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Understanding MAFOR codes

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/19/2009 : 16:08:57

Lately I've been listening to the weather on my handheld in the mornings. The lake is frozen so forgive my craziness.

Last year I would listen to the weather in my slip before heading out, put up sails that looked about right, and go have fun. Then I heard about MAFOR codes, and how they are supposed to be much more accurate for knowin gwhat weather will hit when.

In listening though, I often hear more than 2 codes for the same time period... how does that work?

Is the first code in the first part of the hour, and th esecond code in the second part of the hour? Are they predicting a change from something to something else?

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 16:39:43

I'd never heard of this before now, but here's what Wikipedia has to say about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAFOR

Maybe this'll help?

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 16:51:14

Thanks Dave, I tried that before turning to the pro's here.

My confusion is that often there are multiple codes for the same period. Here are today's forecasts that confuse me (Lake Huron South Shore - with my interpretation):

12717
<ul><li>6 hours from forecast time </li><li> Wind From Northwest </li><li> 11-16 kts </li> <li>Rain and Snow</li></ul>
12827
<ul><li>6 hours from forecast time </li><li> Wind From North </li><li> 17-21 kts </li> <li>Rain and Snow</li></ul>
11810
<ul><li>3 hours from forecast time </li><li> Wind From North </li><li> 11-16 kts </li> <li>Clear</li></ul>
11800
<ul><li>3 hours from forecast time </li><li> Wind From North </li><li> 0-10 kts </li> <li>Clear</li></ul>
15000
<ul><li>18 hours from forecast time </li><li> No wind direction (calm)</li><li> 0-10 kts </li> <li>Clear</li></ul>
11000
<ul><li>3 hours from forecast time </li><li> No Wind direction (calm)</li><li> 0-10 kts </li> <li>Clear</li></ul>

There are 2 forecasts for the 6 hour period, and 3 for the 3 hour period. If they were in chronological order I would tend to believe that the forecasts were what happens next (ie. wind dies off over the 3 hour window, and fills in from the NW in the 6 hour window, eventually changing back to a North wind) however, since they aren't in order, I wonder if it is an "or" statement, or if its geographic and I don't have the key to unlock which location matches which code.

BTW - I was able to pick up the weather from Buffalo from my bedroom the other day. It was kinda cool. Never heard the US weather on a VHF before.

Another interesting tidbit is that at my place you can get the Coast Guard weather on ch 8 (wx) or the Environment Canada on ch 3 (wx) it is interesting to listen to the differences - it also helps improve your french listening to ch 3.

Edited by - Prospector on 03/19/2009 17:08:37

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 17:06:18

I always listen or pullup the aviation forcast for an airport around where I am sailing and use the available codes for understanding. I generally have found that they are updated more frequently especially if thing's are going sour. The US NOAA forcast is also available on my hand held but doesn't match the speed of the aviation forcasts if weather is going bad.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 17:42:39

Apparently (according to "Pat's Boating Website") the times in the codes are to show consecutive forecasts. I have relisted the forecast below with the edited interpretation:

12717

First 6 hours from forecast time
Wind From Northwest
11-16 kts
Rain and Snow

12827

Following 6 hours
Wind From North
17-21 kts
Rain and Snow

11810

Following 3 hours
Wind From North
11-16 kts
Clear

11800

Following 3 hours
Wind From North
0-10 kts
Clear

15000

Following 18 hours
No wind direction (calm)
0-10 kts
Clear

11000

Final 3 hours of forecast
No Wind direction (calm)
0-10 kts
Clear

Now I find myself considering adding a second "UTC Clock" to the weather station so I won't have to remember whether to add or subtract to UTC to know when the weather will hit. (UTC minus 4 hours = Toronto Time in Standard Time)

Edited by - Prospector on 03/19/2009 17:49:20

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 17:56:35

I just wet my finger and hold it up in the air.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 19:51:50

I just ask the Admiral, seems it's always worse than it looks

Paul

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 19:54:35

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I just ask the Admiral, seems it's always worse than it looks<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Amen to that.

Edited by - on

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