The Weather Information Management System (WIMS) is a comprehensive system that helps you manage weather information. WIMS serves as the host for the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS), incorporating both the 1978 and 1988 fuel models.

WIMS, a web-based application, resides on a suite of servers known as FAMWEB. FAMWEB hosts all of the National Fire Applications at the USDA National Information Technology Center (NITC) in Kansas City. WIMS is available on a twenty-four hour basis.

WIMS allows you to retrieve weather information by providing:

• Timely access to many weather information sources

• Efficient tools for managing data

• Data manipulation and display functions

• Interactive communications environment

For more complete information about NFDRS, see Chapter 9, “Working with NFDRS” and Appendix E,“NFDRS technical reference.“

WIMS receives weather data from three basic sources:

• National Weather Service Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG)

• Satellite -RAWS Gateway

• Directly from manual observations at field locations.