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What GRIBs are, how to get and use them.
GRidded Information in Binary (GRIB) files are output direct from Numerical Weather Prediction programs and provide an extremely useful and cost effective tool. GRIB information is purely objective; there is no human assessment, quality control nor any guarantee that the data are correct. Computer and communications systems can, and do fail from time to time. For short term use it is essential to view them in the context of GMDSS forecasts that benefit from expert assessment of the computer predictions.
GRIB forecasts are particularly useful for planning purposes for the next few days ahead. There are finer scale, meso-scale, forecasts that may add value in the form of more localised detail but, again, these should be used with care and in the light of hard won experience.
Initially, GRIB data could only be obtained by email which is also a useful way of getting texts of GMDSS forecasts when bandwidth is restricted.
- What is GRIB?
- A listing of GRIB and other Objective Forecasts