[noaaport] Changes to METAR data over SBN

Howdy all,

I just saw this come across and given its significance I wanted to draw attention to it here. Seems that in December the process AND product headers for transmitting METAR and SPECIals will change. Depending on your REQUESTS and PQACTS this could be impactful.

Subject: Addition of SAUS99 and SPUS99 Text Products to
Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN) and Removal of the SAUS70, 80
and 90 Counterparts on or about December 11, 2024

The NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)
Central Operations (NCO) creates routine collectives of
observational METAR data in SAUS70 KWBC, SAUS80 KWBC, SAUS90
KWBC and their counterparts for Special observations SPUS70,
SPUS80 and SPUS90. These collectives require manual
intervention to add METAR stations to them. These are then
distributed over the SBN. Another product, SAUS99 KWBC, and the
Special observation counterpart SPUS99 KWBC contain any METAR
observation received every minute. Delivering SAUS99 and SPUS99
over the SBN rather than the aforementioned collectives will
provide more observational data and more timely data to users of
the SBN.

The replacement with SAUS99 and SPUS99 is expected to occur on
or about 1200 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) December 11,
2024. If a Critical Weather Day has been issued, this change
will be postponed until 1200 UTC on the next non-Critical
Weather Day.

Users that are receiving and utilizing SAUS70 KWBC, SPUS70 KWBC,
SAUS80 KWBC, SPUS80 KWBC, SAUS90 KWBC or SPUS90 KWBC must ensure
they can also receive SAUS99 KWBC and SPUS99 KWBC.

https://www.weather.gov/media/notification/pdf_2023_24/scn24-99_add_saus99_to_sbn.pdf

Best,

-Mike

- Mike Zuranski

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Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions and all general nonsenses are those of myself and in no way reflect the views or positions of any other person or entity.