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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.

  1. VTEC is a character string with a specified format that is generated and placed in the warning product
    1. Character string describes many of the basic characteristics of the product
    2. Complements the UGC text, which lists the included counties and product issuance time and day of the month
    3. VTEC allows the forecaster to identify a specific product from a list based upon the information in the VTEC character string
  2. VTEC has the following format for products issued through WarnGen:

    /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZB-yymmddThhnnZE/

    where the coding is interpreted as:

    k - product class (O, T, E, X) dd - event date/time group
    aaa - action hh - hour
    cccc - office id nn - minute
    pp - phenomena yy - year
    s - significance ZB - Beginning Zulu time designator
    #### - event tracking number ZE - Ending Zulu time designator
    mm - month /, . - Generic format delimiters
    T - Time designator  

    3. With the following meanings for each category

    Product (k)
    Class

    O Operational
    T Test

    E Experimental
    X Experimental VTEC in Operational Product


    Actions (aaa)

    NEW New event
    CON Event continued
    EXT Event extended (time)
    EXA Event extended (area)
    EXB Event extended (time and area)

    UPG Event upgraded
    CAN Event cancelled
    EXP Event expired
    COR Correction
    ROU Routine


    Significance (s) W Warning
    A Watch     		Y Advisory
    S Statement

    Phenomena (pp)

    BZ
    WS
    WW
    SN
    HS
    LE
    BS
    SB
    IP
    HP
    ZR
    IS
    FZ
    ZF
    FR
    WC
    EC
    QI
    HW
    LW
    FG
    SM
    HT
    EH
    DU
    DS
    FL

    Blizzard
    Winter Storm
    Winter Weather
    Snow
    Heavy Snow
    Lake Effect Snow
    Blowing/Drifting Snow
    Snow & Blowing Snow
    Sleet
    Heavy Sleet
    Freezing Rain
    Ice Storm
    Freeze
    Freezing Fog
    Frost
    Wind Chill
    Extreme Cold
    Wind
    High Wind
    Lake Wind
    Dense Fog
    Dense Smoke
    Heat
    Excessive Heat
    Blowing Dust
    Dust Storm
    Flood

    FF
    SV
    TO
    FW
    RF
    RH
    VO
    AF
    AS AV
    TS
    MA
    SC
    GL
    SR
    HF
    TR
    HU
    TY
    TI
    HI
    LS
    CF
    UP
    LO
    SU

    		 Flash Flood
    Severe Thunderstorm
    Tornado
    Fire Weather (RFW, FWW)
    Red Flag Warning
    Radiological Hazard
    Volcano
    Volcanic Ashfall
    Air Stagnation
    Avalanche
    Tsunami
    Marine
    Small Craft
    Gale
    Storm
    Hurricane Force Wind
    Tropical Storm
    Hurricane
    Typhoon
    Inland Tropical Storm Wind
    Inland Hurricane Wind
    Lakeshore Flood
    Coastal Flood
    Ice Accretion
    Low Water
    High Surf

  3. 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
  4. While VTEC is part of the AWIPS OB 3.1 default WarnGen templates, it will not be implemented nationally until some period after the initial release of OB 3.1. At present, the VTEC turn on/implementation date is December 1, 2004.
    1. The period between the release of OB 3.1 and the implementation of VTEC will be a test period
    2. For information on how to set up your OB 3.1 templates/localizations for training and testing during this period, AWIPS focal points will need to go to FSL's Migration to OB 3.1 WarnGen web site. The AWIPS focal point should also go to the OB 3.1 WarnGen WFO Implementation Instructions web page because that document contains a more detailed set of instructions. Customizing the OB 3.1 templates, testing them, and training the staff will take time, so don't wait until the last minute.
    3. By early November, the OB 1 WarnGen templates should be removed and the new customized OB 3.1 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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