Why You Should Read NOAA/NWS Area Weather Forecast Discussions
Ask any meteorologist or serious weather watcher in the United States and they'll tell you that the National Weather Service Area Forecast Discussion, or AFD, is one of the most information-dense and valuable weather resources available.
The AFD represents the notes of the expert meteorologists in your local forecast office as they are producing the various weather forecast products that you and your local meteorologist will use to produce your forecast. The AFD encapsulates the thought process, statistical likelihood of various outcomes based on model data, the big factors influencing the forecast in your area, etc.
The true power and value of the AFD to you is that it arms you with the knowledge to understand what’s happening in your local weather, even if certain aspects of the official forecast don’t come to pass. You’ll be able to adjust your understanding of the weather as it changes, which is incredibly useful.
The AFD is broken down into several subsections dealing with long range, short range, aviation weather, fire weather, marine weather, etc. These sections are produced independently and updated as needed.
As a pilot, backpacker and general weather watcher, I’ve sought out and read Forecast Discussions for many years for all the reasons listed above. While they are publicly available, they’re not in the most convenient format or easily accessible. For these reasons, I developed the iOS app Deep Weather to make it incredibly easy to access and digest this highly valuable weather resource.
Download Deep Weather from the App Store:
The Real Weather Report!
When you want a deeper understanding of the weather patterns around you that are affecting your forecast, the NOAA Weather Forecast Discussions or AFDs are an invaluable tool. It's the next best thing to having an in-person conversation with a NOAA meterologist.
Deep Weather strives to make it as convenient as possible to access and read your local Weather Forecast Discussion and get the benefits of this deep weather information.
Deep Weather is free to download, contains no ads and has over 2,000 five-star reviews on the app store.
Available now for iPhone and iPad.