The National Weather Service (NWS) is a crucial source of weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States. To effectively disseminate information across its vast network, the NWS utilizes a system of identifiers for its various offices. Among these, the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Illinois, is identified by the WFO code ILX. This article delves into the world of NWS identifiers, focusing on WFO ILX and providing a comprehensive guide to understanding these essential codes.
Decoding NWS Office Identifiers: WFO, RFC, and CWSU
The NWS employs distinct coded identifiers for different types of offices, each serving a unique function. These primary categories are:
- Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs): These are local offices responsible for issuing forecasts and warnings for a specific county warning area. Each WFO has a unique three-letter identifier.
- River Forecast Centers (RFCs): RFCs cover larger river basins and focus on river and flood forecasting. They also use three-letter identifiers.
- Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs): Located within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Route Traffic Control Centers, CWSUs provide meteorological services and briefings to air traffic managers and controllers. CWSUs are identified by three-letter codes starting with ‘Z’.
Understanding these identifiers is key to navigating NWS resources and pinpointing the office responsible for your area’s weather information.
WFO Identifiers: Locating Your Local Weather Office
Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) are the backbone of the NWS’s public service. Each WFO is responsible for a specific geographic area and provides localized forecasts, watches, and warnings. The identifier for the National Weather Service Lincoln Il is ILX.
Here is a comprehensive list of WFO identifiers, including ILX – Central Illinois, IL (Lincoln):
WFO ID … WFO NAME
ABQ … ALBUQUERQUE, NM
ABR … ABERDEEN, SD
AFC … ANCHORAGE, AK
AFG … FAIRBANKS, AK
AJK … JUNEAU, AK
AKQ … WAKEFIELD, VA
ALY … ALBANY, NY
AMA … AMARILLO, TX
APX … NORTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN, MI (Gaylord)
ARX … LA CROSSE, WI
BGM … BINGHAMTON, NY (Johnson City)
BIS … BISMARCK, ND
BMX … BIRMINGHAM, AL (Alabaster)
BOI … BOISE, ID
BOU … DENVER/BOULDER, CO
BOX … BOSTON, MA (Taunton)
BRO … BROWNSVILLE, TX
BTV … BURLINGTON, VT
BUF … BUFFALO, NY (Cheektowaga)
BYZ … BILLINGS, MT
CAE … COLUMBIA, SC
CAR … CARIBOU, ME
CHS … CHARLESTON, SC
CLE … CLEVELAND, OH
CRP … CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
CTP … CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, PA (State College)
CYS … CHEYENNE, WY
DDC … DODGE CITY, KS
DLH … DULUTH, MN
DMX … DES MOINES, IA (Johnston)
DTX … DETROIT, MI (White Lakes)
DVN … QUAD CITIES, IA (Davenport)
EAX … KANSAS CITY, MO (Pleasant Hill)
EKA … EUREKA, CA
EPZ … EL PASO, TX (Santa Teresa)
EYW … KEY WEST, FL
EWX … AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX (New Braunfels)
FFC … ATLANTA, GA (Peachtree City)
FGF … EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA, ND (Grand Forks)
FGZ … FLAGSTAFF, AZ (Bellemont)
FSD … SIOUX FALLS, SD
FWD … DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX
GGW … GLASGOW, MT
GID … HASTINGS, NE
GJT … GRAND JUNCTION, CO
GLD … GOODLAND, KS
GRB … GREEN BAY, WI
GRR … GRAND RAPIDS, MI
GSP … GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG, SC (Greer)
GUA … GUAM, GU
GYX … PORTLAND, ME
HFO … Honolulu, HI
HGX … HOUSTON/GALVESTON, TX (Dickinson)
HNX … SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CA (Hanford)
ICT … WICHITA, KS
ILM … WILMINGTON, NC
ILN … CINCINNATI, OH
ILX … CENTRAL ILLINOIS, IL (Lincoln)
IND … INDIANAPOLIS, IN
IWX … NORTHERN INDIANA, IN (Syracuse)
JAN … JACKSON, MS
JAX … JACKSONVILLE, FL
JKL … JACKSON, KY
LBF … NORTH PLATTE, NE
LCH … LAKE CHARLES, LA
LIX … NEW ORLEANS/BATON ROUGE, LA (Slidell)
LKN … ELKO, NV
LMK … LOUISVILLE, KY
LOT … CHICAGO, IL (Romeoville)
LOX … LOS ANGELES, CA (Oxnard)
LSX … ST. LOUIS, MO (St Charles)
LUB … LUBBOCK, TX
LWX … BALTIMORE, MD/WASHINGTON, DC (Sterling)
LZK … LITTLE ROCK, AR
MAF … MIDLAND/ODESSA, TX
MEG … MEMPHIS, TN
MFL … MIAMI, FL
MFR … MEDFORD, OR
MHX … MOREHEAD CITY, NC (Newport)
MKX … MILWAUKEE, WI (Dousman)
MLB … MELBOURNE, FL
MOB … MOBILE, AL
MPX … MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Chanhassen)
MQT … MARQUETTE, MI (Negaunee)
MRX … KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES, TN (Morristown)
MSO … MISSOULA, MT
MTR … SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA (Monterey)
OAX … OMAHA, NE (Valley)
OHX … NASHVILLE, TN (Old Hickory)
OKX … NEW YORK CITY, NY
OTX … SPOKANE, WA
OUN … OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Norman)
PAH … PADUCAH, KY
PBZ … PITTSBURGH, PA (Coraopolis)
PDT … PENDLETON, OR
PHI … PHILADELPHIA, PA (Mt Holly)
PIH … POCATELLO/IDAHO FALLS, ID
PQR … PORTLAND, OR
PSR … PHOENIX, AZ
PUB … PUEBLO, CO
RAH … RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC
REV … RENO, NV
RIW … RIVERTON, WY
RLX … CHARLESTON, WV
RNK … ROANOKE, VA
SEW … SEATTLE/TACOMA, WA
SGF … SPRINGFIELD, MO
SGX … SAN DIEGO, CA
SHV … SHREVEPORT, LA
SJT … SAN ANGELO, TX
SJU … SAN JUAN, PR (Carolina)
SLC … SALT LAKE CITY, UT
STO … SACRAMENTO, CA
TAE … TALLAHASSEE, FL
TBW … TAMPA BAY AREA, FL (Ruskin)
TFX … GREAT FALLS, MT
TOP … TOPEKA, KS
TSA … TULSA, OK
TWC … TUCSON, AZ
UNR … RAPID CITY, SD
VEF … LAS VEGAS, NV
RFC Identifiers: Regional River Forecasting
River Forecast Centers (RFCs) play a vital role in predicting river levels and potential flooding across large river basins. These centers provide crucial data for water management and flood preparedness.
Here is a list of RFC identifiers:
RFC ID … RFC NAME
ACR … ALASKA RFC (Anchorage)
ALR … SOUTHEAST RFC (Peachtree City)
FWR … WEST GULF RFC (Fort Worth)
KRF … MISSOURI BASIN RFC (Pleasant Hill)
MSR … NORTH CENTRAL RFC (Chanhassen)
ORN … LOWER MISSISSIPPI RFC (Slidell)
PTR … NORTHWEST RFC (Portland)
RHA … MIDDLE ATLANTIC RFC (State College)
RSA … CALIFORNIA-NEVADA RFC (Sacramento)
STR … COLORADO BASIN RFC (Salt Lake City)
TAR … NORTHEAST RFC (Taunton)
TIR … OHIO RFC (Wilmington)
TUA … ARKANSAS-RED BASIN RFC (Tulsa)
CWSU Identifiers: Aviation Weather Support
Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) are specialized NWS offices embedded within FAA facilities. They are critical for aviation safety, providing tailored weather information to air traffic controllers and ensuring smooth air traffic flow.
Here are the identifiers for CWSUs:
ZAB … Albuquerque, NM
ZAN … Anchorage, AK
ZAU … Aurora, IL
ZBW … Nashua, NH
ZDC … Washington, D.C. (in Leesburg, VA)
ZDV … Longmont, CO
ZFW … Fort Worth, TX
ZHU … Houston, TX
ZID … Indianapolis, IN
ZJX … Jacksonville, FL (in Hilliard)
ZKC … Olathe, KS
ZLA … Palmdale, CA
ZLC … Salt Lake City, UT
ZMA … Miami, FL
ZME … Memphis, TN
ZMP … Farmington, MN
ZOA … Fremont, CA
ZOB … Oberlin, OH
ZSE … Auburn, WA
ZTL … Atlanta, GA (in Hampton)
ZYN … Islip, NY (in Ronkonkomo)
Understanding National Weather Service identifiers, particularly WFO ILX for Lincoln, Illinois, allows you to quickly identify the correct office providing weather information for your specific location. Whether you are tracking local forecasts from National Weather Service Lincoln IL, monitoring river conditions, or interested in aviation weather, these codes are your key to accessing the information you need.
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- NWSTC – Updated 08-03-99*
