David Burch Navigation Blog: Southern Hemisphere Weather Maps by Email

Our main source of NWS weather maps for the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean is the FTP folder located at https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/fax/.

What may not be so well known is this folder also includes weather maps for the Central Pacific that extend all the way to Australia. Below is a sample map followed by the file names for these maps. How to access them is discussed below that.

WIND/WAVE CHARTS - CENTRAL PACIFIC   NAME

00Z Pacific Wind/Wave Analysis 30S-30N, 110W-130E   PJFB89.TIF
12Z Pacific Wind/Wave Analysis 30S-30N, 110W-130E PJFD89.TIF
  Pacific Wind/Wave Analysis (Most Current) PJFB10.TIF

24HR Pacific Wind/Wave Forecast VT00Z 30S-30N, 110W-130E PWFE82.TIF
24HR Pacific Wind/Wave Forecast VT12Z 30S-30N, 110W-130E PWFE84.TIF
24HR Pacific Wind/Wave Forecast (Most Current) PWFE11.TIF

48HR Pacific Wind/Wave Forecast VT00Z 30S-30N, 110W-130E   PJFI89.TIF
48HR Pacific Wind/Wave Forecast VT12Z 30S-30N, 110W-130E PJFI91.TIF
48HR Pacific Wind/Wave Forecast (Most Current)    PJFI10.TIF

72HR Pacific Sea State Forecast VT00Z 30S-30N, 110W-130E PJFK89.TIF
72HR Pacific Sea State Forecast VT12Z 30S-30N, 110W-130E PJFK91.TIF
72HR Pacific Sea State Forecast (Most Current)    PJFK10.TIF

SURFACE CHARTS - CENTRAL PACIFIC

00Z Pacific Surface Analysis EQ-50N,  110W-130E   PPBA88.TIF
06Z Pacific Surface Analysis EQ-50N,  110W-130E      PPBA89.TIF
12Z Pacific Surface Analysis EQ-50N,  110W-130E    PPBA90.TIF
18Z Pacific Surface Analysis EQ-50N,  110W-130E PPBA91.TIF
  Pacific Surface Analysis (Most Current)   PPBA11.TIF

00Z Pacific Streamline Analysis 30S-30N, 110W-130E PWFA90.TIF
06Z Pacific Streamline Analysis 30S-30N, 110W-130E PWFA91.TIF
12Z Pacific Streamline Analysis 30S-30N, 110W-130E   PWFA92.TIF
18Z Pacific Streamline Analysis 30S-30N, 110W-130E   PWFA93.TIF
  Pacific Streamline Analysis (Most Current) PWFA11.TIF

03Z Significant Cloud Features 30S-50N, 110W-160E   PBFA99.TIF
15Z Significant Cloud Features 30S-50N, 110W-160E      PBFC99.TIF
  Significant Cloud Features (Most Current)   PBFA11.TIF

24HR Pacific Surface Forecast VT00Z 30S-50N 110W-130E PYFE87.TIF
24HR Pacific Surface Forecast VT12Z 30S-50N 110W-130E PYFE88.TIF
24HR Pacific Surface Forecast (Most Current)    PYFE11.TIF

48HR Pacific Surface Forecast VT00Z 30S-50N 110W-130E   PYFI87.TIF
48HR Pacific Surface Forecast VT12Z 30S-50N 110W-130E   PYFI88.TIF
48HR Pacific Surface Forecast (Most Current) PYFI11.TIF

72HR Pacific Surface Forecast VT00Z 30S-50N 110W-130E   PYFK87.TIF
72HR Pacific Surface Forecast VT12Z 30S-50N 110W-130E PYFK88.TIF
72HR Pacific Surface Forecast (Most Current)    PYFK11.TIF

Note that there is no surface analysis offered for below the equator, just above it, but there is a 24h, 48h, and 72h forecast, plus an interesting streamline map.

There are several ways to obtain these maps.

(1) Direct internet link: https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/fax/PYFE11.TIF

(2) Use NWS FTPmail. That means sending an email to NWS.FTPMail.OPS@noaa.gov with the following lines of text, where you replace the file name with ones you want. You can ask for one or more.

open
cd fax
get PYFE11.TIF
get PYFI11.TIF

quit

(3) Use Saildocs. Send an email to query@saildocs.com with this message in body of the text
send PYFE11.TIF
send PYFI11.TIF

Again, you can ask for one or more as shown.

Saildocs offers a special service on these in that they will automatically reduce the file size by 50% to save wireless transmission times. These reduced files are still perfectly legible. FTPmail sends them in their native size, 31 kb in this case; saildocs will send that one at about 15 kb.

If you want the full size image from saildocs, then send a request for the URL, namely send https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/fax/PYFE11.TIF

==== BOM Maps ====

We can also request the maps from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Below is a sample and then a list of the maps available. We get these from saildocs as explained below.

These charts are available in the following form:

http://www.bom.gov.au/difacs/IDX0854.gif

These are the maps they broadcast by radio fax; the times on the left are the broadcast times; file names are made up from the IDcode on the right by adding .gif

 
Time (UTC) Description of Item and Current Chart                       IDcode    
0015-0030 VMC/VMW Schedule Page 1 of 2                                IDX0468    
0030-0045 VMC/VMW Schedule Page 2 of 2                                IDX0469    
0045-0100 VMC/VMW Information Notice                                  IDX0467    
0100-0130 IPS Recommended Frequencies for VMC (Charleville            IDX0470    
0130-0200 IPS Recommended Frequencies for VMW (Wiluna)             IDX0473    
0200-0215 Australian MSLP Prog (H+36) Valid 0000                      IDX0104    
0245-0300 Australian MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 0000                    IDX0102    
0300-0315 Australian 500 hPa Anal Valid 0000                          IDX0099    
0315-0330 Voice Broadcast Information for VMC and VMW                 IDX0461    
0400-0415 Australian 500 hPa (H+24) Prog Valid 0000                   IDX0090    
0430-0445 Australian MSLP 4-day forecast, Days 1 and 2                IDX0041    
0445-0500 Australian MSLP 4-day forecast, Days 3 and 4                IDX0042    
0600-0622 Asian (Part A) Gradient Level Wind Anal (Manual) Valid 0000 IDX0965    
0623-0645 Asian (Part B) Gradient Level Wind Anal (Manual) Valid 0000 IDX0966    
0645-0700 Asian MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 0000                         IDX0016    
0730-0745 Indian Ocean MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 0000                  IDX0033    
0745-0800 Australian Wind Waves Ht(m) Prog Valid 0000 (H+24)          IDX0049    
0800-0815 Australian Swell Waves Ht(m) Prog (H+24) Valid 0000         IDX0050    
0830-0845 South Pacific Ocean MSLP Anal Valid 0000                    IDX0032    
0845-0900 Australian MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 0600                    IDX0354    
0900-0915 Australian MSLP Prog (H+36) Valid 0000                      IDX0104    
0915-0930 Australian MSLP 4-day forecast, Days 1 and 2                IDX0041    
0930-0945 Australian MSLP 4-day forecast, Days 3 and 4                IDX0042    
1015-1030 Casey Eastern and Western High Seas (H+24) valid 0000       IDX1087    
1030-1045 S.H. 500 hPa Prog (H+48) Valid 0000                         IDX0004    
1045-1100 S.H. MSLP Prog (H+48) Valid 0000                            IDX0003    
1100-1115 Casey Eastern and Western High Seas (H+36) valid 0000       IDX1088    
1115-1130 S.H. 500 hPa Anal Valid 0000                                IDX0008    
1130-1145 Asian Sea Surface Temp Anal (Weekly)                        IDX0084    
1145-1200 VMC/VMW Information Notice                                  IDX0467    
1200-1215 Australian MSLP Prog (H+36) Valid 1200                      IDX0011    
1215-1230 VMC/VMW Schedule Page 1 of 2                                IDX0468    
1230-1245 VMC/VMW Schedule Page 2 of 2                                IDX0469    
1245-1300 Indian Ocean MSLP Prog (H+36) Valid 1200                    IDX0002    
1315-1330 South Pacific Ocean Total Waves (H+48) Valid 0000           IDX0949    
1330-1345 Indian Ocean Total Waves (H+48) Valid 0000                  IDX0948    
1345-1400 Pacific Ocean Sea Surface Temps (Weekly)                    IDX0942    
1400-1415 Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temps (Weekly)                     IDX0946    
1415-1430 Casey Eastern and Western High Seas (H+48) valid 0000       IDX1089    
1430-1445 Australian MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 1200                    IDX0602    
1500-1515 Australian 500 hPa Anal Valid 1200                          IDX0099    
1515-1530 Australian MSLP Prog (H+36) Valid 1200                      IDX0604    
1600-1615 Australian 500 hPa Prog (H+24) Valid 1200                   IDX0090    
1630-1700 IPS Recommended Frequencies for VMC (Charleville)           IDX0470    
1700-1730 IPS Recommended Frequencies for VMW (Wiluna)                IDX0473    
1800-1822 Asian (Part A) Gradient Level Wind Anal (Manual) Valid 1200 IDX0967    
1823-1845 Asian (Part B) Gradient Level Wind Anal (Manual) Valid 1200 IDX0968    
1915-1930 Indian Ocean MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 1200                  IDX0533    
1930-1945 Australian Wind Waves Ht(m) Prog (H+24) Valid 1200          IDX0049    
1945-2000 Australian Swell Waves Ht(m) Prog (H+24) Valid 1200         IDX0050    
2000-2015 South Pacific Ocean MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 1200           IDX0532    
2015-2030 Casey Eastern and Western High Seas (H+24) valid 1200       IDX1087    
2030-2045 Australian MSLP Anal (Manual) Valid 1800                    IDX0854    
2215-2230 Casey Eastern and Western High Seas (H+36) valid 1200       IDX1088    
2230-2245 S.H. 500 hPa Prog (H+48) Valid 1200                         IDX0004    
2245-2300 S.H. MSLP Prog (H+48) Valid 1200                            IDX0003    
2300-2315 S.H. 500 hPa Anal Valid 1200                                IDX0008    
2315-2330 Casey Eastern and Western High Seas (H+48) valid 1200       IDX1089    
2330-2345 Australian MSLP Prog (H+36) Valid 0000                      IDX0011    
2345-0000 Indian Ocean MSLP Prog (H+48) Valid 1200                    IDX0006

You can view these online from the link below or request them from saildocs with the request:

send http://www.bom.gov.au/difacs/IDX0854.gif and replace the file name with the ones desired. One line for each map.

==== South America Surface Analysis ====

The Brazilian Navy offers a great analysis map at 00z and 12z. A sample is below, followed by instructions for getting it underway. This map is a good test for model forecasts and includes several unique pieces of information as we explain in our textbook Modern Marine Weather, 3rd ed.

You can view this map online at https://www.marinha.mil.br/chm/dados-do-smm-cartas-sinoticas/cartas-sinoticas, keeping in mind that it is sometimes a slow link to respond.

To obtain the map from saildocs, send this form of request:

send https://www.marinha.mil.br/chm/sites/www.marinha.mil.br.chm/files/cartas-sinoticas/c19011600.jpg

where the filename is CYYMMDDhh.jpg and hh is either 00 or 12.

There are other maps available from JMA, FiJi Met Office, Chilean Met Service, and the South African Weather Service. Samples are below.

JMA