New SPC Outlook Underlays

[Michael Riedl]

When did this start? I'm going to guess today because I do not remember this feature yesterday. I must say it is pretty nice, it won't affect me too much because I don't use Convective Outlooks as a forecasting tool but for the general public it should be pretty nice.

Has Interstates, Cities, and Population Density and CWA's

EDIT: Feel free to move to appropriate forum.

 

[Robert S. Thompson]

It must have come out today. I didn't see this yesterday either.

It's OK. I'll probably get used to it soon enough. But I don't know why the map has to be so large - more panning and scrolling.

RST

 

[Ben Holcomb]

I think they're pretty snazzy myself. The graphics are a little bigger.

 

[Steve Miller]

Yep, looks pretty fancy. Not sure why they changed the color scheme for representation of the risks. Leaving that kind of stuff alone might help them reach their goal of making the public aware.

 

[Rebekah LaBar]

Yeah, I don't get why they switched colors for the slight and see text. Otherwise, it's ok.

 

[Jesse Risley]

I have written the SPC to demand they reverse this outrageous travesty; I strongly dislike change.

All joking aside, it will take some time getting used to, but I do like the new look.

 

[Chip Redmond]

I think filling in the areas was needed as occasionally it would lead to confusion on the borders of the country. I am a fan (and even I don't often like change )

chip

 

[Tim Supinie]

Yep, looks pretty fancy. Not sure why they changed the color scheme for representation of the risks. Leaving that kind of stuff alone might help them reach their goal of making the public aware.

Yeah, I see what you're saying, but the back of my head always had a problem with the color green, commonly associated with things being "good" or at least "okay," being used for a "slight" risk of severe weather. I think the yellow conveys the meaning at first glance better than green. Plus, they've added a legend down in the bottom corner (not that much of an improvement, I guess, since the risk areas were always labeled before, but still).

I do like the new graphics and underlays. They look slick, and now it's easier to tell where you are relative to the risk areas.

 

[Dan Robinson]

New maps look good, but I also don't like the color scheme change. Seeing as how the original color change (2003 or 2004 I think) was meant to compliment the switch from black to white backgrounds solely for printability, that any change now should at least go back to the original more intuitive tan-green-yellow-red progression (since printability of the colors apparently isn't a priority with the new maps).

Another item to note is that the new outlook page will not load the overlay-based maps on some cell phones (it doesn't work on my Blackberry). If you're viewing the page on a non-javascript phone browser, you will need to load the map separately using the old direct link to the outlook maps.

 

[Doug Drace]

I love the new outlook! Being able to overlay cities, counties, interstates, population densities, etc is long overdue from the generic outlooks of the past! Nice upgrade SPC!!!

 

[Dan Robinson]

Here are the direct links for fellow mobile users:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.gif

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1probotlk_torn.gif

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1probotlk_hail.gif

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1probotlk_wind.gif

 

[jshields]

yeah it is pretty different, it'll take some getting used to! one thing i noticed is the interstates, cities, population densities are shifted too far south. anyone else notice this? omaha is in the southeast tip of nebraska and along the gulf there are interstates out in the ocean!

 

[Jason Boggs]

yeah it is pretty different, it'll take some getting used to! one thing i noticed is the interstates, cities, population densities are shifted too far south. anyone else notice this? omaha is in the southeast tip of nebraska and along the gulf there are interstates out in the ocean!

It's all been fixed now.

 

[CarlNix]

Very nice improvement. Now if they could only get it out to the people that need it. I know that a lot of my family back home have never seen it before.

 

[rdale]

Now if they could only get it out to the people that need it. I know that a lot of my family back home have never seen it before.

? It's a publicly available website. There are no restrictions on that info, all your family has to do is load up the website and they'll see it.

If they are unfamiliar with weather, a better bet would be to link them to their local NWS office's HWO product.