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Valid Time Event Code
This page is featured as a quick highlight to some
of the background material about the Valid Time Event Code (or
VTEC). AWIPS focal points should view the OCWWS
VTEC Implementation Plan for a more detailed description
about VTEC and its implementation.
-
VTEC is a character string with a specified
format that is generated and placed in the warning product
- Character string describes many of the basic characteristics
of the product
- Complements the UGC text, which lists the included
counties and product issuance time and day of the month
- VTEC allows the forecaster to identify a specific
product from a list based upon the information in the VTEC
character string
- VTEC has the following format:
/aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmdBdBThhnnZ-yymmdEdEThhnnZ/
where the coding is interpreted as:
| aaa - action |
dBdB - event beginning date/time group |
| cccc - office id |
dEdE - event ending date/time group |
| pp - phenomena |
hh - hour |
| s - significance |
nn - minute |
| #### - event tracking number |
yy - year |
| mm - month |
Z - Zulu time designator |
| T - Time designator |
/, . - Generic format delimiters |
- The VTEC string is generated by WarnGen and should generally be transparent
to the warning forecaster until it appears in the text of the
product
- While VTEC is part of the AWIPS OB 2 default WarnGen templates,
it will not be implemented nationally until some period after
the initial release of OB 2. At present, the VTEC turn on/implementation
date is December 2.
- The period between the release of OB
2 and the implementation of VTEC will be a test period
- For information on how to set up your
OB 2 templates/localizations for training and testing during
this period, AWIPS focal points will need to go to FSL's
Migration to OB 2 WarnGen web site. The
AWIPS focal point should also go to the OB 2 WarnGen WFO Implementation
Instructions web page because that document contains a more
detailed set of instructions. Customizing the OB 2 templates,
testing them, and training the staff will take time, so don't
wait until the last minute.
- By early November, the OB 1 WarnGen
templates should be removed and the new customized OB 2 templates
put into place operationally on all appropriate WSs. This timeline
will allow you ample time to use the new templates and WarnGen
software operationally well in advance of the VTEC turn on
date.
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