Weather Glossary - N
Search
Nacreous cloudClouds that have a soft, pearly lustre and form at altitudes of around 25-30 km. Also called mother-of-pearl clouds. |
Nautical mileThe distance of 1 minute of latitude. 1 nautical mile equals 1.85km. |
NCEPNational Centres for Environmental Prediction; the modernized version of NMC. |
Negative tilt troughAn upper level system which is tilted to the east with increasing latitude (i.e., with an axis from southeast to northwest). A negative-tilt trough often is a sign of a developing or intensifying system. |
NEXRADNEXt-Generation Weather RADar. Technologically-advanced weather radar being deployed to replace WSR-57 and WSR-74 units in the US. NEXRAD is a high-resolution Doppler radar with increased emphasis on automation, including use of algorithms and automated volume scan. NEXRAD units are known as WSR-88D. |
NGMNested Grid Model; one of the operational forecast models run at NCEP. The NGM is run twice daily, with forecast output out to 48 hours. |
NGP(NOGAPS) Operational forecast model run by the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Centre. Forecast output to 144 hours. The NOGAPS model is run primarily for operational use by the US Navy. |
Nimbostratus(Ns) Latin "nimbus" - violent rain, "stratus" - layer |
NitrogenThe most abundant gas in air, comprising 78% by volume. It is colourless and odourless. |
NMCNational Meteorological Centre (U.S.). |
NMOCNational Meteorological Operations Centre (Aus). Responsible for the operation of the Australian weather service, issuing real-time analysis and prediction products, maintaining a nation-wide weather watch and support the operational communications and computing infrastructure. |
NOAANational Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (U.S.). |
Noctilucent cloudsWavy, thin clouds that are seen at twilight in polar regions. They form at altitudes of 80-90 km and are made visible by sunlight reflecting off the underside of the cloud. |
NocturnalRelated to night-time, or occurring at night. |
NOGAPSSee NGP |
NowcastA short-term weather forecast, generally out to six hours or less. |
NSSLNational Severe Storms Laboratory, in Norman OK, USA. (Sometimes pronounced NES-sel.) |
NWPNumerical Weather Prediction. NWP uses simplified mathematical equations of motion to simulate various processes in the atmosphere. |
NWSNational Weather Service (U.S.). |
-
Display your Local Weather here
automatically each time you visit us:
Rotates through Temperature,
Wind, Humidity and RainUse the Search Bar above
to find your Local, and go to the Local page
Click "Set My Local"
button next to the location name
Weather News
Thunderstorm hits Darwin as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther traverses the NT
10:55 EDT
The remnant low pressure system that was formerly Tropical Cyclone Esther is passing over the Northern Territory, causing heavy rain and severe thunderstorms.
Bat clinic inundated as wildlife carers sign up en masse following bushfire disaster
10:40 EDT
Wildlife carers on the New South Wales South Coast remain swamped with work in the wake of the bushfires, with a flying fox clinic seeing a 900 per cent increase in bats needing care.
Ex-cyclone Esther bringing heavy rains to the north and could loop towards the middle of Australia, says BOM
10:33 EDT
Ex-tropical cyclone Esther is tracking an unpredictable path across northern Australia and could loop towards central Australia next week, with the Bureau of Meteorology describing it as "a remarkable system".
