling removed from the Dataset Delivery Subscription Manager
- GUI Changes
- Archiver
- Satallite data retention changed from 168 to 72 hours (Fig)
- Most offices have site overrides so impact is minimal
- Satallite data retention changed from 168 to 72 hours (Fig)
- Under the hood
- Manual endpoint relocated to /data_store/dropbox
- AlertViz action can now be any executable script
- Place scripts in cave_static/*/*/alertviz/actions
- Updated XML TAF encoder for AvnFPS
- BLU PILs added to the National Dataset Maintenance (NDM) afos2awips.txt
- Python 3 coming in 20.3.1
- AWIPS Build 19.2.1 Informational Overview in CLC (18min, Internet access link for non-CLC users, PDF speaker notes)
- Significant DR backlog addressed in this build
- Climate perspective (Fig)
- Appeared as a new perspective in CAVE in 18.1.1, now ready to be used in this build
- Radar
- MRLE
- Power Removed Control product (Fig)
- NSHARP auto update, loop, and display fixes
- IBW Flash Flood (Fig)
- Turned off by default
- Coordinated date to turn on later in 2019 after after field test
- Load as Image and Combine (Fig)
- MRMS Version 12
- New products and OCONUS expansion (Fig)
- LDAD feed first, SBN delayed
- Model derived windchill units changed to Fahrenheit (Fig)
- Flood Warnings issued in RiverPro now display in CAVE
- 1-3 Day excessive rainfall data displays (Fig)
- SPC Day 2 individual parameters (Fig)
- Coming late 2019
- Submenus maintain checkboxes when torn off
- FFMP VBG trace not backwards anymore (Fig)
- NUCAPS plan view (Fig)
- mPing auto updates (Fig)
- Under the hood
- uEngine decommissioned
- GFE changes
- GFE based TAF formatter
- purgeAllGrids script
- default smartinit threads changed from 1 to 3
- IBW Flash Flood WarnGen templates
- createUserTopoFile, display time independent NetCDF data in CAVE
- FixDoubleBoundaries.py, fixes bundles with separate shared boundaries
- TOWR-S RPM enhancements
- Contour control (Instructions for freezing the contours)
- 18.2.1 Informational Overview (14min; Training in the CLC (Internet access only), speaker notes PDF, No Jobsheets)
- Significant DR backlog addressed in this build as well as the subsequent 19.2.1 release.
- Radar
- Dual-pol precip bias has N/A label (Fig)
- Tear off both Z and V for the same dedicated radar (Fig)
- New VCP 112 improves range folding by combining back to back SZ-2 velocity scans at 0.5, 0.9, 1.3 degrees (Fig)
- Reflectivity cross section can now be loaded from the volume browser without having to worry about mapping error
- Saved NSHARP display can now be loaded without errors (Fig)
- Time-Match basis preserved in bundles
- GOES-R
- Improved sampling to include channel name and gamma setting (Fig)
- sumbmenu re-organization
- Display regional flood advisories without issues (Fig)
- Time of Arrival Tool
- No more "Unrealistic Point of Arrival" label for point and circular front
- WarnGen
- 0.75" hail changed from dime to penny sized in the template of the Significant Weather Advisory and Special Weather Statement
- Unrestricted Mesoscale Analysis (URMA)
- Hourly RFC Stage IV precipitation accumulation products added (Fig)
- Significant Tornado Parameter (STP) loads from Volume Browser (Fig)
- For ITO's and Focal Points
- µEngine finally decommissioned in the next build (19.2.1)
- Sites may have duplicate entries for the NBM in the pqact.conf.xxx file which can negatively affect system performance
- 18.1.1 Informational Overview (12-14min; training in the CLC (Internet access only), speaker notes PDF, Matrix Viewer Jobsheet)
- Radar
- WarnGen
- Preset Threat Area button replaces Dam Break Threat Area (can be used for airport weather warnings, dam break and burn scar warnings)
- Cancelled polygons in local warnings display update correctly (Fig)
- National Blend of Models version 3.1 additional data elements (echo tops, simulated max reflectivity, VIL for CONUS and ceiling, visibility, lowest cloud base, QPF, and PPI for OCONUS)
- NWPS rip current guidance (Fig)
- Used with GFE and Volume Browser, but data delayed until late 2018/early 2019
- FDTD will release training coincident with deployment in 2019
- Ensemble Tool's matrix viewer works correctly (Fig)
- Post Tropical Cyclone Report Generator (PSH) (Fig)
- Support for a local application that gathers post-storm data and creates a standardized report
- FDTD training planned for 2019 tropical season
- PGEN Palette (loaded from D2D Tools menu)
- Create shareable overlays (text, shapes, fronts, etc.) in CAVE with this initial capability that will be expanded upon in future builds (New Jobsheet)
- Data Delivery (CAVE->Data Deliver-> Dataset Discovery Browser)
- "Friendly" naming convention for models and parameters in the Data Delivery subscription capability managed from the CAVE menu
- Climate Perspective (see Google Doc user guide)
- Available in Open Perspective window but release is delayed to 18.2.1, so don't use it yet
- Will replace previous application with new CAVE version and new database
- For ITO's and Focal Points
- Very handy search capability added to Localization Perspective (Fig)
- User Roles framework modified with new GUI from CAVE->User Administration menu (Fig)
- Need to reassign roles, only awips admin users have retained their roles (see Living Release Notes 18.1.1 tab)
- geospatialConfig_ALASKA_MARINE.xml file for Alaska Region
- 17.3.1 Informational Overview (12-15min; training in the CLC (Internet access only), speaker notes PDF, Ensemble Tool Jobsheet)
- Note: if you completed early versions of the training in the CLC (before 4/23/2018), you will need to re-request the training in the CLC to see the latest version in the CLC.
- Tropical enhancements
- Overhaul of threats labels and statements in the Tropical Cyclone VTEC (TCV)
- Overhaul of the Hurricane Local Statements (HLS) Precautionary/Preparedness statements
- Support for Probabilistic Extra Tropical Storm Surge (P-ETSS) and early Wind Speed Probabilities
- Ensemble Tool enhancements
- Tracking Meteogram Tool no longer breaks keyboard shortcuts
- FFMP fixes
- VGB gauge overlay now properly labeled in basin trend overlay toggle
- FFG sometimes mapped to wrong basin fixed
- Focal Point can now filter VGBs from FFMP table for the numerous gauges that don't report precip (see "under the hood changes" below)
- New baseline FLASH MRMS menu
- QPF products not anticipated for some time; SBN FLASH data distribution later in 2018
- WarnGen new product for dust storms and snow squalls
- AvnFPS XML TAF format automatically produced
- Radar RPG Build 18 changes
- Make radar product requrests for All cuts at/below and Lowest N/All cuts
- Free Text Message sent from text workstation now goes out to FAA
- Model enhancements
- National Blend of Models
- ceiling height, visibility, QPF
- HRRR, RAP, GLAMP, HRRR-GLAMP MELD
- Bug fixes for LAPS/MSAS data
- National Blend of Models
- GFE
- PGEN added to GFE menu
- New topography file
- NAVD88 vertical datum
- Includes Coastal Relief Model (CRM) that improves coastline accuracy
- Availalble for AK, HI, PR (variety of input sources)
- Same 2.5km grid as before
- Under the hood changes
- Postgres authentication enforced on local apps
- File permissions restricted on NFS shares
- world read removed for all files using script
- /awips2/fxa/bin/set-nfs-perms.sh sets strict file permissions
- Distribution files in localization perspective
- HREF ingest
- WarnGen configuration option to filter cities outside CWA
- uncomment warnGenCWAFilter tag for cwa mapping key in geospatialConfig_* xmls
- best practice: remember to compare SITE overrides to baseline templates and merge in changes each build
- Override behavior now documented at the top of xmls
- AlertViz scripting now works to run programs off of alert settings
- GFE Spot Formatter update required
- VGB filtering in FFMPTemplateConfig.xml through localization perspective now fixed, e.g.:
- <excludedVGBs>
<vgb>AXA</vgb>
</excludedVGBs>
- <excludedVGBs>
- Backup localization capability (
- Warning! Do not use until regional guidance is provided, or you may delete files accidentally! See Living Release Notes
- 17.2.1 Informational Overview (11-13min; training in the CLC (Internet access only), speaker notes PDF, No Jobsheets) - released December 4, 2017
- RedHat 7 variances
- Classic Gnome desktop layout
- New logout window along with minor appearance changes
- Extended 3-monitor display
- Middle monitor is the main monitor
- Can drag windows across all 3 monitors
- Classic Gnome desktop layout
- FFmpeg video capture software
- AlertViz bar sometimes freezes
- Workaround exists
- CAVE product layers variance
- Left-click with the mouse in the map editor after performing "Move Up" or "Move Down" in Product Legend for changes to take effect
- MPE Fixes (DR List)
- Maximizing windows on single monitor
- No longer get windows that stretch out over 2 monitors when maximized
- SCAN DMD SAILS update
- Under the hood changes
- Upgrade to 64bit LDM
- Permissions and Local Apps Authentication
- Pacemaker replaces Heartbeat
- 17.1.1 Informational Overview (10min; speaker notes PDF, training in the CLC (Internet access only), Jobsheets: Loading HPN from VB, Adjusting Rates Calculation for HPN Display - released March 30, 2017
- Tropical Enhancements
- new storm surge watch/warning
- HRRR/RAP additional forecast hours
- HRRR to 18hrs, RAP to 21hrs
- Location of Radar Applications menu
- removed from each radar's menu and now only in Radar menu
- High-Resolution Precipitation Nowcaster (HPN) Ingest Fixed
- MPE integrated into AWIPS 2 infrastructure
- DMD SAILS ingest
- AWIPS Interactive Reference update
- No login required by default
- New interface (Simple/Advanced)
- Changes to infrastructure important to Focal Points (see 17.1.1 tab of Living Release Notes)
- 16.4.1 Informational Overview (11min) speaker notes PDF, training in the CLC (Internet access only) - released Dec 21, 2016
- includes forecaster training on the AWIPS Interactive Reference and supplemental AWIPS Interactive Reference training for VLab contributors covering how to register content in the VLab for use with AIR
- AWIPS Interactive Reference
- The AWIPS Interactive Reference is a new capability in D2D where you right click in a CAVE product, text, or map legend and access reference materials in the VLab.
- Eclipse and Java changes implemented in 16.3.1 are deployed in 16.4.1 with some minor changes in buttons and menus
- Perspectives buttons cannot be moved
- Side panes can no longer be adjusted to 0 width (min size is 10% CAVE window)
- Editor right click menus different, no move group tabs option
- Drag and drop editors to split main panel now no longer requires placement on CAVE pane edge
- Obsolete 88D products (mostly low-resolution products) and 88D Alert functionality removed from AWIPS to support RPG Build 18
- Radar menu Alert Request submenu removed, editing alert grids, selecting categories to be alerted on, sending Alert Request Message, UAM (SCAN alerts not affected)
- Radar Shift Change Checklist text product display (image 1, image 2)
- Coming with deployment of RPG Build 18 in Fall 2017
- Required to be completed by forecasters at least once during a shift
- New VCP Change Request submenu provides tool to turn on/off AVSET, set # of SAILS cuts, and force volume scan restart
- Other recent AWIPS build changes to support RPG 16 and 17 worth mentioning
- In each radar menu, a Data Quality -> Dual Pol Raw Products submenu
- Hail Discrimination Algorithm display
- Adds large hail (1-2") and giant hail (2"+) classes to Hydrometeor Classification product
- RMRs and OTRs with SAILS now displayable (volume scan times for SAILS cuts unique like with dedicated requests)
- AWIPS References from the AWIPS Program
- AWIPS Living Release Notes (Internet)
- 16.2.2 Informational Overview training (11min; Internet) in CLC, speaker notes PDF
- Damage Path Tool training (Internet CLC), speaker notes PDF (new reference page and job sheets)
- The Damage Path Tool allows forecasters to create real-time damage polygons with comments that can be provided to first responders via the Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) server or your local webiste.
- Ensemble Tool (updated reference page and new job sheets)
- The Ensemble Tool was updated to include a distribution viewer that displays probability density functions and cumulative density functions. The update also added a Matrix button capability that allows cycling through volume model family products.
- National/Regional Radar Displays and All Dial Radars
- The Radar menu was updated to include National and Regional radar mosaics and a menu for all dial radars. This supports the national ingest of 6 SBN radar products (CZ, STI, Z & V (0.5 and 1.3/1.5). There are new Dual-Pol menus for the Dual-Pol data ingested from local and regional radars.
- New VCPs in RPS List Editor
- There are entries for VCP 35 and VCP 215 in preparation for the late 2017 deployment of RPG Build 18.
- Gamma Control Satellite Composite Options (new reference page and job sheet)
- There is a new gamma adjustment capability on multi-band satellite combination products.
- Menus
- MRMS 5km CZ & RALA and FLASH
- CZ/RALA SBN coming fall 2016, FLASH on SBN later but some may ingest through LDAD
- OCONUS Satellite
- There is a new menu for OCONUS sites to consolidate satellite menu additions.
- GHG Monitor CAVE Menu
- GHG can now be launched from the CAVE menu.
- MRMS 5km CZ & RALA and FLASH
- Laps/MSAS at RFCs
- LAPS and MSAS are now running at RFCs.
- FFMP Updating Multiple-RFC FFG Fix
- Starting in 16.2.1 in domains with multiple RFCs, when one updated, the others would incorrectly go missing. In 16.2.2 this was fixed, but the data incorrectly updated with older FFG. This is being fixed in 16.2.2 patch 2 which will roll out sometime during deployment of 16.2.2.
- AWIPS References from the AWIPS Program
- 16.2.1 Informational Overview (CLC 11min training [Internet], speaker notes PDF)
- MRMS and ARI into FFMP
- Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) reference page - data will be able to be used as guidance similar to RFC Flash Flood Guidance (see reference page for updates and jobsheets).
- Training in CLC (Internet): Part 1: Intro to ARIs, speaker notes PDF - CLC search string: "ari"
- Training in CLC (Internet): Part 2: Using ARIs in AWIPS, speaker notes PDF - CLC search string "ari"
- MRMS SPR data ingested into FFMP in 16.2.1 (Scan menu)
- ARI and MRMS FFMP Configuration Support Page contains extra information on how to set up ARIs and MRMS in FFMP
- FFMP reference page - for the FFMP guidance in the 16.2.1 Informational Overview
- Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) reference page - data will be able to be used as guidance similar to RFC Flash Flood Guidance (see reference page for updates and jobsheets).
- New D2D map scales (see Scales pullout in CAVE)
- There are numerous map scales that have been added including world views and regional DSS scales.
- National/regional warning plots (Obs menu)
- There are new national and regional warning plots to be able to monitor warnings throughout the U.S.
- D2D spot forecast overlay (NCEP/Hydro menu)
- There is a new graphic to display spot forecasts from the NCEP/Hydro menu.
- All-tilts keyboard shortcut for top of most recent volume scan - see reference page for updates and jobsheet
- Keyboard shortcuts were added to jump to the top and bottom of the most recent complete volume scan.
- Satellite Combination Daylight Transition capability - see reference page for job sheet
- You can combine two satellite images and configure them to blend together at sunrise and sunset as daylight transitions.
- Note: The numerous bug fixes and some other enhancements capabilities not covered in the training are documented in the 16.2.1 Release Notes and NIC3.1 Release Notes in the AWIPS References from the AWIPS Program section above.
- No overview available, but have included a couple of notes below.
- Dual-Pol DPR in FFMP Fixed
- DPR ingest in FFMP has been incorrect, but it is fixed after 16.2.1 patch 1 (note HPE mosaic has been Dual-Pol since 14.3.1 and has no problems).
- Tracking Meteogram reference page - updated training and job sheets with improvements to calculations
- The D2D tracking meteogram will use a 100x100 grid and some new techniques to sample the circles instead of the original 20x20 grid to create statistics on image grids. This should prevent undersampling and oversampling and allow for operations like Sum for total lightning trends.
- AWIPS Build 16.1.1 Informational Overview (CLC Web link [11min], speaker notes PDF 2.7MB) - released Feb 2016
- All-tilts SAILS Navigation Reference Page (with job sheet)
- New more intuitive all-tilt navigation with SAILS data
- MRMS All Tilts reference page (with job sheets)
- If you ingest the data through LDAD you can display MRMS Reflectivity Cube grid data in an all-layer all-tilts like way.
- All-Layer Grid reference page bonus!: The discovery of how All-Tilts MRMS works has allowed creating All-Layer all-tilts like products from any existing grid bundles.
- If you ingest the data through LDAD you can display MRMS Reflectivity Cube grid data in an all-layer all-tilts like way.
- Ensemble Tool reference page (with job sheet)
- A new D2D tool has been designed to create derived plots from individual model members (WFOs only have access to GEFS temperature and precip ensemble members).
- mPING reference page (with job sheet)
- The crowd-source mPING surface observations can be displayed in D2D if you configure the ingest through LDAD.
- Boundary Tool reference page (with job sheet)
- The Boundary Tool was designed for Aviation Weather Center forecasters to create simple boundary annotations in D2D. The Boundary Tool is similar to other line tools in D2D, except the boundaries can be cleared and reloaded.
- National Blend of Global Models
- New National Model Blend grid data is now being ingested into 16.1.1. The data can be viewed from the Volume Browser under the Sources->SfcGrid->NationalBlend, but the ingest into GFE is dependent on downloading the latest NIC from the local applications registry. The GFE components are planned to become baselined in 16.2.2. For more information on the National Model Blend, see the COMET training on the METED site or contact your local GFE focal point.
- Tracking Meteogram Reference Page - see reference page for CLC course "AWIPS-2 Tracking Meteogram" and jobsheet access
- New D2D tool to track features and make time trends of satellite, radar, grid image, and lightning density data. Also monitor time trends at a single location that updates dynamically as you move the point.
- Dual-Pol HPE
- The mosaic precip-source HPE was changed to use Dual-Pol DPR as input (instead of Legacy DHR) and special overlays were added to FFMP and the volume browser to display the source and biases used in Bias HPE. The original training to support this was the "Incorporating Dual-Pol HPE/Bias HPE Into Flash Flood Decision Making" module which also had an FFMP/HPE Reference PDF. This training has been updated and split into the following module that is now part of the Warning Operations Course (WOC) Flash Flood Track:
- High-Resolution Precipitation Estimator (HPE) and Bias HPE (CLC search string: HPE)
- The mosaic precip-source HPE was changed to use Dual-Pol DPR as input (instead of Legacy DHR) and special overlays were added to FFMP and the volume browser to display the source and biases used in Bias HPE. The original training to support this was the "Incorporating Dual-Pol HPE/Bias HPE Into Flash Flood Decision Making" module which also had an FFMP/HPE Reference PDF. This training has been updated and split into the following module that is now part of the Warning Operations Course (WOC) Flash Flood Track:
- The AWIPS tools for flash flooding have been fully incorporated into the WOC Flash Flood Track. Forecasters should refer to the following two courses to incorporate the AWIPS changes into operations:
- IC Flash Flood 2: Flash Flood Forecasting Tools (2018 course snapshot)
- Ensemble Situational Awareness Table: NAEFS Anomaly & Percentile Data
- Ensemble Situational Awareness Table: GEFS M-Climate Data
- Introduction to Average Recurrence Intervals (ARIs) in AWIPS
- Web-Based Tools for Flash Flooding
- Introduction to the High-Resolution Precipitation Nowcaster (HPN)
- Using the HPN in AWIPS
- Using the Virtual Gauge Basins (VGBs) in FFMP
- IC Flash Flood 3: Flash Flood Warning Best Practices (2018 course snapshot)
- Choosing Your Precipitation & Guidance Sources
- Warning Operations Using FFMP
- FLASH Best Practices
- Hydro Products Decision Tree
- Flash Flood Warning Fundamentals
- Flash Flood Emergency Overview
- IC Flash Flood 2: Flash Flood Forecasting Tools (2018 course snapshot)
For questions or comments about AWIPS build training, please contact Dan McKemy at WDTD.
Useful AWIPS Links
AWIPS VLab community home page (VLab community request)
- System Managers Manuals, Software Collaboration Portal (SCP)
AWIPS SREC release planning
AWIPS Repo Source Code
AWIPS Interactive Reference Links
Future Training-Related AWIPS Build Changes
Here is some information about upcoming improvements in AWIPS builds worth noting:
HIVE/CIRRUS (late 2027/early 2028)
- AWIPS transitioned to new cloud software platform