National Weather Service

oldballs · Feb 16, 2021

Gentlemen,

About a month ago the NWS installed a new radar picture. I thought the old radar was fine, especially now that I see the new version. But hey, I'm just a ordinary person. Maybe I need some classes in esoteric radar images. What do you all think?

Cheers,
Mike

rademamj1 · Feb 16, 2021

I was not aware they installed new radar, but they need to install more qualified staff who understand weather predictions better. Here in Texas on a daily basis they are typically wrong on temperatures. If they get within plus or minus 5 degrees accuracy, I would be quite happy. Good example is this current Artic cold front. They predicted lows of 12F degrees, but we actually get 3F degrees. That's a 9 degree error. The high for today was predicted to be 31F and the actual high was 21F. That's a significant error in predictions. I just don't remember seeing such errors very common 30 years ago. Maybe the climate specialist today's lacks basic fundamental understanding of weather systems, or they need improved computer programs.

MossRoad · Feb 16, 2021

rademamj1 said:
I was not aware they installed new radar, but they need to install more qualified staff who understand weather predictions better. Here in Texas on a daily basis they are typically wrong on temperatures. If they get within plus or minus 5 degrees accuracy, I would be quite happy. Good example is this current Artic cold front. They predicted lows of 12F degrees, but we actually get 3F degrees. That's a 9 degree error. The high for today was predicted to be 31F and the actual high was 21F. That's a significant error in predictions. I just don't remember seeing such errors very common 30 years ago. Maybe the climate specialist today's lacks basic fundamental understanding of weather systems, or they need improved computer programs.

I'm 60. I cannot remember how young I was when I realized how many people complained about how inaccurate the weatherman was, but it was probably since I was 2.

the old grind · Feb 17, 2021

I'm 1/2 mi from the township line. I remember getting a sprinkle while working in the driveway and along the twp line & East they got 3/4" of rain in 20 min.

Ditches were full the next morning when I got to the near corner where my friend lived and was watching his sump pumps, both going WFO. (was my home in the '90s)

My pavement 1/2 mi West just got wet, downspouts only dribbled. One of us thought the weatherman was about right.

oosik · Feb 17, 2021

I can drive five miles down the county road and experience totally different weather. That's just the way it is.

MoKelly · Feb 17, 2021

oosik said:
I can drive five miles down the county road and experience totally different weather. That's just the way it is.

We can get that here - but primarily only in summer with respect to rain. It can be sunny at my place yet raining like crazy 3-4 miles away.

But, the temps are pretty consistent all around and in winter the conditions are consistent.

MoKelly

workinonit · Feb 17, 2021

They solved the issue in our area. Now they just predict rain every day. It's a fairly safe model. Give a 10 - 20% chance, if it rains you are good, if it doesn't you are golden. We haven't had many no rain days in the last 6 months.

polo1665 · Feb 17, 2021

MossRoad said:
I'm 60. I cannot remember how young I was when I realized how many people complained about how inaccurate the weatherman was, but it was probably since I was 2.

I complain, I'm consistent about it though. I complain about it just as much now as I used to.

kenmbz · Feb 17, 2021

When I was in LA, wethermen had to find something to report about, nso made up smog indexes etc.

Here on my side of the hill, can be somewhat different than the other side of the hill, both temp and precipitation, though this hill is not all that big

Diggin It · Feb 17, 2021

oldballs said:
Gentlemen,

About a month ago the NWS installed a new radar picture. I thought the old radar was fine, especially now that I see the new version. But hey, I'm just a ordinary person. Maybe I need some classes in esoteric radar images. What do you all think?

Cheers,
Mike

Most NWS Forecast Offices offer various classes on Storm Watching, Spotters and readiness. This includes reading radar images. Classes are free, but some require pre-registration. Nearly all are on line now for obvious reasons, but they will go back to in person classes eventually.

This map should help you find something local to you:

Kansas NWS SKYWARN(R) Program

mx1alex · Feb 17, 2021

oldballs said:
Gentlemen,

About a month ago the NWS installed a new radar picture. I thought the old radar was fine, especially now that I see the new version. But hey, I'm just a ordinary person. Maybe I need some classes in esoteric radar images. What do you all think?

Cheers,
Mike

I agree - I can't stand the new radar page. I really like the previous page as it showed a larger are, loaded up quickly and the animation for it was good. I had a button the home screen of my phone that would bring it up almost instantly. The new one is slow and clunky. And when you animate the map it only cycles through the last 30 min or so. I would prefer to see a much longer time frame.

Diggin It · Feb 17, 2021

If you're willing to pay, there are stand alone radar programs for your PC and/or phone.

2LaneCruzer · Feb 17, 2021

MoKelly said:
We can get that here - but primarily only in summer with respect to rain. It can be sunny at my place yet raining like crazy 3-4 miles away.

But, the temps are pretty consistent all around and in winter the conditions are consistent.

MoKelly

I spent one Summer in Colorado Springs; I recall that these small thunderstorms came up fairly regularly, and it might rain on one side of the street, and be sunny and dry on the other. I know here in Oklahoma, weather is pretty changeable; and in spite of the amount of work they put into prediction, they are off quite a bit; their predictions usually err on the side of severity. Of course, these predictions are made using models; which makes me wonder...if they can't predict weather accurately 24 - 48 hours in advance with their models, how can they predict global warming several hundred years in advance using models?

Leejohn · Feb 17, 2021

That NWS radar map is what you get when the color blind gamers come up with .

cqaigy2 · Feb 17, 2021

Diggin It said:
Most NWS Forecast Offices offer various classes on Storm Watching, Spotters and readiness. This includes reading radar images. Classes are free, but some require pre-registration. Nearly all are on line now for obvious reasons, but they will go back to in person classes eventually.

This map should help you find something local to you:

Kansas NWS SKYWARN(R) Program

I went to one of those classes many years ago. It was pretty interesting, they also went to some pains to explain what they mean when they say something like 10% chance of rain. Not what i thought it meant, and probably why most of use think they are so bad at their job.

oldballs · Feb 17, 2021

As for me. I'm OK with the work that they do. I just don't care for their new radar presentation. The map shows pinks, yellows, purples, county lines off of the radar area and then that bland grey over the site of interest.....a little green now and then. As for me.....I'm always on the sunny side of the street.

Bird · Feb 17, 2021

oldballs said:
As for me. I'm OK with the work that they do. I just don't care for their new radar presentation. The map shows pinks, yellows, purples, county lines off of the radar area and then that bland grey over the site of interest.....a little green now and then. As for me.....I'm always on the sunny side of the street.

Yep, I sure don't like their current radar display. It used to be really good, but not anymore.

Most NWS Forecast Offices offer various classes on Storm Watching, Spotters and readiness. This includes reading radar images.

Yep, I attended some of those classes many years ago when I was a police officer. I found them to be pretty interesting.

dodge man · Feb 17, 2021

Yes the new site really sucks. The old one was good. I assume the radar is the same they just display it different.

kcflhrc · Feb 17, 2021

oldballs said:
Gentlemen,

About a month ago the NWS installed a new radar picture. I thought the old radar was fine, especially now that I see the new version. But hey, I'm just a ordinary person. Maybe I need some classes in esoteric radar images. What do you all think?

Cheers,
Mike

I agree, it sucks

jjp8182 · Feb 17, 2021

I personally use the map and 10 day forecast (the graphical presentation is useful) from Weather Underground ....the crowd sourced(?) temp (& wind when available) data definitely helps get a better understanding of current conditions over a region.

About the only time I go to the NWS site any more is for more information associated with warnings, to (occasionally) look at surface analysis maps or hurricane path predictions. While I generally don't get the wind from hurricanes at my place it's still helpful to know get an idea if/when I may get the residual rain/thunderstorms.