Compare Wind Forecasts in qtVlm

For routing analysis and computations we have several global models we can choose from, as well as several regional models. An important step is choosing what might be the best forecast. Elsewhere we have an in-depth article and video on Evaluating a Weather Forecast, but our first step here is just comparing what the different models forecast.

We will use qtVlm for this, which is the free program we use in our Marine Weather and Electronic Chart Navigation courses. Similar analysis can be done with Expedition or with LuckGrib, and other programs as well. 

Step 1. Download the data. We use three global models available from Saildocs, accessible from within qtVlm, but in practice you may choose other products or sources.

Then select the models (blue means on, yellow means off, for all of qtVlm):

Here we choose wind and pressure from GFS, COAMPS, and ECMWF. We are after wind comparisons, but the pressure can help us understand what is taking place.   Pressing send email creates the request we send to saildocs and they send back by return mail the 3 model forecasts in grib format. We asked for the best resolution that each model offers and restrict the comparison to the time interval of the shortest one, namely COAMPS at 4 days. In each case we ask for a forecast every 3 hr.

The generated email then looks like this shown below. We could create it manually as we explain in  Modern Marine Weather, but the auto generate function is a convenient tool.

We get back three emails with the grib files as attachments, which we then drag into a folder to be used by qtVlm, which looks like this:

Now we load each of these into qtVlm, starting with slot 1. The order is up to you.

At this stage you navigate to the file in the folder above and say OK. Then do the same with slot 2 and slot 3 for the other two forecasts.

Once all are loaded, they will be listed in the title bar and you can use menu Grib/Grib Information to inspect the contents of each if desired. The wind barbs themselves might not being showing if we do not yet have them turned on.

Next we want to use menu Grib/Grib configuration (windsock toolbar) to set up the wind display to enhance the comparison.  Use these settings:

The colors have to be done one at a time. The three arrow colors are slots 1, 2, and 3. Set one; close it; set the next. The logic of these color choices will be clear shortly.... or maybe not!

Next set the isobar display using the isobar/isotherm tab.

The bottom slider controls the thickness. Midway is good.

Now we can turn on the wind and see the first comparison:

Black, red, and green are 1, 2, and 3, which can  be checked in the title bar.  We see good agreement in some places and poor agreement in others.  This is the first forecast (effectively a surface analysis) which we see from the slider being far left. Change times with the slider or use the clock icon to digitally set to a specific time.  This way you can scan through to see how the agreement stands, looking at a large area, or zoom in to look at a more local area.

For time comparisons and a more digital comparison, right click where you want to see a meteogram, and then choose "Compare models," as shown below. 

The meteograms always start at the location of the on screen display, indicated by the grib time or slider location.

Also we see now the intended motivation of the color selections. These meteograms have fixed colors so we have just forced wind barb colors, which we can change, to match the graph colors that we cannot change. Else we have 6 colors to sort out, or worse, the same colors meaning different things.

This is the forecasts for Point AA. A cursor over the point brings up the values, faked here in that only one at a time can show.  We see mixed agreement at this point over time.

This is the forecasts for Point BB, which is pretty good agreement for the first two days.

This is the forecasts for Point CC. We see the models agree and disagree over different areas and times, but this is just a demo of how this works. Generally we would be focused on a more localized area.

Referring back to the wind barbs view above we see some areas agreeing and others not. This would generally lead us to look at the isobars. But there are some nuances to getting the most out of this, in that for now we cannot directly compare isobars from different models. We have to look at each individually, and we will likely find one model more useful than others. Here are the three models with their isobars for the surface analyses at 12z (first forecast).

Slot 1, black, is the GFS.

Slot 2, red, is the ECMWF.

Slot 3, green, is the COAMPS. This is a US Navy regional model, which accounts for why it does not cover the full extent of the other two, which are global models.  The transient weak Low at point BB does not last long.

In you own boat at sea or along the coast, you will likely have an have an accurate barometer in your pocket, so you have compelling information about which of these models might be closer to the truth.

qtVlm also offers a very convenient way to download and plot all the buoy and ship reports around you which is more data to add to your own wind and pressure measurements to help pin down the best forecast.

Below is a video illustration (11:19) of the above: