What Model Sites Do Everyone Use?

[Rob Lightbown]

I'm just curious to find what sites do others go to when analyzing the different model data for severe weather potential, in addition to the normal surface and upper air analysis.

I know for myself, I use a combo between NCAR/RAP, COD, the model links from Earl Barker's weather page and lastly I have just started using F5Data software for analyzing model data.

Like I said, was just curious to see where others go to look at model data for severe weather potential days before a severe weather event.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

http://www.wxcaster.com --> It's a little disorganized, but there are many hard-to-find forecast products on there (i.e. isentropic forecasts, forecast soundings, etc).

http://weather.cod.edu --> this has been a staple model site for me for many years (easy to read, a good number of forecast fields, and a nice set of "zoomed in" areas)

http://hoot.ou.edu --> A relatively new site that has nice graphics and a good range of forecast fields... Unfortunately, only CONUS views (no "zoomed in" views like CoD). This is a work in progress that has improved significantly in the past couple of yeras. Hoot is also an very good alternate for viewing OK Mesonet data (http://hoot.metr.ou.edu/surface/meso/us ). Oh yeah, they have Level II radar graphics for many of the radar sites surrounding OK at http://hoot.metr.ou.edu/radar/L2/uscomp... It's definately worth a look if you haven't seen it (and I don't think many have).

That's pretty much my list. I find the model forecast graphics from NCAR/RAP to be too low-resolution and "zoomed" out to be of much use, considering the alternatives of CoD and Hoot/OU. The satellite imagery from RAP/NCAR are top-notch, IMO, bested only by CoD (for 1km vis imagery) and occassionally by RAMSDIS.

 

[Patrick Marsh]

http://hoot.ou.edu --> A relatively new site that has nice graphics and a good range of forecast fields... Unfortunately, only CONUS views (no "zoomed in" views like CoD).

If people tell me what you want (PM or otherwise), I'll be sure that the request makes it into our queue and it eventually gets implemented.

 

[rdale]

I'm just curious to find what sites do others go to when analyzing the different model data for severe weather potential, in addition to the normal surface and upper air analysis.

GEMPAK http://skywatch.org

 

[Bob Schafer]

Ditto the previous posts.

I also use NCEP,

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/

when I want to get a look at the newest runs as soon as possible. Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think any other site beats NCEP for getting the latest data posted quickly. The data is posted on Earl's almost as quickly, though. NCEP's data is somewhat limited in scope, and there isn't any "zooming".

Here's another site that is apparently "experimental", but is also quite useful, and I like the way the update status is presented:

http://maps.fsl.noaa.gov/pig.cgi?13km_D2+sc+./

(You can switch to other regions on there, too, BTW.)

Yet another:

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/animations.html

I rarely use those last two, but choice is good, eh?

Patrick, IMO CoD would be just about the perfect site for models if it wasn't so ****amn late all the time... and sometimes missing data that never does show up. Gotta laugh at their regions a little, too. The bottom third of TX is chopped off the "Southern Plains" region maps, but pieces of MI and WI are on those. Probably not too many folks would call SW MI part of the "Southern Plains". And NE NM is in the "Great Lakes" region, but NW PA is not.

 

[Shane Adams]

I use CoD exclusively because they have the best graphics and they have regional maps. Unfortunately, they also go down all the freaking time, like now for instance. The best potential setup of the year to date and they've been screwed up for the past 24 hours, with some crucial maps not loading, just a blank screen.

Of course I don't want to upset the Powers that be on that web server, as I've already discovered they don't like it when people report their service is less than satisfactory, because "it's free". The way I see it, I put up with it because it's the best (graphics-wise) and it's free. So I'll gripe about it whenever I want because, despite all its server flaws, I've remained loyal for years

 

[John Cameron]

http://weather.uwyo.edu/models/

Univ of Wyoming has been my go-to page for years...data is timely and the page may have been down twice in the last 5 years.

Also College of Dupage and Millersville WRF

 

[Laura Duchesne]

Like Shane, I prefer CoD's because of its readability... RAP Real-Time weather also has some good stuff on there, but I find it hard to read sometimes.

Some others:
NAM SVR WX Graphics
Unisys Weather
The Storm Machine

 

[Robert Speta]

If you wish to also do your own synopsis forecaster I highly suggest think site. Its a great map making site and pretty much will lay out anything you ask of it.

http://vortex.plymouth.edu/make.html

 

[Adam Lucio]

I start off with www.weather.unisys.com. Theres not a whole lot offered on there but theres some good panel overviews and if I see something of interest I move on to CODs site for a more detailed and closer look.

Lately Ive started to check out the NCEP site as well, Im always trying to expand my resources. I will have to check out some of these sites you all have posted. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Justin Turcotte]

I like the CoD data if I'm not at work using some in house hi res stuff on grads. If I'm gunning for a local chase or am already in a predetermined target area then it is hard to beat the SPC mesoanalysis graphics. They are derived from the latest RUC and are more geared toward nowcasting http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/

 

[Paul Knightley]

I can log into my work remotely and look at gridded ECMWF/GFS/UKMO data. However, I also use COD, the NCEP NCO site, and I subscribe to the excellent F5 data.

 

[J Kinkaid]

http://moe.met.fsu.edu/tcgengifs/ okay well it's almost cane season

2 of the best
http://www.wxcaster.com/models_text.htm

http://www.meteo.psu.edu/~gadomski/ewall.html

 

[John Wetter]

www.f5data.com - all the maps and at whatever zoom you want.

 

[Aaron Wesson]

I second f5 data

I also use http://www.txtornado.net/menu.htm and Earls models http://www.wxcaster.com/weather.php3