We have made major changes to our probabilistic precipitation web pages for the 2013-14 winter season, both to
the
user interface and available
forecast products.
Summary of the modifications:
- All products are displayed in Google Maps. This provides more flexible viewing options.
- GIF images of all products are still available
- We have added 72-hour probabilistic and percentile accumulation forecasts
- Forecasts are now available every six hours through Day 3 for the selected forecast duration (except for
72-hour forecasts
The user interface can be broken up into three sections (plus the window displaying the forecast). At the top is "Product Selection" (see image below).
By default, it will start by displaying 24-hour probability forecasts for snow on Google Maps. Clicking any
of these options will automatically switch you to the proper display. Note that for this season we have
added 72-hour probability and percentile forecasts.
Regarding the "User Interface" options, we have retained the ability to view GIF images (similar to last years' products).
There are advantages and disadvantages of each. Google Maps provides the ability to zoom and pan to where you are interested, as
well as change the transparency/opacity of the areas (below the main map are the opacity choices) and overlay the probability or
accumulation contours. However, the Google Maps interface loads more slowly than GIF images and cannot easily be printed or imported into
other sites. The main disadvantage to GIFs is that they are static images; there is no zooming or panning capability nor can you overlay
other fields.
Below the "Product Selection" menu is a horizontal menu bar containing the current product displayed as well as a horizontal line of valid forecast day and time.
Aside from the forecast times displayed, this interface is unchanged from last season.
In the example below, we are viewing the 24-hour probability of snow exceeding 1 inch for Days 1-3.
The day and time highlighted in light blue represents the currently-displayed forecast. Change the forecast period by mousing over a different valid day/time.
We've made two notable changes to the product suite. First, we've added 72-hour probability and percentile accumulation forecasts. These cover
the entire Day 1-3 period.
Second, we are creating the 24- or 48-hour forecasts in
six-hour time steps for Day 1 through 3 (or Day 2 through 3 in the case of 48-hour forecasts). In the example above, you would be viewing a probability of
snow exceeding 1 inch valid for the 24-hour period 12Z Wednesday, February 6th, through 12Z Thursday, February 7th. As you move the mouse to the right,
you change 24-hour periods by 6 hours at a time. For example, the forecast to the immediate right is the probability of
snow exceeding 1 inch for the 24-hour period
18Z Wednesday, February 6th, through
18Z Thursday, February 7th. Move one more and the
24-hour valid period is 00Z Thursday, February 7th, through 00Z Friday, February 8th, and so on. The same principle applies to the 48-hour forecasts.