National Blend of Models Comparative Viewer

The Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL) has developed a web interface that provides side-by-side comparisons of National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) forecasts, Weather Prediction Center (WPC) forecasts, model forecast grids, prototype National Blend of Models (NBM) grids, and surface objective analyses in near real-time. This NBM comparative viewer shows grid-to-grid component and model blend verifications according to multiple analyses, including the Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA), Unrestricted Mesoscale Analysis (URMA), Bergthorssen-Cressman-Doos-Glahn (BCDG) analysis, and Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) analysis. The NBM viewer also enables users to view grid-to-point component and model blend verifications for METAR observation locations via map overlays and interactive graphs. The viewer has been used to compare the RTMA and URMA to other experimental and operational analyses.  It enables NWS field forecasters to provide rapid feedback to RTMA/URMA developers on parallel datasets. MDL developers can conveniently compare gridded MOS products and prototype blended fields to NDFD forecasts, WPC forecasts, and URMA.

Here, we also review the performance of the most recent year of NBM compared to NDFD, WPC, and gridded Model Output Statistics (GMOS) for forecast periods out to seven days in advance. The NBM is intended to serve as valuable guidance for forecasters at National Weather Service weather forecast offices and throughout the weather enterprise.