WxChallenge Assistance

The WxChallenge is moving to a new server in a few months and is in the process of upgrading some of its programs and webpages. We get frequent requests on how participants of the WxChallenge can help things better. Below are a list of items that could use some help. If you are interested in working on one of the below projects, please reach out to the WxChallenge Manager.

Valid ASOS Listing

To ensure that there is a complete list of available ASOS weather stations to be included in the WxChallenge competition, we would like to create a list of valid stations. If you would like to determine all of the valid stations in your state or region to add to the list, please see the ASOS Station List page and submit any that are not listed in the format discussed on the page.


Python: METAR

The WxChallenge currently uses a text-based program/API that serves up METARs that are stored in NOAAPort LDM files. This program is being phased out and we would like to utilize a Python script to pull raw METAR data (at least hourly, but it could be higher resolution) either from NOAAPort LDM files and/or an online source of data. Perhaps multiple data sources could be utilize in the case of one source being unavailable. The NOAAPort LDM feed is preferred over an external online source (e.g., Iowa State's archive) only because that minimizes the number of points of failure. The program should pull in all METAR values from 06-06 UTC, determine the maximun and minimum temperature, peak wind speed, and total precipitation for the day.


Python: Climatological Reports

The WxChallenge currently uses a text-based program/API that serves up daily climatological reports (F6) that are stored in NOAAPort LDM files. This program is being phased out and we would like to utilize a Python script to pull raw climatological report data either from NOAAPort LDM files and/or an online source of data. Perhaps multiple data sources could be utilize in the case of one source being unavailable. The NOAAPort LDM feed is preferred over an external online source only because that minimizes the number of points of failure. The program should pull in the climatologcal report and return the "Highest Wind Speed" back in knots to update the daily verifcation numbers. The section of the climatological report (F6) looks like this:

 COOLING
  YESTERDAY       18                        14      4       22
  MONTH TO DATE  482                       418     64      522
  SINCE JUN 1   1455                      1292    163     1409
  SINCE JAN 1   1728                      1488    240     1602
...................................................................

WIND (MPH)
  HIGHEST WIND SPEED    16   HIGHEST WIND DIRECTION    SE (140)
  HIGHEST GUST SPEED    20   HIGHEST GUST DIRECTION    SE (140)
  AVERAGE WIND SPEED     6.2

Python: Model (MOS) Numbers

The WxChallenge currently uses a text-based program/API that serves up model output statistics (MOS) that are stored in NOAAPort LDM files. This program is being phased out and we would like to utilize a Python script to pull MOS data for the NAM and GFS either from NOAAPort LDM files and/or an online source of data. Perhaps multiple data sources could be utilize in the case of one source being unavailable. The NOAAPort LDM feed is preferred over an external online source only because that minimizes the number of points of failure. The program should pull in the MOS numbers and return the maximum and minimum air temperature, and highest wind speed to update the daily forecast file.


Python: Model Grids

The WxChallenge currently uses a text-based program/API that serves up model gridded precipitation values that are stored in NOAAPort LDM files. This program is being phased out and we would like to utilize a Python script to pull model gridded precipitation values for the NAM and GFS either from NOAAPort LDM files and/or an online source of data. Perhaps multiple data sources could be utilize in the case of one source being unavailable. The NOAAPort LDM feed is preferred over an external online source only because that minimizes the number of points of failure. The program should pull in the model gridded precipitation values for the upcoming forecast period to update the daily forecast file. WxChallenge programs have attempted to use the THREDDS server to access this data with in consistent results. This is likely due to a programming issue and results in a manual updating of the numbers at a later point in time by the WxChallenge Manager.