National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Unknown remote-sensing image Asheville, NC National Climatic Data Center DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Customer Services Branch Mailing and physical

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Asheville North Carolina 28801-5001 USA 828-271-4800 828-271-4010 828-271-4876 ncdc.orders@noaa.gov 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/about/ncdccontacts.html http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov Integrated Surface Hourly Observations CD-ROM Set is a product offered by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). The product is composed of worldwide surface weather observations from about 12,000 stations, collected for sources such as the Automated Weather Network (AWN), Global Telecommunications System (GTS), Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), and data keyed from paper forms. Data originated from various codes such as synoptic, airways, Meteorological Routine Weather Report (METAR), and Supplementary Marine Reporting Station (SMARS), and also includes observations from automatic weather stations. There are many possible parameters that stations may report, but the parameters actually reported by any one station depend on the type of station and its location and instrumentation. Some parameters are reported only by mountain stations, for example, or by ships at sea. Possible major parameters, summarized, are: winds and wind gusts; clouds, sky condition, and sky cover; visibility; air, dew point, and extreme temperatures; geopotential height, sea level and station pressure, altimeter setting, and pressure tendency; liquid precipitation; snow depth and water equivalent; snowfall; past and present weather and present weather in vicinity; runway visual range; clouds below station; sunshine; hail; ground surface type and temperature; sea surface temperature; waves and swell; platform icing; and past and present sea ice type, concentration, and bearing. The earliest data is from 1995. However, start date varies by station. This product is a 16-volume CD-ROM set. The volumes are: Volume 1: 1995-1999 Greenland, England, Northern Europe Volume 2: 1995-1999 Central Europe Volume 3: 1995-1999 Eastern and Southern Europe and the Mediterranean Volume 4: 1995-1999 Northeastern Europe and Asia Volume 5: 1995-1999 Ulan Bator (Mongolia), Middle East, and Southern Asia Volume 6: 1995-1999 Africa and Indian Ocean Volume 7: 1995-1999 Eastern United States of America (ME, NH, VT, CT, RI, NY, MA, PA, NJ, MD, DE, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, WV, OH, AL) Volume 8: 1995-1999 Central United States of America (MI, MS, TN, KY, IN, AR, TX, LA, MO, IL, IA, WI, MN, OK) Volume 9: 1995-1999 Western United States of America (CA, WA, OR, NV, MT, ID, AZ, NM, CO, WY, UT, KS, NE, SD, ND) Volume 10: 1995-1999 Alaska and Canada Volume 11: 1995-1999 Mexico, Caribbean, South America, and Antarctica Volume 12: 1995-1999 Australia, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean and Hawaii Volume 13: 2000 Greenland and Europe Volume 14: 2000 Asia, Middle East and Africa Volume 15: 2000 United States of America Volume 16: 2000 Canada, Mexico, South and Central America, Oceania, and Antarctica Volume 17: 2001 Greenland, Europe, Asia Volume 18: 2001 Asia, Middle East, Africa Volume 19: 2001 United States Volume 20: 2001 Canada, Mexico, South and Central America, Oceania, Hawaii, Antarctica Volume 21: 2002 Greenland, Europe, Asia Volume 22: 2002 Asia, Middle East, Africa Volume 23: 2002 United States Volume 24: 2002 Canada, Mexico, South and Central America, Oceania, Hawaii, AntarcticaThese volumes may be bought separately. Also, all 1995-1999 data may be bought as a set, or all 2000, 2001, and 2002 data may be bought as a set. To make a wide range of climatic data available to researchers and the public. digital data C00353 AWS > Automated Weather System ANEMOMETERS ALTIMETERS BAROMETERS DROPSONDES DROPWINDSONDES DRY BULB THERMOMETERS HUMIDITY SENSORS HYDROMETERS PRESSURE GAUGES PRESSURE SENSORS RADIOSONDES RAIN GAUGES RAWINSONDES ROCKETSONDES SOUNDERS SUNSHINE RECORDERS TEMPERATURE SENSORS THERMOMETERS TIDE GAUGES UV OZONE DETECTORS > Ultraviolet Ozone Detectors VISUAL OBSERVATIONS WATER LEVEL GAUGES WET BULB THERMOMETERS WIND PROFILERS WIND VANES DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC/NNDC http://ols.nndc.noaa.gov/plolstore/plsql/olstore.prodspecific?prodnum=C00353-CDR-S0001 http://ols.nndc.noaa.gov/plolstore/plsql/olstore.prodspecific?prodnum=C00353-CDR-S0001 http://ols.nndc.noaa.gov/plolstore/plsql/olstore.prodspecific?prodnum=C00353-CDR-S0001 19950101 Present Ground Condition In work As Needed -180.0 180.0 90.0 -90.0 DIF Discipline Keyword Thesaurus Earth Sciences > Atmosphere > Meteorology Earth Sciences > Atmosphere > Weather Earth Sciences > Atmosphere > Climatology Earth Sciences > Land > Hydrology Earth Sciences > Ocean > Oceanography ISO 19115 Topic Category ClimatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere 004 Elevation 006 Environment 007 GeoscientificInformation 008 ImageryBaseMapsEarthCover 010 InlandWaters 012 Oceans 014 GCMD Sciences Keyword Valids EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Smog EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Visibility EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Altitude > Geopotential Height EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Ozone EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity > Lightning EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Cyclones EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Drought EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Fog EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Freeze EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Frost EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Hurricanes EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Lightning EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Storms EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Tornados EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Phenomena > Typhoons EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Anticyclones/Cyclones EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Tendency EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Thickness EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Sunshine EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Air Temperature EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Atmospheric Stability EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Maximum/Minimum Temperature EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Air Temperature EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Temperature Tendency EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Dew Point EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Evaporation EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Humidity EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Tendency EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Convection EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Convergence/Divergence EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Turbulence EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Vertical Wind Motion EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Vorticity EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Chill EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Shear EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Tendency EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Amount/Frequency EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Ceiling EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Height EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Types EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Vertical Distribution EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Freezing Rain EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Hail EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Rain EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Sleet EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Snow EARTH SCIENCE > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice EARTH SCIENCE > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Hydrological Hazards EARTH SCIENCE > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Meteorological Hazards EARTH SCIENCE > Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice EARTH SCIENCE > Hydrosphere > Surface Water > Floods EARTH SCIENCE > Hydrosphere > Surface Water > Rivers/Streams EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wave Height EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Waves > Wind Waves EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Winds > Surface Winds EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Tides > Storm Surge EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Tides > Tidal Height GCMD Location Valids Global GCMD Location Valids Troposphere Stratosphere None None Not provided Unknown Data completeness information not provided by the data supplier. The global surface hourly observations contained in this CDROM series are integrated from all of the NCDC and Navy surface hourly data (TD3280), NCDC hourly precipitation data (TD3240), and Air Force DATSAV3 surface hourly data (TD9956). FGDC Numbers: C00215, C00313, C00442 respectively. Not complete SURFACE HOURLY ABBREVIATED FORMATONE HEADER RECORD FOLLOWED BY DATA RECORDS:COLUMN DATA DESCRIPTION01-06 USAF = AIR FORCE CATALOG STATION NUMBER 08-12 WBAN = NCDC WBAN NUMBER14-25 YR--MODAHRMN = YEAR-MONTH-DAY-HOUR-MINUTE IN GREENWICH MEAN TIME (GMT)27-29 DIR = WIND DIRECTION IN COMPASS DEGREES, 990 = VARIABLE, REPORTED AS '***' WHEN AIR IS CALM (SPD WILL THEN BE 000)31-37 SPD and GUS = WIND SPEED and GUST IN MILES PER HOUR 39-41 CLG = CLOUD CEILING--LOWEST OPAQUE LAYER WITH 5/8 OR GREATER COVERAGE, IN HUNDREDS OF FEET, 722 = UNLIMITED 43-45 SKC = SKY COVER -- CLR-CLEAR, SCT-SCATTERED-1/8 TO 4/8, BKN-BROKEN-5/8 TO 7/8, OVC-OVERCAST, OBS-OBSCURED, POB-PARTIAL OBSCURATION 47-47 L = LOW CLOUD TYPE, SEE BELOW49-49 M = MIDDLE CLOUD TYPE, SEE BELOW51-51 H = HIGH CLOUD TYPE, SEE BELOW 53-56 VSB = VISIBILITY IN STATUTE MILES TO NEAREST TENTH NOTE: FOR SOME STATIONS, VISIBILITY IS REPORTED ONLY UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 7 OR 10 MILES IN METAR OBSERVATIONS, BUT TO HIGHER VALUES IN SYNOPTIC OBSERVATIONS, WHICH CAUSES THE VALUES TO FLUCTUATE FROM ONE DATA RECORD TO THE NEXT. ALSO, VALUES ORIGINALLY REPORTED AS '10' MAY APPEAR AS '10.1' DUE TO DATA BEING ARCHIVED IN METRIC UNITS AND CONVERTED BACK TO ENGLISH.58-65 WW WW WW = PRESENT WEATHER--LISTED BELOW67-67 W = PAST WEATHER INDICATOR, SEE BELOW69-77 TEMP and DEWP = TEMPERATURE and DEW POINT IN FAHRENHEIT 79-84 SLP = SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IN MILLIBARS TO NEAREST TENTH 86-90 ALT = ALTIMETER SETTING IN INCHES TO NEAREST HUNDREDTH 92-97 STP = STATION PRESSURE IN MILLIBARS TO NEAREST TENTH99-101 MAX = MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IN FAHRENHEIT103-105 MIN = MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN FAHRENHEIT107-111 PCP01 = 1-HOUR LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS -- THAT IS, THE PRECIP FOR THE PRECEDING 1 HOUR PERIOD113-117 PCP06 = 6-HOUR LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS -- THAT IS, THE PRECIP FOR THE PRECEDING 6 HOUR PERIOD119-123 PCP24 = 24-HOUR LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS THAT IS, THE PRECIP FOR THE PRECEDING 24 HOUR PERIOD125-129 PCPXX = LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS, FOR A PERIOD OTHER THAN 1, 6, OR 24 HOURS (USUALLY FOR 12 HOUR PERIOD FOR STATIONS OUTSIDE THE U.S., AND FOR 3 HOUR PERIOD FOR THE U.S.) T = TRACE FOR ANY PRECIP FIELD131-132 SD = SNOW DEPTH IN INCHES NOTES: - *'s IN FIELD INDICATES ELEMENT NOT REPORTED.- SOME VALUES WERE CONVERTED FROM METRIC TO ENGLISH UNITS. THIS WILLOCCASIONALLY RESULT IN MINOR DIFFERENCES VS ORIGINAL DATA DUE TO ROUNDING.- COLUMN POSITION REFERS TO ASCII TEXT DATA. - THIS FORMAT CAN BE EASILY IMPORTED INTO A SPREADSHEET OR A DATABASEMANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE FIELDS ARE SPACE-DELIMITED.- THIS FORMAT DOES NOT INCLUDE QUALITY CONTROL FLAGS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLEIN THE ADVANCED FORMAT THROUGH THE CLIMATE DATA ONLINE SYSTEM. PRESENT WEATHER CODE TABLE The code that denotes a specific type of weather observed.-----------------------------------------------------------------00-49 No precipitation at the station at the time of observation-----------------------------------------------------------------00-19 No precipitation, fog, ice fog (except for 11 and 12), duststorm, sandstorm, drifting or blowing snow at the station at the time of observation or, except for 09 and 17, during the preceding hour-----------------------------------------------------------------00: Cloud development not observed or not observable01: Clouds generally dissolving or becoming less developed02: State of sky on the whole unchanged03: Clouds generally forming or developing04: Visibility reduced by smoke, e.g. veldt or forest fires, industrial smoke or volcanic ashes05: Haze06: Widespread dust in suspension in the air, not raised by wind at or near the station at the time of observation07: Dust or sand raised by wind at or near the station at the time of observation, but no well-developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s), and no duststorm or sandstorm seen or, in the case of ships, blowing spray at the station08: Well developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s) seen at or near the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation, but no duststorm or sandstorm09: Duststorm or sandstorm within sight at the time of observation, or at the station during the preceding hour10: Mist11: Patches of shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or sea, not deeper than about 2 meters on land or 10 meters at sea12: More or less continuous shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or sea, not deeper than about 2 meters on land or 10 meters at sea 13: Lightning visible, no thunder heard14: Precipitation within sight, not reaching the ground or the surface of the sea15: Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the sea, but distant, i.e., estimated to be more than 5 km from the station16: Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the sea, near to, but not at the station17: Thunderstorm, but no precipitation at the time of observation18: Squalls at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation19: Funnel cloud(s) (Tornado cloud or waterspout) at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation -----------------------------------------------------------------20-29 Precipitation, fog, ice fog or thunderstorm at the station during the preceding hour, but not at the time of observation-----------------------------------------------------------------20: Drizzle (not freezing) or snow grains not falling as shower(s)21: Rain (not freezing) not falling as shower(s)22: Snow not falling as shower(s)23: Rain and snow or ice pellets not falling as shower(s)24: Freezing drizzle or freezing rain not falling as shower(s)25: Shower(s) of rain26: Shower(s) of snow or of rain and snow27: Shower(s) of hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), or rain and hail28: Fog or ice fog29: Thunderstorm (with or without precipitation)-----------------------------------------------------------------30-39 Duststorm, sandstorm, or blowing snow-----------------------------------------------------------------30: Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm has decreased during the preceding hour31: Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm no appreciable change during the preceding hour32: Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm has begun or has increased during the preceding hour33: Severe duststorm or sandstorm has decreased during the preceding hour34: Severe duststorm or sandstorm no appreciable change during the preceding hour35: Severe duststorm or sandstorm has begun or has increased during the preceding hour36: Slight or moderate drifting snow generally low (below eye level)37: Heavy drifting snow generally low (below eye level)38: Slight or moderate blowing snow generally high (above eye level)39: Heavy blowing snow generally high (above eye level)-----------------------------------------------------------------40-49 Fog or ice fog at the time of observation-----------------------------------------------------------------40: Fog or ice fog at a distance at the time of observation, but not at the station during the preceding hour, the fog or ice fog extending to a level above that of the observer41: Fog or ice fog in patches42: Fog or ice fog, sky visible, has become thinner during the preceding hour43: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has become thinner during the preceding hour44: Fog or ice fog, sky visible, no appreciable change during the preceding hour45: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, no appreciable change during the preceding hour46: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has begun or has become thicker during the preceding hour47: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has begun or has become thicker during the preceding hour48: Fog, depositing rime, sky visible49: Fog, depositing rime, sky invisible-----------------------------------------------------------------50-99 Precipitation at the station at the time of observation-----------------------------------------------------------------50-59 Drizzle-----------------------------------------------------------------50: Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation51: Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation52: Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation53: Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation54: Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, heavy (dense) at time of observation55: Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, heavy (dense) at time of observation56: Drizzle, freezing, slight57: Drizzle, freezing, moderate or heavy (dense)58: Drizzle and rain, slight59: Drizzle and rain, moderate or heavy-----------------------------------------------------------------60-69 Rain-----------------------------------------------------------------60: Rain, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation61: Rain, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation62: Rain, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation63: Rain, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation64: Rain, not freezing, intermittent, heavy at time of observation65: Rain, not freezing, continuous, heavy at time of observation66: Rain, freezing, slight67: Rain, freezing, moderate or heavy68: Rain or drizzle and snow, slight69: Rain or drizzle and snow, moderate or heavy-----------------------------------------------------------------70-79 Solid precipitation not in showers-----------------------------------------------------------------70: Intermittent fall of snowflakes, slight at time of observation71: Continuous fall of snowflakes, slight at time of observation72: Intermittent fall of snowflakes, moderate at time of observation73: Continuous fall of snowflakes, moderate at time of observation74: Intermittent fall of snowflakes, heavy at time of observation75: Continuous fall of snowflakes, heavy at time of observation76: Diamond dust (with or without fog)77: Snow grains (with or without fog)78: Isolated star-like snow crystals (with or without fog)79: Ice pellets-----------------------------------------------------------------80-99 Showery precipitation, or precipitation with current or recent thunderstorm-----------------------------------------------------------------80: Rain shower(s), slight81: Rain shower(s), moderate or heavy82: Rain shower(s), violent83: Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, slight84: Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy85: Show shower(s), slight86: Snow shower(s), moderate or heavy87: Shower(s) of snow pellets or small hail, with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, slight88: Shower(s) of snow pellets or small hail, with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy89: Shower(s) of hail (hail, small hail, snow pellets) , with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not associated with thunder, slight90: Shower(s) of hail (hail, small hail, snow pellets), with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not associated with thunder, moderate or heavy91: Slight rain at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation92: Moderate or heavy rain at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation93: Slight snow, or rain and snow mixed or hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation94: Moderate or heavy snow, or rain and snow mixed or hail(Hail, small hail, snow pellets) at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation95: Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, without hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), but with rain and/or snow at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation96: Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, with hail (hail, small hail, snow pellets) at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation97: Thunderstorm, heavy, without hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), but with rain and/or snow at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation98: Thunderstorm combined with duststorm or sandstorm at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation99: Thunderstorm, heavy, with hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets) at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation PAST WEATHER CODE TABLEThe code that denotes a specific type of past weather observed.0: Cloud covering 1/2 or less of the sky throughout the appropriate period1: Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the sky during part of the appropriate period and covering 1/2 or less during part of the period2: Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the sky throughout the appropriate period3: Sandstorm, duststorm or blowing snow4: Fog or ice fog or thick haze5: Drizzle6: Rain7: Snow, or rain and snow mixed8: Shower(s)9: Thunderstorm(s) with or without precipitation LOW CLOUD TYPE0: No low clouds1: Cumulus humulis or Cumulus fractus other than of bad weather or both 2: Cumulus mediocris or congestus, with or without Cumulus of species fractus or humulis or Stratocumulus all having bases at the same level3: Cumulonimbus calvus, with or without Cumulus, Stratocumulus or Stratus4: Stratocumulus cumulogenitus5: Stratocumulus other than Stratocumulus cumulogenitus6: Stratus nebulosus or Stratus fractus other than of bad weather, or both7: Stratus fractus or Cumulus fractus of bad weather, or both (pannus) usually below Altostratus or Nimbostratus8: Cumulus and Stratocumulus other than Stratocumulus cumulogenitus, with bases at different levels9: Cumulonimbus capillatus (often with an anvil), with or without Cumulonimbus calvus, Cumulus, Stratocumulus, Stratus or pannus MIDDLE CLOUD TYPE0: No middle clouds1: Altostratus translucidus2: Altostratus opacus or Nimbostratus3: Altocumulus translucidus at a single level4: Patches (often lenticular) of Altocumulus translucidus, continually changing and occurring at one or more levels5: Altocumulus translucidus in bands, or one or more layers of Altocumulus translucidus or opacus, progressively invading the sky; these Altocumulus clouds generally thicken as a whole6: Altocumulus cumulogentis (or cumulonimbogentus)7: Altocumulus translucidus or opacus in two or more layers, or Altocumulus opacus in a single layer, not progressively invading the sky, or Altocumulus with Altostratus or Nimbostratus8: Altocumulus castellanus or floccus9: Altocumulus of a chaotic sky; generally at several levels HIGH CLOUD TYPE 0: No High Clouds1: Cirrus fibratus, sometimes uncinus, not progressively invading the sky2: Cirrus spissatus, in patches or entangled sheaves, which usually do not increase and sometimes seem to be the remains of the upper part of a Cumulonimbus; or Cirrus castellanus or floccus3: Cirrus spissatus cumulonimbogenitus4: Cirrus unicinus or fibratus, or both, progressively invading the sky; they generally thicken as a whole5: Cirrus (often in bands) and Cirrostratus, or Cirrostratus alone, progressively invading the sky; they generally thicken as a whole, but the continuous veil does not reach 45 degrees above the horizon6: Cirrus (often in bands) and Cirrostratus, or Cirrostratus alone, progressively invading the sky; they generally thicken as a whole; the continuous veil extends more than 45 degrees above the horizon, without the sky being totally covered7: Cirrostratus covering the whole sky8: Cirrostratus not progressively invading the sky and not entirely covering it9: Cirrocumulus alone, or Cirrocumulus predominant among the High clouds None National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Customer Service Mailing and physical

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Asheville North Carolina 28801-5001 USA 828-271-4800 828-271-4876 Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. 20050930 20040512 National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Customer Service Mailing

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Asheville NC 28801 USA 828-271-4800 828-271-4876 NCDC.Orders@noaa.gov FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998