XMweather / WxWorx Radar Coverage

[Mike Hardiman]

Hi,

Does anyone out there still use an XMweather / Baron WxWorx package? If so, I was wondering if you could comment on the radar and lightning data coverage. This link indicates that the radar coverage is strictly limited to the 250km range ring around individual sites...which is the limit for most derived radar products (e.g., VIL, Composite Reflectivity, and Precip estimate products). Note the big wedge of "no coverage" over the Big Bend.

http://www.xmwxweather.com/images/data-products/Radar-Coverage.jpg

I just want to make sure that someone at XM didn't just grab a copy of the 250km Range Rings to create that map, since radar coverage outside that radius would be limited to echos roughly above 20,000 ft AGL, and they'd rather keep expectations low.

I also can't find anything about lightning data coverage other than that they use NLDN. NLDN in theory covers all of North America, but how far south of the border does the XM lightning data extend?

If anyone can help answer these questions, I'd appreciate it. XM customer service is probably going to be clueless. Otherwise, the only place I could probably see this demo'ed is at a boat show, but we don't have too many of those around here!

Thanks,
-Mike

 

[Dan Robinson]

On mine, I routinely see lightning strikes plotted within at least 100 miles or so into Canada, Mexico and the oceans. I haven't looked close enough during events to see how the radar image compares to what you'd see on traditional displays.