Menu Item - Edit / Initial Values
FWI CALCULATOR requires a minimum of previous day FFMC, DMC & DC to be able to "on calculate" all subsequent data.
To obtain these startup values it is best you track down a FWI weather station in your locality that is typically effected by similar weather patterns. On entering these values it is best you wait from 10-15 days before the calculated indices for your station "settle down" and can be relied upon.
If you cannot obtain local FWI values it is best you enter the following values...
FFMC: 60
DMC: 25 Click the Suggest button and these values will be inserted!
DC: 250
these values will initiate your station with a MODERATE fire risk value. On entering these values it is best you wait from 15-20 days before the calculated indices for your station "settle down" and can be relied upon.
It doesn't matter at this stage which of the other options are checked, however I will describe their function here...
Replace first initialisation values: if this is checked when you click the OK button the very first Initialisation Data found at the beginning of the data file will be replaced and ALL subsequent data will be recalculated either to the end, or until another set of Initialisation Data is found.
Start from end of current data: if this is checked when you click the OK button this initialisation data will be placed at the end of the data file. All subsequent data will calculate in respect of these values. If another initialisation data set occupies the file end it will be replaced (ie. hence you edit it).
IMPORTANT: You cannot delete these above entries. If you create an end SET data record in error, replace it by using the values from the previous day's weather record.