Since I started messing around with EMWIN data from GOES-12 (little dish in the back yard, http://wernerlabsinc.com/EMWIN_index.html is an example) I've started learning about the absolute TON of data the national weather service puts together for us to use _FOR FREE_!!! We are all familiar with the "Zone Forecast Product" http://www.weather.gov/data/LWX/ZFPLWX (usually re-packaged to make it look like the news station actually did the forecast, the majority of news programs just take the free NWS forecast and 'pretty them up'). Anyway, while I was exploring this torrent of data (Every morning I collect nearly 3000 text files off the HD ,that are the latest and greatest products for the entire US, every state and some foreign data as well!) I put together some 'explainer' documents for myself, and for my Search and Rescue group (http://www.delmarvasar.org/) for some of the forecast products that we could make use of during a search or disaster response (the team had no weather data for the week plus they responded to Katrina) and figured some people here might find them useful. They are all PDF and so should be pretty usable. I've got a similar set of document for the graphics the GOES satellites send down 24/7 as well, but this should be enough for now.
Glenn N3USP
