Introduction
Welcome to the Weather Information Service, your automated gateway to meteorological data on the Emulator.ca Systems BBS network.
Since the earliest days of radio, weather information has connected communities and saved lives. Farmers planned their harvests by it. Pilots checked conditions before every flight. Families tuned in each evening to know whether tomorrow would bring sunshine or snow. The weather report became a daily ritual, as essential as the morning newspaper.
Now, through your home computer and modem, you can access weather data whenever you need it—day or night, weekday or weekend. No more waiting for the radio announcer to get to your region. No more hoping you caught the forecast before it scrolled past on cable television. No more missing the evening news because you were stuck at work. The weather is available at your command, on your schedule.
The service connects to a professional meteorological data feed—the same telemetry streams used by broadcast meteorologists and aviation services. Reports are cached locally for rapid access, with automatic refresh cycles ensuring data freshness. When seconds matter, cached data appears instantly; when accuracy matters, a fresh fetch retrieves the latest observations.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the United States and participating regions. Our service formats data in the classic NOAA text bulletin style familiar to weather enthusiasts, aviation pilots, and anyone who has listened to Weather Radio.
The service provides:
- Current temperature and atmospheric conditions
- Real-time wind speed monitoring
- 5-day extended forecast
- Precipitation probability data
- Intelligent report caching for fast retrieval
- On-demand data refresh capability
For travelers, pilots, and outdoor enthusiasts—check the weather before you head out! The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whenever you need it.
Why Use This Service?
- Always available — Unlike radio broadcasts, you do not have to wait for the weather segment. Check conditions at 2 AM before an early departure.
- On-demand refresh — Get the very latest data, not something recorded hours ago.
- Detailed forecasts — Five-day outlooks with temperature ranges, precipitation amounts, and wind speeds.
- No subscription fees — Weather data is a public service. We simply make it accessible.
Quick Start
Access the latest weather conditions in three simple steps:
Step 1: Configure your modem and dial the service:
ATDT555-0720
Step 2: When the main menu appears, press R to refresh and retrieve the current forecast:
> R
Step 3: Review the current conditions and 5-day forecast displayed on your screen. Press ENTER to return to the main menu when finished.
That is all there is to it. For subsequent checks, press V to view the cached report instantly—useful when you just need a quick reminder of what the forecast said. Use R when you need the very latest data.
Make weather checking part of your daily computer routine. A quick V while your coffee brews tells you whether to grab an umbrella or a sweater.
Getting Connected
Dial-Up Procedure
To access the Weather Information Service, configure your modem software with the following parameters:
| Parameter | Setting |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 555-0720 |
| Baud Rate | 300/1200/2400 |
| Data Bits | 8 |
| Parity | None |
| Stop Bits | 1 |
Connection Banner
Upon successful connection, you will see the service welcome banner:
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ WEATHER INFORMATION SERVICE (NOAA) ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
Initial Display
After the banner, the system displays the main menu with current status information:
═══ WEATHER SERVICE ═══
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Last update: 1985-01-22 14:30
[V]iew latest report
[R]efresh data
[Q]uit
> _
The "Last update" line shows when the weather data was last retrieved. If no cached data exists, it will display "(none)" and you should select R to fetch fresh data.
The Weather Information Service is a public service. No account registration or password is needed—simply dial in and access weather data immediately.
Current Conditions
The current conditions report provides real-time atmospheric data for the configured location. When you select V from the main menu (or R for a fresh fetch), you'll receive a comprehensive weather bulletin:
═══ WEATHER FOR EDMONTON, AB ═══
UPDATED: 1985-01-22 14:30
CONDITIONS: Partly cloudy
TEMPERATURE: -8°C
WIND: 15 km/h
Condition Codes
The CONDITIONS field uses standard meteorological descriptions based on WMO (World Meteorological Organization) weather codes:
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Clear | Cloudless sky, excellent visibility |
| Mostly clear | Few clouds, good visibility |
| Partly cloudy | Scattered clouds covering 25-50% of sky |
| Overcast | Complete cloud cover |
| Fog | Reduced visibility due to ground-level moisture |
| Rime fog | Freezing fog with ice crystal deposition |
Temperature Reading
Temperature is displayed in degrees Celsius (°C). This represents the current air temperature at 2 meters above ground level—the standard measurement height for weather observations.
To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9, divide by 5, then add 32. Example: -8°C = 17.6°F
Wind Speed
Wind speed is measured in kilometers per hour (km/h). This reading represents the sustained wind speed at 10 meters above ground—the standard anemometer height.
Forecasts
Following the current conditions, the service displays a 5-day extended forecast. Each forecast day includes comprehensive meteorological data:
5-DAY FORECAST:
1985-01-22: Partly cloudy -12C/-6C, Precip 0mm, Wind 18km/h
1985-01-23: Light snow -15C/-8C, Precip 3.2mm, Wind 22km/h
1985-01-24: Overcast -18C/-10C, Precip 0.5mm, Wind 12km/h
1985-01-25: Clear -20C/-14C, Precip 0mm, Wind 8km/h
1985-01-26: Mostly clear -16C/-9C, Precip 0mm, Wind 15km/h
Data provided by meteorological telemetry service
Press ENTER for main menu...
Forecast Data Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Date | Forecast date in YYYY-MM-DD format |
| Conditions | Expected weather conditions for the day |
| Min/Max Temp | Daily temperature range (low/high) in Celsius |
| Precip | Total precipitation expected in millimeters |
| Wind | Maximum wind speed expected in km/h |
Understanding Precipitation
Precipitation is measured as the total liquid equivalent in millimeters. This includes all forms of precipitation—rain, snow, sleet, or freezing rain. For snow accumulation, approximately 10mm of snow equals 1mm of liquid precipitation (ratio varies with temperature).
CODE_FENCE_0
Location Selection
The Weather Information Service is currently configured to provide forecasts for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This location was selected as the primary service area for the Emulator.ca Systems BBS network.
| Location Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| City | Edmonton, AB |
| Latitude | 53.5461°N |
| Longitude | 113.4938°W |
| Timezone | America/Edmonton (MST/MDT) |
The weather data covers the greater Edmonton metropolitan area and surrounding region. Conditions in outlying areas may vary from the reported values.
Alberta Climate Characteristics
Edmonton experiences a humid continental climate with extreme seasonal variation. Users should be aware of local conditions:
- Winter (Nov-Mar): Very cold with temperatures often below -20°C. Heavy snowfall possible.
- Spring (Apr-May): Highly variable with rapid temperature changes. Late snow common.
- Summer (Jun-Aug): Warm and pleasant, 20-25°C typical. Afternoon thunderstorms.
- Fall (Sep-Oct): Cool with early frost. Beautiful autumn foliage.
During extreme cold warnings (temperatures below -30°C), limit outdoor exposure. Frostbite can occur in minutes on exposed skin.
Weather Data Explained
Weather Condition Codes
The service uses WMO standard weather codes to describe atmospheric conditions. Below is the complete reference table:
Clear/Cloudy Conditions
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 0 | Clear |
| 1 | Mostly clear |
| 2 | Partly cloudy |
| 3 | Overcast |
Fog Conditions
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 45 | Fog |
| 48 | Rime fog (depositing ice) |
Drizzle
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 51 | Light drizzle |
| 53 | Drizzle |
| 55 | Heavy drizzle |
Rain
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 61 | Light rain |
| 63 | Rain |
| 65 | Heavy rain |
| 66 | Freezing rain (light) |
| 67 | Freezing rain (heavy) |
Snow
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 71 | Light snow |
| 73 | Snow |
| 75 | Heavy snow |
| 77 | Snow grains |
Showers
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 80 | Rain showers |
| 81 | Heavy showers |
| 82 | Violent showers |
| 85 | Snow showers |
| 86 | Heavy snow showers |
Thunderstorms
| Code | Condition |
|---|---|
| 95 | Thunderstorm |
| 96 | Thunderstorm w/ hail |
| 99 | Thunderstorm w/ hail (severe) |
Data Caching
To ensure fast response times and reduce load on the data service, the service implements intelligent caching:
- Weather reports are cached for 30 minutes
- Cached data is served immediately on
View command - The
Refresh command bypasses cache and fetches live data - Cache timestamp is displayed in "Last update" field
If planning travel or outdoor activities, use R to fetch the most current data. For casual checks, the cached report provides faster access.
Command Reference
The Weather Information Service uses a simple single-key command interface. Commands are not case-sensitive.
Main Menu Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| V | VIEW - Display the latest cached weather report. If no cached data exists, automatically fetches fresh data. |
| R | REFRESH - Force a fresh fetch from the data service, bypassing the cache. Use for most current data. |
| Q | QUIT - Disconnect from the Weather Information Service and hang up. |
Navigation Keys
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| ENTER | Execute command / Return to main menu from report view |
| BACKSPACE | Delete last character (for full-word command entry) |
Command Entry
Commands can be entered in two ways:
CODE_FENCE_0 (immediately executes VIEW)
CODE_FENCE_0
- ENTER (executes VIEW after confirmation)
Session Example
═══ WEATHER SERVICE ═══
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Last update: (none)
[V]iew latest report
[R]efresh data
[Q]uit
> R
Connecting to weather service...
═══ WEATHER FOR EDMONTON, AB ═══
UPDATED: 1985-01-22 15:45
CONDITIONS: Light snow
TEMPERATURE: -10°C
WIND: 22 km/h
5-DAY FORECAST:
1985-01-22: Partly cloudy -12C/-6C, Precip 0mm, Wind 18km/h
1985-01-23: Light snow -15C/-8C, Precip 3.2mm, Wind 22km/h
1985-01-24: Overcast -18C/-10C, Precip 0.5mm, Wind 12km/h
1985-01-25: Clear -20C/-14C, Precip 0mm, Wind 8km/h
1985-01-26: Mostly clear -16C/-9C, Precip 0mm, Wind 15km/h
Data provided by meteorological telemetry service
Press ENTER for main menu...
═══ WEATHER SERVICE ═══
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Last update: 1985-01-22 15:45
[V]iew latest report
[R]efresh data
[Q]uit
> Q
Thank you for checking the weather!
Appendix A: Quick Reference Card
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Weather Service QUICK REFERENCE │
│ Emulator.ca Systems │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ CONNECTION │
│ Phone Number: 555-0720 │
│ Baud Rate: 300/1200/2400 │
│ Settings: 8-N-1 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ COMMANDS │
│ V View latest cached report │
│ R Refresh from data service │
│ Q Quit and disconnect │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ REPORT FIELDS │
│ CONDITIONS Current sky and weather │
│ TEMPERATURE Air temp in Celsius at 2m height │
│ WIND Sustained wind speed in km/h at 10m │
│ PRECIP Liquid equivalent precipitation (mm) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ TEMPERATURE CONVERSION │
│ °C to °F: (°C × 9 ÷ 5) + 32 │
│ °F to °C: (°F - 32) × 5 ÷ 9 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SERVICE NOTES │
│ • Data cached for 30 minutes │
│ • Press R for most current data │
│ • No login required │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Appendix B: Troubleshooting
Problem: The service displays "Last update: (none)" and no weather data appears.
Solution: Press R to refresh and retrieve current data from the meteorological service. The first connection after system maintenance may require a fresh fetch.
Problem: Weather data appears outdated or does not match current conditions.
Solution: The service caches data for 30 minutes to ensure rapid response times. Press R to bypass the cache and retrieve the most current forecast.
Problem: Connection drops during data retrieval.
Solution: The data fetch requires a stable connection for several seconds. Ensure your phone line is free of noise and try again. If problems persist, try connecting at a lower baud rate (300 baud is most reliable on noisy lines).
Problem: Screen displays garbled characters.
Solution: Ensure your terminal is configured for standard ASCII or VT100 emulation. The service uses box-drawing characters that may not display correctly on non-standard terminals.
Problem: Forecast temperatures seem unreasonable.
Solution: Temperatures are displayed in Celsius. Canadian users may be accustomed to this scale, but American users should note that -18°C equals approximately 0°F (freezing point). See the conversion formula in the Quick Reference Card.
Appendix C: Glossary
Anemometer — An instrument for measuring wind speed, typically mounted at a standard height of 10 meters above ground level.
Baud rate — The speed of data transmission over a modem connection, measured in bits per second. Weather Service supports 300, 1200, and 2400 baud.
Cache — Temporary storage of weather data on the local system to provide faster access and reduce network load.
Celsius — Temperature scale where water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°. Used internationally for weather reporting.
Forecast — A prediction of future weather conditions based on atmospheric analysis and computer modeling.
NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States agency responsible for weather forecasting and atmospheric research.
Precipitation — Any form of water falling from the atmosphere, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail. Measured as liquid equivalent in millimeters.
WMO — World Meteorological Organization, the international body that establishes standards for weather observation and reporting codes.
Planning With Weather Data
Weather information becomes most valuable when you use it to make decisions. Here are some practical applications:
Travel Planning — Check the 5-day forecast before scheduling trips. Road conditions, flight delays, and travel comfort all depend on weather. A forecast showing freezing rain might prompt you to delay departure by a day.
Outdoor Activities — Planning a camping trip, bike ride, or outdoor event? Check both current conditions and the forecast. Pay attention to precipitation probability and wind speeds.
Home and Garden — Freeze warnings tell you to cover tender plants. Rain in the forecast means you can skip watering. Snow predictions prompt pre-treatment of walkways.
Energy Management — Cold weather forecasts help you anticipate heating costs. Knowing a warm spell is coming might delay an expensive fuel delivery.
Photography and Observation — Clear skies forecast? Plan that astrophotography session. Overcast with interesting clouds? Landscape photography conditions might be ideal.
The service brings professional-grade weather data to your fingertips. How you use it is limited only by your imagination.
For pilots and aviation enthusiasts: while this service provides general forecasts, always obtain official aviation weather briefings (METARs, TAFs) through proper channels before flight operations.