U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK No. 1 FCM-H1-2017 Washington, D.C. Advanced copy Effective November 30, 2017 CHANGE AND REVIEW LOG Use this page to record changes, notices and reviews. Change Number Page Numbers Date Posted Initials 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Changes are indicated by a vertical line in the margin next to the change. Review Date Comments Initials ii THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 1325 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY, SUITE 7130 SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20910 301-628-0112
[email protected] FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER 1 SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS FCM-H1-2017 Washington, D.C. Advance Copy Effective November 30, 2017 Summary of Changes This change to FMH-1, published November 30, 2017, replaces the September 1, 2005 version and accomplishes the following general objectives: • Update references to publications, groups, and organizations. • Change various aspects of observer certification and weather station management. • Separate reporting of small hail from snow pellets and group it with conventional hail reports. • Require reporting of snow pellet intensity. • Clarify certain aspects of reporting present weather: . The order of reporting present weather elements. How intensity modifiers apply to present weather groups containing more than one precipitation type. • Provide new information on reporting ice accretion. Specific Changes: Chapter 1: • Changed reference to Working Group for Automated Observing Systems to Working Group for Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1 (paragraphs 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7).