About the Short Range Forecast (Days ½-2½)

Issuance Times


Product Time
6 and 12 hour forecasts 0200Z (Night Shift)
1400Z (Day Shift)
18 and 24 hour forecasts 0430Z (Night Shift)
1630Z (Day Shift)
30, 36, and 48 hour forecasts 0730Z (Night Shift)
1930Z (Day Shift)
60 hour forecast 0800Z (Night Shift)
2000Z (Day Shift)
Discussion 0900Z (Night Shift)
2100Z (Day Shift)


About These Products


The short range meteorologist prepares 6 through 60 hour forecasts for the continental U.S., southern Canada, and northern Mexico.   These products are issued twice daily using numerical model output from the National Weather Service's (NWS) Global Forecast System (GFS) and North American Mesoscale model (NAM), as well as guidance from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the United Kingdom's Meteorology Office (UKMET), the Meteorological Service of Canada, including ensembles.   Coordination with the surface analysis, model diagnostics, quantitative precipitation, winter weather, and tropical forecast desks is also performed during the forecast process.  

The short range forecast products include surface pressure patterns (isobars), circulation centers and fronts for 6-60 hours, and a depiction of the types and extent of precipitation that are forecast at the valid time of the chart.  The primary goal is to depict accurately the evolution of major weather systems that will affect the continental U.S. during the next 60 hours.   In addition, discussions are written on each shift and issued with the forecast packages that highlight the meteorological reasoning behind the forecasts and significant weather across the continental United States.

Please note that at this time isobars are not included on the 6-hour forecast and precipitation is not included on the 60-hour forecast chart.