Description of the MRF MEX MOS Alphanumeric Message

Source:NWS web site http://205.156.54.206/tdl/synop/purplemex.htm
The MRF-Based MOS MEX guidance is generated from the 0000 UTC run of the Medium-Range Forecast (MRF) run of NCEP's Global Spectral Model. This guidance is valid for 1060 stations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Forecast elements are valid from 24 to 192 hours in advance. 


KDCA   MRF MOS GUIDANCE    1/17/2001  0000 UTC
FHR  24| 36  48| 60  72| 84  96|108 120|132 144|156 168|180 192
WED  17| THU 18| FRI 19| SAT 20| SUN 21| MON 22| TUE 23| WED 24 CLIMO
X/N  46| 33  42| 37  47| 39  47| 35  42| 27  41| 27  43| 31  46
TMP  40| 35  39| 40  43| 41  41| 37  36| 29  35| 28  38| 33  41
DPT  25| 27  35| 38  38| 40  37| 30  22| 19  20| 18  22| 23  27
CLD  OV| OV  OV| OV  OV| OV  OV| OV  OV| PC  CL| PC  PC| PC  PC
P12   1|  6  47| 75  81| 81  61| 58  43| 12  17| 19  21| 17  23
P24    |     58|     94|     94|     74|     23|     27|     30
Q12   0|  0   1|  2   3|  4   4|  4   5|  0   0|  0    |       
Q24    |      1|      4|      5|      4|      0|       |       
T12   6| 11  37|  4   1|  3  12| 12  15|  9  17|  5  18|  9  16
T24    | 15    | 45    | 12    | 15    | 24    | 20    | 24    
PZP  15| 12  26| 15  13| 23  27| 29  21| 14  19| 27  22| 21  14
PSN  39| 31  13|  0   0|  0   0|  1  27| 60  33| 32  30| 27  19
PRS  31| 18  14|  1   2|  3   6|  4  14|  3   7|  6   8| 12  12
TYP   S|  S  RS|  R   R|  R   Z|  Z   S|  S   S|  Z   Z|  Z  RS


FHR = Forecast hour, i.e. how many hours from the model run time
X/N = daytime max/nightime min temperatures
TMP = temperature valid at that hour
DPT = dewpoint valid at that hour
CLD = mean total sky cover over the 12-hr period ending at that time
P12 = 12-hr probability of precipitation (PoP) ending at that time
P24 = 24-hr PoP ending at that time
Q12 = 12-hr quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) ending at that time
Q24 = 24-hr QPF ending at that time
T12 = 12-hr probability of thunderstorm ending at that time
T24 = 24-hr probability of thunderstorm for the 1200-1200 UTC time period ending at that time
PZP = conditional probability of freezing pcp occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time
PSN = conditional probability of snow occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time
PRS = conditional probability of rain/snow mix occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time
TYP = conditional precipitation type for the 12-hr period ending at that time


Definitions of Categorical Elements

MEX QPF Categories
0 no precipitation
1 0.01 to 0.09 inches
2 0.10 to 0.24 inches
3 0.25 to 0.49 inches
4 0.50 to 0.99 inches
5 1.00 to 1.99 inches
6 2.00 inches or greater
 MEX Cloud (CLD) Categories
CL mostly clear                  
PC partly cloudy
OV mostly cloudy


MEX Precipitation Type (TYP) Categories
S pure snow or snow grains
Z freezing rain/drizzle, ice pellets, or
anything mixed with freezing precip
RS rain/drizzle and snow mixed
R pure rain/drizzle