Forecast Times
Across the top of the right hand panel is a title bar (shown above). The "Forecast Period" gives the 24-hour time span for which the plotted data are valid. Times are given in Mean Greenwich Time ("Z"). To convert to local time, add 5.5 hours. The date and time on the right indicate the initialization time of the model run. Regional forecasts will be based on either the 00Z or the 12Z AVN model output.
Right Panel: Precipitation Accumulation
The right panel shows the total precipitation accumulation for the indicated 24 hour forecast period. Contours are drawn at 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 250mm; values less than 1mm are not shown. The dark brown shaded topographic relief and blue ocean of the map background are visible in the areas where precipitation is less than 1 millimeter. The AVN is a global model, so small-scale climate regimes such as those found in mountainous terrain may not be well represented in the model. Keep this in mind when looking at forecasts in these areas. Longitude and latitude lines are drawn every 5 degrees.
Left Panels: Maximum and Minimum Temperatures
The left panels show shaded contours of the minimum and maximum 2-meter temperatures over the 24-hour forecast period. The contour interval is 3°C. Alternating bands are transparent so the the background image showing topographic relief can be seen. Contour levels that are multiples of 6°C are black and have labels. The white unlabeled contours are for intermediate multiples of 3°C. See the color bar on the left side of the temperature maps for the complete scale.
