The Wonderful World of WIMS

Heidi Strader & Sharon Alden

• Navigate to http://fam.nwcg.gov/fam-web/• Select WIMS in left-hand menu

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• A new window pops up• Enter your username and password

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• The main WIMS screen appears• Select DATA

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• The Data Entry/Manipulation screen appears• Select OBS

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• The Observations screen appears• Select EOBS to make your inputs

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• The Edit Observations screen appears

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• Enter Station ID

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• Enter Type “R”

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• Enter Date as “DD-MMM-YY”

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• Enter Time in hours (13)

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• Select “Find”

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• The observation will appear, if it’s in the system

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• Review the pre-entered data- does it looks right?

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• State of the Weather, or “W”, has 10 possible codes

W Code Description

0 = Clear (0 – 10 % obscured)

1 = Scattered clouds (20 – 50%)

2 = Broken clouds (60 – 90%)

3 = Overcast (100% obscured)

4 = Foggy

5 = Drizzling

6 = Raining

7 = Snow/ sleet

8 = Showering

9 = Thunderstorms in progress

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• Solar Radiation can help determine State of the Weather

W Code SolarDescription Rad

0 (Clear) ≥ 700

1 (Scattered clouds) 500 - 699

2 (Broken clouds) 300 - 499

3 (Overcast) ≤ 299

Determine other W values based on what

the RAWS is reporting; precip recorded on

site or RH nearly 100% (= possible rain),

temperature below freezing with high RH

and precip (= snow/sleet), lightning activity

on AFS website (= TSTMS or showers), &

any other means available

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• Wet Fuels flag depends on State of Weather (W)17

WF Flags

0 = N

1 = N

2 = N

3 = N

4 = N

5 = Y

6 = Y

7 = Y

8 = N or Y

9 = N or Y

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• These are the manual changes so far18

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• 10 Hour Fuel Stick Moisture Content

10 Hr ValueLeave Blank! -- If Wet Fuels = Y, the default value is 35. -- WIMS calculates this value if station has no associated manual station.

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• Morning and Yesterday’s Lightning

ML and YL (Lightning)

Should be Blank!

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• Observed and Forecast Human-Caused Risk

HC and FHC Risk

Enter a zero (0)

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• Wind direction or speed may need adjustment

Wind

If speed = 0, then direction = 0.

If speed > 0, then direction must be given (N =360).

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• Here’s the manual change23

• Change the R to an O!24

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• Here’s the manual change25

• Select “Save”…26

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• A message will tell you if you succeeded or not27

SIG Groups

Would you like to bring up all of your observations at once???

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• Select “Back to Menu”29

•The Data Entry/Manipulation screen appears• Select STA

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• The Station Information screen appears

31• Select MSIG

• The Maintain SIG screen appears

32• Select NSIG to create a new group

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• The Create a SIG screen appears• Type in a name for the group

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• Select “Setup”

• A blank list appears

35• Enter 6-letter station codes

• Select “Save”

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• A message will tell you if you are successful

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FastPath

Would you like to zoom to different menus more quickly???

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• Go to FastPath

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• Enter the 3 or 4-letter ID for the screen you want

40• Select “Go”

• You are back in the Edit Obs Screen!

41• Now you can choose by “SIG”.

• Make sure your other parameters are complete

42• Select “Find”

• You get the 13L observation for all stations in list

43• Note message if station is not included• Make edits as needed!

Manual Observations

How to enter manual ob data

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• Start from the Main Menu• Go to New Observations via FastPath (NOBS)

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Observation Time: 13

• A blank observation form appears

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Observation Type: O

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State of the Weather : 0 - 9

W Code Description

0 = Clear (0 – 10% obscured)

1 = Scattered clouds (20 – 50%)

2 = Broken clouds (60 – 90%)

3 = Overcast (100% obscured)

4 = Foggy

5 = Drizzling

6 = Raining

7 = Snow/ sleet

8 = Showering

9 = Thunderstorms in progress

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State of the Weather can bebased on Solar Radiation

W Code SolarDescription Rad

0 (Clear) ≥ 700

1 (Scattered clouds) 500 - 699

2 (Broken clouds) 300 - 499

3 (Overcast) ≤ 299

Determine other W values based on what

the RAWS is reporting; precip recorded on

site or RH nearly 100% (= possible rain),

temperature below freezing with high RH

and precip (= snow/sleet), lightning activity

on AFS website (= TSTMS or showers), &

any other means available

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Dry Bulb Temp: TT or -TT (o F)

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Humidity Value: RH (%)

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OK to Leave Blank, unless you have raw data to enter

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Enter a zero (0), unless you have raw data to enter

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Wind Direction: DDD (3 digit direction 001-360)Wind Speed: SS (2 or 3 digit average speed in mph)

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Max Temp: TT (o F in last 24 hours)Min Temp: TT (o F in last 24 hours)

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Max RH: MM (% in last 24 hours)Min RH: MM (% in last 24 hours)

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Duration of Precip: HH (# of hours)

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Amount of Precip: P.PP (inches of precip in last 24 hours. T=Trace)

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Wet Flag: Y or N

WF Flags

0 = N

1 = N

2 = N

3 = N

4 = N

5 = Y

6 = Y

7 = Y

8 = N or Y

9 = N or Y

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• When finished, select “Save”

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• You can also create new obs by “SIG” group• Just build your observations as before

Phew!

Any questions?62

Congratulations!!!You’re a WIMS WIZ!

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