March 24, 1977

SUBJECT:     Transmittal Memorandum for Operations Manual Issuance 77-5

TO:    All Holders of Operations Manual

1.    Material Transmitted:

Entire Chapter B-90, Special Warning Program Observations.

2. Summary:

    a. The chapter has been reorganized according to type of observation which allows the chapter to be shortened.

    b. Four exhibits were removed because the information was available in the Operations of the Weather Service, Chapters B-16 and B-30 and the Federal Meteorological Handbooks.

    c. All specific coding instructions were removed because these are included in the various Federal Meteorological Handbooks.

    d. Specific instructions are included concerning the use of the National Digital Circuit/State Digital Circuit. (4.1.1)

3.    Effect on Other Instructions:

Supersedes the entire Chapter B-9O, WSOM Issuance 74-25, dated November 14, 1974. OML 6-76, filed with B-90 dated May 27, 1976, is still in effect.

George P. Cressman
Director, National Weather Service

Issue Date    Org. Code     NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE         Part     Chap.
3-24-77        W112x3                Operations Manual                                B         90

Table of Contents

1. Purpose

2. Aircraft Observations

3. Satellite Observations

4. Surface Observations

        4.1 Hurricane Office Support
                4.1.1 Land Observations
                4.1.2 Ship Observations
                4.1.3 Requests by Navy Fleet Weather Central in the Pacific
                4.1.4 Special Radio Reports on Overtime
                4.1.5 Request for Hourly Reports
                4.1.6 Time for Filing Messages
                4.1.7 Message to Individual Vessels
                4.1.8 Verification of Suspected Data
                4.1.9 Distribution of Ship Observations
                4.1.10 Weather Observations from Environmental Data Buoys
                4.1.11 Radar Observations

4.2  Support to Other Offices

        4.2.1 Coastal Flood Warning Service Observations
        4.2.2 Flash Flood Warning Observations
        4.2.3 Ship Observations

5.  Upper Air Observations

    5.1     Hurricane Office Support
            5.1.1     Special Observations from Weather Service Land Stations
            5.1.2     Special Upper-Air Observations from a Foreign Meteorological Service
            5.1.3     Special Observations from Ocean Station Vessel HOTEL (C7H)
            5.1.4     Calling Out Ocean Station Vessel C7H

    5.2     Severe Local Storms Support
        5.2.1    NSSFC
        5.2.2    Weather Service Forecast Offices
        5.2.3    Upper-Air Station
        5.2.4    Limit on Specials
        5.2.5    Requests by Air Weather Service

    5.3     Support to Other NWS Offices

6.    Tsunami Warning System Observations

Exhibits:

B-90-1: Radio Stations Used by Weather Service Offices to Obtain Special Ship Observations

B-90-2: Schedule of Radiotelegraph High Seas Marine Broadcasts Containing Requests for Special
Ship Weather Observations

B-90-3: Tide Height Reporting Network

B-90-4: WSO's Supply Tide Data to Tsunami Centers

1. Purpose. This chapter outlines National Weather Service (NWS) policy for obtaining special observations in support of various warning programs. It also provides the procedures an office should follow to request these observations.

2. Aircraft Observations. Aircraft reconnaissance observations are provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Research Facilities Center (RFC) and the U.S. Air Force. Those offices that may request aircraft reconnaissance and the procedures they should use are given in the National Hurricane Operations Plan and the National East Coast Winter Storms Operations Plan.

3. Satellite Observations. Special satellite observations are available through the Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSS) of the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS). The National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) receives special support from SFSS Kansas City. The National Hurricane Center (NHC), Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center (EPHC), and Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) are supported by SFSS's Miami, San Francisco, and Honolulu, respectively.

The SFSS's provide special sectors to cover the storm areas of concern to these centers. WSFO's (Weather Service Forecast Office) may receive the special sectors by telephone request to the supporting SFSS.

4. Surface Observations. Special surface observations are available from all U.S. synoptic and aviation network stations, ships, Marine Reporting Stations (MARS), Great Lakes Coast Guard Stations, and coastal tide stations. All offices are encouraged to arrange for cooperative observations from areas in which regular coverage is sparse.

4.1 Hurricane Office Support. Surface observations in support of the hurricane warning service may be requested by any hurricane center, hurricane warning office, or weather service office while performing a hurricane warning function. This includes both tropical and subtropical storms.

4.1.1 Land Observations. The forecaster will specify, depending on the capability of the office, whether aviation or synoptic observations are required. The Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1 (FMH-l), Surface Observations; FMH-2, Synoptic Observations; and Weather Service Operations Manual (WSOM) Chapter E-41 give the observing procedures to be followed. In the synoptic observations the forecaster must specifically request tide height, sea, swell, or wind fluctuations.

    a. MARS. Forecasters will make their requests for additional and special MARS observations through the appropriate Coast Guard (CG) District Headquarters as follows.

First Coast Guard District	Maine to Rhode Island
Third Coast Guard District	Connecticut to Delaware
Fifth Coast Guard District	Maryland to North Carolina
Seventh Coast Guard District	South Carolina to Florida (east of 85oW)
Eighth Coast Guard District	Florida (west of 85oW) to Mexico
Eleventh Coast Guard District	Santa Maria River to Mexico
Twelfth Coast Guard District	Oregon Border to Santa Maria River
Thirteenth Coast Guard District	Washington to California

The locations of stations in this program are given in WSOM Chapter B-16.

b. Transmission of Observations. One of the following methods of transmission will be used where available, otherwise the observation will be telephoned to the requesting office.

    a. National Distribution Circuit (NDC)/State Distribution Circuit (SDC) (these are the main circuits used with the Automation of Field Operation & Services (AFOS) System)
    b. RAWARC
    c. 7072
    d. Service A or C as appropriate, in first open period
    e. West Coast Marine Circuit
    f. NOAA Weather Wire
    g. Any other telecommunications system that would be available at the requesting office.

4.1.2 Ship Observations. During the hurricane season the NWS makes requests for special ship observations from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, North Atlantic waters west of 35EW, and North Pacific waters east of 180E W. Observations can be requested at 1-, 2-, or 3-hourly intervals as required.

a. Atlantic and Pacific Merchant Vessel Reporting Program. The CG (Coast Guard) Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC) New York, New York, and San Francisco, California, operate the Automated Merchant Vessel Reporting Program (AMVER). When no or only a few observations are received from a storm area, the Hurricane Center responsible for issuing marine advisories may ask their local CG station to send a message addressed to "AMVER, NEW YORK, NY," or "AMVER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA," as appropriate, requesting a list of ships, with their radio call signs, that are underway in the storm area. Hurricane forecasters will forward "AMVER" messages via local CG offices as follows:

Requesting Office	Coast Guard Station
WSFO Boston	through District Commander, Boston, MA.
WSFO Washington	through Radio Station NMN, Portsmouth, VA., (via circuit 7072)
NHC Miami	through District Commander, Miami, FL.
WSFO New Orleans	through District Commander, New Orleans, LA.
WSFO San Francisco	through District Commander, San Francisco, CA.

To speed delivery of messages from storm areas and to identify them as such, the word "STORM" should appear immediately following the radio address.

    b. Method of Requesting Observations. Requests to ships are broadcast by radio shore stations operated by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), TRT Telecommunications Corp., American Telephone and Telegraph Co. (AT&T), ITT World Communications, Inc., Mobile Radio (WLO), and the U.S. Coast Guard. In Puerto Rico, requests are made through facilities operated by the CG at San Juan, the Cable and Wireless Ltd. at Barbados, the French Government of Martinique, and the Netherlands Antilles Government of Curacao.

Requests for special ship weather reports should be sent to the NWS office located near the radio shore station, for relay to the radio shore station, or should be sent directly to the radio shore station(s) if there is no nearby NWS office. The NWS offices and/or radio shore stations to be contacted can be determined from exhibit B-90-1.

    c. Requests Transmitted by Radio Station NMR, San Juan PR. NHC requests for special ship observations transmitted by Radio Station NMR will be sent to Airway Observer, San Juan, Puerto Rico, via Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radio teletypewriter (RTT) circuit.

    d. Example of Message to Radio Shore Stations. The following is an example of a message prepared by WSFO New Orleans for dispatch to a NWS office requesting radio shore stations to make direct calls for special observations.

OBSERVER PORT ARTHUR TEXAS.

SPECIAL WEATHER REPORTS DESIRED AT HOURLY INTERVALS NEXT 24 HOURS BEGINNING 2000Z JULY 16 FROM ALL SHIPS IN AREA (GIVE GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES) ADDRESSED OBS METEO WASH DC. FORWARD MESSAGES IN CODE OR PLAIN LANGUAGE PRECEDED BY THE WORD STORM.

DOE

Call	Location of	Nearest Weather
Letters	Radio Station	Service Office
WOM	Ojus, FL
WOE	Lantana, FL	NHC, Miami, FL
NMA	Miami, FL
NMR	San Juan, PR
8PO	Barbados
FFP	Fort de France, Martinique	WSFO, San Juan, PR
FFQ	Destrellan, Guadaloupe
PJC	Curacao, Neth. Antilles
WLO	Mobile, AL	WSO, Mobile, AL
NMG, WNU	New Orleans, LA	WSFO, New Orleans LA
WPA	Port Arthur, TX	WSO, Port Arthur, TX
KLC	Galveston, TX	WSO, Houston, TX
NMN	Norfolk, VA	WSO, Norfolk, VA
WMH	Baltimore, MD	WSO, Baltimore, MD
WSC	Tuckerton, NJ	WSO, Atlantic City, NJ
WSL	Amagansett, NJ	WSFO, New York, NY
WOO	Ocean Gate, NJ
NMF	Boston MA	WSFO, Boston, MA
WCC	Chatham, MA
North Pacific Waters East of 180o
KLC	Galveston, TX
WPA	Port Arthur, TX
WLO	Mobile, AL	WSFO, San Francisco, CA
NMG, WNU	New Orleans, LA
NMC, KFS, KPH,   KMI		San Francisco, CA
NMQ	Long Beach, CA	WSFO, Los Angeles, CA
KOK	Los Angeles, CA
KLB	Seattle, WA	WSFO, Seattle, WA
NMW	Astoriz, OR	WSO, Astoria, OR
NMO, KHK	Honolulu, HI	WSFO, Honolulu, HI

Exhibit B-90-1: Radio Stations Used by Weather Service Offices to Obtain Special Ship Observations

    e. Requests Via Marine Broadcasts. Whenever radio shore stations have been asked to make direct calls to ships for special reports, the hurricane warning office (HWO) or center initiating the action will also arrange for including similar requests in the warning section of the marine broadcasts. The office concerned should forward its requests via the NDC/ SDC, teletypewriter, telegraph, telephone, or radio in order to reach the WSFO preparing material for the marine broadcasts at least 2 hours prior to the starting time of the broadcasts. The office originating the request, the radio station(s) making the broadcast, and the broadcast schedule for the marine broadcasts are shown in exhibit B-90-2.

In addition, WSFO San Francisco will arrange with the USCG Communications Station San Francisco and WSFO Honolulu will coordinate with the U.S. CG Communications Station, Honolulu, for inclusion of requests for special ship observations in the NMC Point Reyes and NMO Honolulu, General Weather Broadcasts as indicated in exhibit B-90-2.

    f. Example of Request in Marine Broadcast. If requests are worded in accordance with the example below, they will require little, if any, editing by marine forecast units.

KWBC WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR NAM MARINE BROADCAST

WEATHER SERVICE DESIRES SPECIAL WEATHER REPORTS ADDRESSED OBS METEO WASHDC TAKEN AT 2-HOURLY INTERVALS BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUING UNTIL (INSERT TIME AND DATE) FROM ALL SHIPS IN AREA (GIVE GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES). FORWARD MESSAGES IN CODE OR PLAIN LANGUAGE PRECEDED BY WORD STORM.

DOE

In request messages prepared by WSFO San Juan, the last sentence should read: "FORWARD MESSAGES IN CODE OR PLAIN LANGUAGE VIA CARIBBEAN STATIONS NMR, FFP, 8PO, or PJC."

    g. Duration of Request. Each request for special ship observations will be confined to a period not to exceed the ensuing 24 hours. The hurricane warning office (HWO) or hurricane center concerned will renew its request every 24 hours thereafter, or more often, when the geographical area in the preceding request requires modification. On occasions when responsibility for issuing advisories is transferred from one office to another, the latter office will continue to renew the requests for special ship observations under the same conditions as indicated above, as long as the storm is in progress overwater or until it moves inland over the United States, Mexico, or Canada.

North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Waters
		Starting	Message to be
Office	To be included in	Schedules of	addressed via
Originating Request	broadcasts from	Broadcasts	TT or RTT To:
#NHC, Miami, FL	NSS Annapolis, MD.
#WSFO, New Orleans,LA/HWO	NAR Key West, FL.	0030, 0630Z	KWBC
#WSFO, San Juan, PR/HWO	NAM Norfolk, VA.	1230, 1900Z	Washington,DC
#WSFO, Boston, MA/HWO	NSS Londonderry, N.Ire.
#WSFO, Washington, DC|HWO	NRK Reykjavik, Iceland
	GXH Thurso, Scotland
	AOK Rota, Spain
North Pacific Waters, West of Central America and Mexico
WSFO, San Francisco,	KFS, San Francisco,		0420, 1620
CA/EPHC	CA (Marine)		2300Z
	KOK, Los Angeles,		0450, 1650Z KSFO
WSFO, Honolulu,	CA (Marine)		San Francisco,
HI/CPHC	NMQ, Long Beach	0420, 1720Z	CA
	CA (Marine)
	NMC, San Francisco,		0030, 0630
	CA (Marine)		1900, 2100Z
North Pacific Waters, Adjacent to Hawaiian Islands
WSFO, Honolulu, HI/CPHC
NMO, Honolulu, HI 0500, 2000Z
#All broadcasts keyed simultaneously from Northern Ireland

Exhibit B-90-2: Schedule of Radiotelegraph High Seas Marine Broadcasts Containing Requests for Special Ship Weather Observations

Offices preparing marine broadcasts will include the same request for observations in each succeeding broadcast during the ensuing 24 hours, unless superseded by a new request.

4.1.3 Requests by Navy Fleet Weather Central in the Pacific. Occasionally, U.S. Navy Fleet Weather Centrals in the Pacific area may originate requests for special reports from ships in the vicinity of the storm. There is no objection to this arrangement provided the special reports are requested only from Military Sea Lift Command (MSC) and other government vessels that employ government communications for relaying their messages. If the request involves message tolls to be paid by the NWS, such requests should be coordinated with the CPHC or EPHC before broadcast.

4.1.4 Special Radio Reports on Overtime. The NWS has arranged with a number of the U.S. registry vessels, which have a single radio operator, to transmit to "OBS METEO WASHDC" 1200Z weather reports from eastern Pacific waters. The radio operator is paid overtime by the NWS for transmitting these reports. A current list of the ships authorized overtime, together with their radio call signs, is supplied to NHC, EPHC, CPHC, and the HWO's.

4.1.5 Request for Hourly Reports. In the event any of the ships listed for overtime reports are in a storm area and special reports are needed at hourly intervals during the day or night, the HWO responsible for issuance of the advisories should dispatch individual messages to each vessel. These messages will be sent via government or commercial radio stating the times at which special radio reports are required.

4.1.6 Time for Filing Messages. Individual messages requesting special nighttime or early morning reports should be filed early to allow their receipt before the radio officer completes his watch (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time).

4.1.7 Message to Individual Vessels. Individual messages maybe sent to vessels other than overtime contract ships in the storm area, whether U.S. or foreign registry, at the discretion of the forecaster. Messages addressed to individual U.S. ships, other than overtime contract ships, may have the following statement added to their request: RADIO OPERATOR OVERTIME PAY AUTHORIZED IF NECESSARY.

4.1.8 Verification of Suspected Data. Whenever the HWO responsible for issuing formal advisories notes that "LaLaLa," "LoLoLo," "PPP," or other important data appear to be in error, the office entering the reports on Service C, circuit 7072 or the SDC/NDC should be asked to send a service message to the radio shore station requesting the ship to verify the questioned data. However, the office should first ascertain that such errors are not merely transposition of code figures in the message; e.g., LaLaLacoded as 271 instead 217.

4.1.9 Distribution of Ship Observations. When radio shore stations receive special ship observations, they utilize a number of methods in relaying these reports to the NWS. These methods include Timed Wire Service (TWX), AFOS external users circuits, telephone, RAWARC, and direct teletypewriter links to NWS offices. The NWS office which originally receives the observation is responsible for relaying it to all possible users according to the following:

    a. Camp Springs, Communications Branch. All messages addressed "OBS METEO," or observations preceded by the word "STORM" from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and North Atlantic waters will be promptly placed on circuit 7072 and the NDC/SDC. In addition, they will feed into the computer along with other ship reports for later readouts in summary form on Service C, Service O, and the NDC. Messages of interest to San Francisco and Honolulu will also be relayed via circuits GD60138 and GF10211, respectively, until these stations are placed on the NDC. All 0000, 0600, 1200, and 1800Z "OBSMETEO WASHDC" ship weather messages will be entered by the Suitland Communications Branch via the WMSC, 7072, and the NDC.

    b. Pacific Offices. Observations needed by EPHC San Francisco are addressed to "OBS METEO WASHDC" and relayed to Suitland through San Francisco. These observations are returned to San Francisco via circuit GD60138 and Services C and O until San Francisco becomes a node on the NDC. Observations needed by CPHC Honolulu are addressed to "OBS METEO HONOLULU" and sent directly to Suitland via the NWS cable and land lines. Suitland returns them to Honolulu via circuit GF10211 and to San Francisco via circuit 23401 and Services C and O until these stations are included on the NDC.

4.1.10 Weather Observations from Environmental Data Buoys. System maintenance, calibration, and final data quality verification are under the technical control of the NOAA Data Buoy Office and its supporting contractors. Requests for system status and schedule information should be directed to the NOAA Data Buoy Office in Mississippi.

NHC, HWO, and Storm Coordination Center (SCC) requests for special or more frequent interrogations during critical storm periods will be accommodated by phone requests to the Miami Radio Station Duty Officer, telephone (305) 233-2743 or FTS 350-4750. The start and stop time for special hourly reports should be given and limited to 12 consecutive hours of operation unless an emergency exists. In this case, consultation should be made with the NOAA Data Buoy Office.

4.1.11 Radar Observations. Special radar observations may be requested in accordance with FMH-7, Weather Radar Observations and Chapter B-50.

4.2 Support to Other Offices. Any NWS office may request extra observations from any office in the surface observational network in order to carry out its warning responsibilities. All offices are also encouraged to establish cooperative observation networks in data sparse regions of their warning area for use in potential or actual warning situations.

NWS offices which normally close during the night may be requested by the WSFO to remain open to make and transmit additional surface observations. Overtime, paid or compensatory, in accordance with the provisions of  NOAA Personnel Handbook and subsequent directives updating these provisions, is authorized when necessary to fulfill a station's warning responsibility. Requests from offices outside a given forecast area for extra hours of operation at stations within the forecast area should be coordinated through the responsible WSFO and not with the individual station.

4.2.1 Coastal Flood Warning Service Observations. Coastal offices have arranged for cooperative tide observations from stations of the Tide Height Reporting Network during potential or actual warning situations. NWS offices should initiate calls to cooperative tide stations for observations whenever needed. Supplemental observations should be input to the NDC/SDC, RAWARC, or phoned to the appropriate WSFO.

The NWS offices equipped with tide recorders from National Ocean Survey (NOS) tide gages and the tide gage from which they receive their information are indicated in the Operations of the National Weather Service and exhibit B-90-3.

4.2.2 Flash Flood Warning Observations. NWS offices should request special observations from their river and rainfall observers whenever the potential for flash flood producing precipitation exists. Reporting instructions are contained in WSOM E-41. Some observers have instructions to report as soon as certain criteria are met. Instructions for special radar observations can be found in WSOM Chapter E-13, Flash Flood Program.

4.2.3 Ship Observations. Any WSFO with coastal waters or high seas forecast responsibility may obtain special ship reports by following the procedures given in subsections 4.1.2 to 4.1.9.

Name	Lat.	Long.
MAINE
Eastport	44o54.2'N	66o59.1'W
Culter, Little River	44o39.4'N	67o12.6'W
Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert Island	44o23.5'N	68o12.3'W
Rockland, Penobscot Bay	44o06.3'N	69o06.2'W
Portland	43o39.6'N	70o14.8'W
Seavey Island	43o04.9'N	70o44.7'W
Maine State Pier, Portland	43o40 N	70o15 W
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston, (Appraiser's Stores)	42o21.3'N	71o03.0'W
Cape Cod Canal Ent., Cap Cod Bay	41o46.3'N	70o30.4'W
Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Canal	41o44.5'N	70o37.1'W
Woods Hole, (Oceanographic Inst.)	41o31.5'N	70o40.4'W
Nantucket, Nantucket Island	41o17.2'N	70o05.7'W
RHODE ISLAND
Newport (Naval Training Station)	41o30.3'N	71o19.6'W
Providence, (State Pier No. 1)	41o48.4'N	71o24.1'W
CONNECTICUT
New London, (State Pier), Thames R.	41o21.6'N	72o05.5'W
Bridgeport	41o10.4'N	73o10.9'W
Bridgeport Harbor, Yellow    Mill Bridge	41o10 N	73o11 W
NEW YORK
Montauk, Long Island	41o02.9'N	71o57.6'W
Port Jeff, Long Island	40o57.0'N	73o04.6'W
Willets Pt., (Ft. Totten), L.I.	40o47.6'N	73o46.9'W
New Rochelle	40o53.6'N	73o46.9'W
NYC, (The Battery)	40o42.0'N	74o00.9'W
NEW JERSEY
Sandy Hook, (Fort Hancock)	40o28.0'N	74o00.6'W
Atlantic City	39o21.3'N	74o25.1'W
Cape May	38o58.1'N	74o57.6'W

Exhibit B-90-3: Tide Height Reporting Network (1 of 5)

Name	Lat.	Long.
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia	39o57.1'N	75o08.4'W
DELAWARE
Reedy Point, Delaware River	39o33.6'N	75o34.1'W
Lewes, Breakwater Harbor	38o46.9'N	75o07.2'W
Indian River Inlet (C.G. Base)	38o36.6'N	75o04.2'W
MARYLAND
Ocean City	38o19.8'N	75o05.2'W
Cambridge, Choptank River	38o34.5'N	76o04.3'W
Matapeake	38o57.4'N	76o21.3'W
Havre de Grace	39o32.2'N	76o05.4'W
Baltimore, Ft. McHenry, Patapsco R	39o16.0'N	76o34.7'W
Annapolis, Chesapeake Bay	38o58.5'N	76o29.2'W
Solomons Is., Patuxent R., Ches. Bay	38o19.0'N	76o27.2'W
Washington, D.C.	38o52.3'N	77o01.2'W
VIRGINIA
Colonial Beach, Potomac River	38o15.2'N	76o57.7'W
Kiptopeake Beach, (Ferry Terminal)	37o10.0'N	75o59.3'W
Lewisetta	37o59.8'N	76o27.8'W
Gloucester Point, York River	37o14.8'N	76o30.0'W
Sewells Point, (Hampton Roads)	36o56.N	76o19.8'W
Portsmouth, Norfolk Naval Shipyard	36o49.3'N	76o17.6'W
NORTH CAROLINA
Wilmington, Cape Fear River	34o13.6'N	77o57.2'W
Avon	35o20.8'N	75o29.9'W
Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Ocean	34o41.6'N	76o42.7'W
SOUTH CAROLINA
Myrtle Beach	33o41.0'N	78o53.1'W
Charleston, Cooper River Entrance	32o46.9'N	79o55.5'W
Edisto Beach, Edisto Island	32o30.1'N	80o17.8'W
GEORGIA
Fort Pulaski, Natl. Mon. Savannah R	32o02.1'N	80o54.2'W

Exhibit B-90-3: Tide Height Reporting Network (2 of 5)

Name	Lat.	Long.
FLORIDA
Fernandina, Beach, Amelia River	30o40.3'N	81o28.0'W
Mayport, St. Johns River	30o23.6'N	81o25.9'W
Daytona Beach Shores	29o08.8'N	80o57.8'W
Miami Beach, (City Pier)	25o46.1'N	80o07.9'W
Marathon Shores, Key Vaca Cut	24o43.8'N	81o01.8'W
Key West, Key West Island	24o33.2'N	81o48.5'W
Naples	26o07.8'N	81o48.4'W
Fort Myers, Caloosahatchee River	26o38.8'N	81o52.3'W
St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay	27o46.4'N	82o37.3'W
Cedar Key, Way Key	29o08.1'N	83o01.9'W
St. Marks L.H., Apalachee Bay	30o04.7'N	84o10.7'W
Apalachicola, Apalachicola Bay	29o43.4'N	84o58.8'W
Pensacola, Pensacola Bay	30o24.2'N	87o12.8'W
ALABAMA
Ft. Gaines, Dauphin Is., Mobile Bay	30o15.0'N	88o04.5'W
LOUISIANA
Bayou Rigaud, Grand Isle	29o15.5'N	89o58.0'W
TEXAS
Sabine Pass, U.S. Coast Guard Sta.	29o42.3'N	93o51.2'W
Galveston, Galveston Channel Pier 21	29o18.8'N	94o47.2'W
Galveston, (Pleasure Pier)	29o17.2'N	94o47.4'W
Freeport Harbor	28o56.8'N	95o18.5'W
Rockport, Aransas Bay	28o01.3'N	97o02.8'W
Port Aransas, N. End of Mustang Is.	27o49.6'N	97o03.1'W
Port Mansfield, Laguna Madre	26o33.3'N	97o25.8'W
Padre Island, (South End)	26o04.1'N	97o09.1'W
Port Isabel	26o03.6'N	97o12.9'W
BERMUDA
Biological Station, St. Georges	32o22.2'N	64o41.8'W
PUERTO RICO
San Juan	18o27.0'N	66o05.4'W
Magueyes Island	17o58.3'N	67o02.8'W

Exhibit B-90-3: Tide Height Reporting Network (3 of 5)

Name	Lat.	Long.
CALIFORNIA
Imperial Beach	32o34.7'N	117o08.1'W
San Diego, San Diego Bay	32o42.8'N	117o10.4'W
Scripps, LaJolla	32o52.0'N	117o15.5'W
Newport Bay Entrance	33o36.2'N	117o53.0'W
Los Angeles, Outer Hbr., San Pedro	33o43.2'N	118o10.3'W
Long Beach Naval Sy., Terminal Is.	33o45.1'N	118o13.6'W
Santa Monica	34o00.4'N	118o30.0'W
Rincon Island, Mussel Shoals	34o20.9'N	119o26.6'W
Santa Barbara	34o24.5'N	119o41.2'W
Avila, San Luis Obispo Bay	35o10.2'N	120o45.1'W
Monterey, Harbor	36o36.3'N	121o53.3'W
The Presidio, San Francisco	37o48.4'N	122o27.9'W
Alameda, (Naval Air Station), S.F. Bay	37o46.5'N	122o17.9'W
Point Reyes, Drakes Bay	37o59.5'N	122o58.5'W
Crescent City	41o44.7'N	124o11.0'W
OREGON
Charleston, Coos Bay Entrance	43o20.7'N	124o19.3'W
South Beach, Yaquina Bay	44o37.5'N	124o02.6'W
Garibaldi, (Miami Cove), Tillamook B.	45o33.3'N	123o54.7'W
Astoria, Tongue Pt., Columbia River	46o12.5'N	123o46.0'W
WASHINGTON
Neah Bay, Strait of Juan de Fuca	48o22.1'N	124o37.0'W
Pt. Angeles, St. of Juan de Fuca	48o07.5'N	123o26.4'W
Port Townsend, Admiralty Inlet	48o06.9'N	122o45.0'W
Seattle, Puget Sound	47o36.2'N	122o20.2'W
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island	48o32.8'N	123o00.4'W
ALASKA
Ketchikan, Tongass Narrows	55o20.0'N	131o37.5'W
Sitka, Baranof Island	57o03.1'N	135o20.5'W
Juneau, Gastineau Channel	58o17.9'N	134o24.7'W
Skagway, Taiya Inlet, Lynn Canal	59o27.0'N	135o19.5'W
Yakutat, Takutat Bay	59o32.8'N	139o44.1'W
Valdex, Port Valdez	61o07.5'N	146o21.4'W
Cordova, Orca Inlet	60o33.5'N	145o45.1'W
Seward, Resurrection Bay	60o07.2'N	149o25.6'W
Seldovia, Seldovia Bay, Cook Inlet	59o26.6'N	151o43.0'W
Nikiski, Cook Inlet	60o41.2'N	151o23.8'W

Exhibit B-90-3: Tide Height Reporting Network (4 of 5)

Name	Lat.	Long.
Anchorage, Knik Arm, Cook Inlet	60o14.2'N	149o53.2'W
St. Pauls Harbor, Kodiak Island	57o44.4'N	152o29.0'W
Sand Pt., Is.	55o20.0'N	160o30.1'W
Massacre Bay, Attu	52o50.4'N	173o11.7'E
Sweeper Cv., Adak Is.	51o51.7'N	176o38.6'W
Unalaska Is., Fox Is.	53o52.8'N	166o32.5'W
HAWAII
Nawiliwili, Kauai Island	21o57.5'N	159o21.4'W
Honolulu, Oahu Island	21o18.4'N	157o52.0'W
Mokuoloe Is., Kaneohe Bay, Oahu Is.	21o26.1'N	157o47.5'W
Kahului, (Kahului Harbor), Maui Is.	20o53.9'N	156o28.2'W
Hilo, (Kuhio Bay), Hawaii Island	19o44.0'N	155o03.5'W
PACIFIC OCEAN
Wake Island, North Pacific Ocean	19o17.4'N	166o37.3'E
Kwajakein Island, Marshall Is.	08o43.7'N	167o44.3'E
Johnston Island, Hawaiian Island	16o44.7'N	169o31.0'W
Sand Island, Midway Island	28o12.8'N	177o22.0'W
Pago Pago, American Samoa	14o16.7'S	170o40.9'W
Apra Harbor, Guam Is.	13o26.5'N	144o39.2'E
Truck Atoll, Moen Island, Caroline Is.	07o26.8'N	151o50.7'E

Exhibit B-90-3: Tide Height Reporting Network (5 of 5)

5.     Upper-Air Observations. Special upper-air observations may be requested from all NWS upper-air locations and some military and foreign locations. However, there are restrictions on which offices may request military and foreign observations.

5.1 Hurricane Office Support. All hurricane centers and HWO's may ask for special upper-air observations, but HWO's are restricted to making requests to NWS offices only. All other requests will be made through the hurricane centers. Upper-air stations may make special observations into the eye of a hurricane on their own initiative.

5.1.1 Special Observations from Weather Service Land Stations. All requests for special rawinsonde or winds-aloft observations during tropical storm situations should be routed through the appropriate hurricane center, including requests from the National Meteorological Center (NMC), NSSFC, and the National Hurricane and Experimental Meteorology Lab (NHEML). The hurricane center will relay the final instructions to rawinsonde stations so maximum use is being made of the special reports. The hurricane center should always specify whether complete runs or only winds-aloft observations are required and the height to be reached. Special runs should be requested for the usual intermediate synoptic times of 06 to 18 GMT insofar as possible. Also, requests should be placed 6 hours in advance of taking the observation. The hurricane center will advise its regional headquarters Data Acquisition Division (DATAC) personnel of actions taken. For pibals, only a copy of the request needs to be sent to the station involved and its regional headquarters.

Pacific area officials in charge are authorized to make special rawinsonde observations, up to a frequency of one observation each 6 hours, whenever the center of a tropical storm or typhoon is suspected to be within 300 nautical miles of their station; whenever local conditions indicate that a tropical storm is developing in the vicinity of the station; or as requested by a center.

5.1.2 Special Upper-Air Observations from a Foreign Meteorological Service. When feasible, requests for special observations from cooperative upper-air stations operated by foreign meteorological services will be placed by NHC through the director of the foreign meteorological service concerned or his authorized representative. When time does not permit prior coordination, requests may be made directly to the foreign upper-air station when such action has been authorized.

5.1.3 Special Observations from Ocean Station Vessel HOTEL (C7H). Requests for special upper-air observations from Ocean Station Vessel HOTEL in the Eastern Region Ocean Weather (ROW) project, either on station or enroute, will be made through the marine forecaster, WSFO Washington. The request should include the desired frequency of additional observations and for how long a period they are required.

5.1.4 Calling Out Ocean Station Vessel C7H. During June and July when C7H has yard period, the ship can be called out and be on station in 48 hours. When the NHC determines that C7H is necessary for the forecasting of a tropical cyclone, the Director or his Deputy will so notify the Warnings Program Leader (W112x3). The Warnings Program Leader will call the U.S. Coast Guard and request that C7H return to station,

5.2 Severe Local Storms Support. NSSFC and any WSFO are authorized to request special upper-air observations from any NWS upper-air station within its area of responsibility, but requests must be coordinated through NSSFC. Each office's regional headquarters DATAC Division must be advised of all requests. NSSFC will consolidate requests with their own requirements and advise field stations via RAWARC, phone, or an administrative message on the NDC/SDC. The special upper-air observation should be sent back to NSSFC or the requesting WSFO via RAWARC, telephone, or as an addressed special observation on the NDC/SDC. The authority to request a special observation rests with the meteorologist in charge of the requesting office or, in his absence, the senior forecaster on duty. The request may be complete rawinsonde, a rawin, or a pibal observation. NSSFC requires runs to be evaluated up to 400 mbs.

5.2.1 NSSFC. Whenever there is a possibility of severe weather developing anywhere in the contiguous United States, NSSFC is authorized to request special upper-air observations from any NWS upper-air station.

5.2.2 Weather Service Forecast Offices. These offices are authorized to request special upper-air observations for a severe weather situation whenever NSSFC has not requested them and such requests would assist in the preparation of their forecasts, but such requests must be coordinated through NSSFC.

5.2.3 Upper-Air Station. Upon receipt of such a request, the upper air station involved should make every effort to accomplish the special observation. Necessary overtime is authorized. Do not report these specials on WS Form A-22.

5.2.4 Limit on Specials. Each region is limited to a total of no more than 200 special rawins and/or rawinsondes per year. However, should additional flights be desired Weather Service Headquarters' authorization may be requested. No limit is set on special pibal observations.

5.2.5 Requests by Air Weather Service. Special rawinsondes requested by the Air Weather Service are authorized on a reimbursable basis but specific regional headquarters' (DATAC) approval is required. NSSFC should receive a copy of any special rawinsonde request made by the Air Weather Service.

5.3 Support to Other NWS Offices. WSFO's are authorized to request special upper-air observations directly from upper-air stations whenever such observations will assist in making timely forecasts for any of the WSFO's programs. The authorization is normally limited to nearby upper-air stations. The requests should be made in sufficient time to allow any necessary rescheduling of shifts except in an emergency. Stations should be given a minimum of 6 hours' notice, Also, as soon as possible, regional headquarters DATAC should be advised of requests made.

6. Tsunami Warning System Observations. Tsunami warning centers have arranged for seismic and tide observations from selected NWS offices and cooperating stations participating in the Tsunami Warning System. Warning centers will initiate calls to cooperative stations for data whenever needed (exhibit B-90-4 indicates Weather Service Offices WSO's supplying tide data to the tsunami warning center).

NWS offices which normally close at night may be requested to remain open to make and transmit observations. Overtime provisions are as stated in subsection 4.2.

Weather Service Station	Location of Tide Gage
Eureka, CA	Crescent City, CA
Johnston Island	Johnston Island
Kodiak, AK	Kodiak, AK
Kwajalein Atoll	Kwajalein Atoll
Koror, W. Caroline Is.	Malakal Island
Los Angeles, CA	San Pedro, CA
Lihue, HI	Nawiliwili, HI
Moen I., Truk Is.	Moen Island
Pago Pago, American Samoa	Pago Pago,American Samoa
Sacramento, CA	Ft. Point, San Francisco, CA
San Diego, CA	San Diego, CA
Wake Island	Wake Island
Yap, West Caroline Islands	Yap, West Caroline Islands

Exhibit B-90-4: WSO's Supplying Tide Data to Tsunami Centers

WSOM Issuance
77-5    3-24-77