One of our great members, JR, saved my post from the old board on how to read the model text data that I post on here from time to time esp for snow storms. See the below post and ask questions if you have any, thanks!
FRI 18Z 14-FEB 1.6 -4.0 1004 82 99 0.05 538 535
SAT 00Z 15-FEB -0.5 -5.8 1008 89 98 0.11 534 527
SAT 06Z 15-FEB -8.4 -6.4 1016 76 53 0.01 535 523
The first column are the 2 meter surface temps in Celsius. So if it said 0.0 that would be 32 degrees Fahrenheit as an example.
The second column are 850 MB temps. in Celsius so of course, for snow you'd want that to be below zero.
The third column is the surface pressure in millibars, not inches like we are used to.
The fourth column is surface relative humidity in percent.
The fifth column is relative humidity in percent at 700 MB. You want the entire column in the atmosphere saturated or you'll get virga.
The sixth column is QPF for the 6 hour period, precip amounts basically, but this one I think you already knew.
The seventh column is 500 MB height in decameters.
The last column is 500 MB thickness and in the winter time you typically want it to be below 540 for snow.
Column 1... Surface Temperature in Celsius
Column 2... 850mb Temperature
Column 3... Surface Pressure in Millibars
Column 4... Surface Relative Humidity as a percent
Column 5... 700mb Relative Humidity as a percent
Column 6... 6 Hour QPF
Column 7... 500mb Geopotential height(Important forecasting tool)
Column 8... Critical Thickness (540 and below is usually indicative of snow, but not always)
SUN 18Z 26-JAN -7.1 -12.1 1012 59 100 0.04 534 525
MON 00Z 27-JAN -5.8 -5.3 1004 80 36 0.15 533 531
MON 06Z 27-JAN -5.3 -6.8 1005 80 67 0.00 532 528
MON 12Z 27-JAN -4.3 -13.5 1008 83 99 0.06 526 520
MON 18Z 27-JAN -10.9 -20.1 1021 62 35 0.02 521 505
The first column are 2M Temps, which is basically the temp just above the ground.
The second column are 850 MB temps higher up in the atmosphere. You want those to be below zero for snow.
The third column is the barometric pressure in millibars.
The 4th column is surface relative humidity in percent. You of course need moisture at the surface for precip.
The 5th column is relative humidity at 700 MB and again you need moisture here also because if not, it'll be virga and the snow won't hit the ground.
The 6th column is QPF for the 6 hour period.
The 7th column is height in decameters at 500 MB.
The 8th column is 500 MB thickness which you want below 540 for snow in the winter.
The standard ratio for snow to water is 10:1 meaning 1" of rain equals 10" of snow. As the colder the 2M temps are as well as 850 and 500 MB, the less water it takes to get more snow.
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