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Spot Forecast Instructions
From
the Fire Weather Main Page on the National Weather Service Burlington
(NWS BTV) web site, click on Internet Request Spot Form.
The
BURLINGTON, VERMONT SPOT FORECASTS page will appear. This page
auto-updates every minute, so as new spot forecasts are requested or
their status changes, you immediately see the changes on the page! We
call this the monitoring page.
Some of the
features on this page include...
A) The current
date with arrow keys allowing you to step back or forward to a particular
date. A calendar is also available, which will allow you to see how many
spot forecasts were issued on a certain date. You can also move ahead
or back on the calendar as well as clicking on a particular date to view
spot information from that day.
B) A map
of the NWS BTV area of responsibility. A small box will appear
indicating the location of the spot request. It is colored coded to indicate
if the spot forecast is pending (green), which means you have submitted a spot
request and the NWS is working on the forecast. A purple box indicates
the NWS has sent you a question with respect to the spot forecast.
(You will need to either click on the purple box or click
on QUESTION in the Status Box below the map, then on the bottom
of the next page, you can click on Change Request to make the
necessary changes and answer the question from the NWS. When you submit the spot again,
the monitor page will show the word ANSWERED in the Status Box and the purple square
on the map will go back to green. A red box on the map means the spot forecast is complete
and you can either click on the red box or in the Name/Ignition Time/Status Box to see the
forecast.
C) A link
at the top of the page exists to take you back to the Burlington Fire
Weather Internet Page.
D) A user will
click on SUBMIT A NEW SPOT REQUEST to prepare their information
for the online spot forecast request.
SUBMIT A NEW SPOT REQUEST INSTRUCTIONS
1 - Project
Name: Enter the search and rescure operation name or geograhpic location...for example
3 SW from Montpelier or name of a mountain/lake.
a) Select SAR from the tabs button.
b) Enter the current time in the Ignigtion Time box and the current date in the Date box.
2 - Requesting
Agency: The Requesting Agency, Requesting Official, and phone number
are required. Fax number and contact person are optional, but we consider
those very important if we have any questions or if there is a breakdown
in dissemination capabilities. Please
note that no other people other than the user and the NWS will see this
information!
3 - Reason
For Spot Request Form: Under Non-Wildfire, select the last tab "Essential to public
safety, e.g. due to the proximity of population centers or critical infrastucture".
4 - Location:
a) Lat/Lon: Enter in your latitude and longitude coordinates for the operation site. Leave the 7.5' Quad box blank
**Please be accurate as possible with the coordinates, so that we can provide the most detailed
forecast as possible**
b) - Elevation:
Enter the elevation the operation will occur at. If a wide range of elevations will be covered
for search and recovery operations, especially during mountain rescues then enter a range
of elevations. Leave the Drainage box blank.
c) - Aspect:
This field is not required but if the operation is on the side of the mountain, the aspect of the slope
could be useful for more accurate wind forecasting. Use direction references such as N, NE, E, SE, S,
SW, W, NW. You can leave the Size: block blank.
5 - Fuel:
Leave this section blank.
6 - Observations:
Leave this box blank, unless you have onsite weather observations. If there is an onsite weather
observation please enter the most rescent observations, this information will enhance the near term
forecast.
7 - Primary
Forecast Elements: Not all spot forecasts are created equal, so we
are asking you to tell us what are the forecast elements you need, or
are particularly important. There are six parameters listed for you. Select
which ones you want a forecast for, and for the time period(s) you would
like as well (available times are Today, Tonight, and Tomorrow).***Note the 20-foot Wind
is what you will select for a wind forecast.***
8 - Remarks:
If a meteorological parameter is not listed and for example you would like to have
wave heights for a search and recovery operation on Lake Champlain, then include this request
in the box.
9 - Action:
You now have three options. You can Submit Request, Cancel Request,
or Clear Form. When you hit Submit Request, various checks
are performed on the data you have entered. Some problems make it impossible
for your request to be accepted such as not providing all the required
elements listed in red. If an error is found, you will be taken to a page
that describes the errors or minor problems. You can click on Go Back
and Fix and have the opportunity to make the necessary changes. You
can click on Submit Request anyway, but more than likely we will
probably be sending back a question or calling.
10 - Retreive your
Spot Weather Forecast After you have submitted a spot forecast request, go back to the Burlington
Vermont Spot Forcasts Page. It usually takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete the forecast request,
but once it is complete a link will appear on the Spot Request page. The Project Name will appear
as a hyperlink and the location of the request will show up on the map in the upper right
side of the page. Select the hyperlink, this will take you to your requested forecast.
* Invariably,
something will go wrong at some point, and you might not be able to request
or receive spot requests via the web page. In such cases, you can call
in or fax us the spot forecast.
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