1. What Is xmACIS?  Web application developed specifically for NWS  Basically xmACIS is a search engine for climate data (NCDC)  Includes all known published records from many sites across all CWAs, including LCD sites and COOP stations  Available to NWS, NCDC, and RCCs/SCOs to answer customer requests regarding historical weather data  Not available to the public! (The public version is “NOWData” on our climate webpage.)

2. Why Use xmACIS?  Provides a consistent answer to customer questions no matter who is answering (NWS, NCDC, or RCC/SCO)  Database is maintained by NCDC ◦ Quality control changes flow into the database ◦ Updates can be sparked by NWS, NCDC, or RCC/SCO – and everyone receives the updates! ◦ Updated daily  NWS policy says so (NWSI 10-1003): “WFOs should use xmACIS in lieu of datasets from other systems when responding to data user requests. The xmACIS is automatically updated and synchronized between NCDC and the RCCs with the most recent data available (including near real-time preliminary data and archived final data). Therefore, xmACIS includes the most complete and up-to-date-data available to all of NOAA. The xmACIS is nationally maintained and has replaced locally developed, uncoordinated, and inconsistent datasets. Use of datasets from other systems perpetuates the inconsistencies of the past. WFOs should work with NCDC and the RCCs to ensure the xmACIS database is the best, most up-to-date, consistent dataset available. WFO should correct historical data errors found in xmACIS through Datzilla submissions.”

3. xmACIS can answer questions like… What’s the record high temperature in Hastings for August 4? What was our snowiest March on record? How many days saw temperatures of at least 90 degrees? 100 degrees? How does this year’s rainfall compare with last year’s? What is the longest stretch of consecutive days with high temperatures below freezing? What was the weather like last election day? During the summer of 1936, what was the average temperature during the month of August? How long was the growing season in 1927? Can I get a plot of the daily highs and lows for 1954? So Why Again Use xmACIS?

4. Benefits of xmACIS  Consistent database among all data providers  Workload of keeping up data distributed among agencies ◦ Interface maintained by RCCs ◦ Database maintained by NCDC ◦ Data collection done by NWS ◦ Quality control done by all agencies  Quality control changes to data ingested automatically  ThreadEx sites include longer data sets for LCD sites  Convenient database for answering inquiries

5. Drawbacks to xmACIS  Some gaps in the database still exist If you don’t look at raw data, averages and trends can be skewed due to missing data  Internet-based application, thus not available during internet outages

6. Station Lists in xmACIS  Station lists consist of: ThreadEx stations (at top of list and have “Area” in the station name) Stations requested by NWS offices All real-time reporters with 1981-2010 normals (marked with an asterisk *)  Station lists can be modified by NWS offices through CSPM.

7. What If I Find Errors in xmACIS Data?  Let Ryan of Myself know of the error  An official submission to Datzilla will be made and often corrected the same day Be as specific as possible with any error you find – which site had the error, which function, which date, and what is the other data in comparison that does not match? ○ Example: The CF6 for HSI in October 2009 has 3.46 inches of rain, but xmACIS under “Daily Data for a Month” at Hastings Municipal Airport has 3.47 inches

8. Recent Changes  Kearney Records? (Due to conflict between AWOS and official COOP Observations)  Black Book? (Still around until HSI gets Threaded)  Phillipsburg and Beloit? (Still in RTP, but no longer generating LCD’s/daily climate)