Getting Around on iOS: Layers

 

The layers tab includes various data layers that can be overlaid on the map. Some layers are available to all RadarScope customers. Others are available via our RadarScope Pro subscription tiers, our WeatherOps decision support platform, or via third-party sources such as AllisonHouse and Spotter Network.

Warnings

The warnings layer displays warning polygons for tornado (red), severe thunderstorm (yellow), flash flood (green), and special marine (orange) warnings issued by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). Warnings are displayed for the entire United States and are refreshed once a minute.

Watches

The watches layer displays tornado (dark red) and severe thunderstorm (dark yellow) watch polygons issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center. Watches are displayed for the entire United States and are refreshed once a minute.

Lightning

The lightning layer displays lightning strike locations within the coverage area of the selected radar over the past 30 minutes and is refreshed once a minute. Lightning data requires a RadarScope Pro subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. The RadarScope Pro lightning feed displays cloud-to-ground strikes. Strikes are animated in sync with the radar loop and fade out with age. The AllisonHouse lightning feed displays both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground strikes but does not animate with the radar.

Storm Tracks

The storm tracks layer displays projected storm paths determined by NWS storm-tracking algorithms. Storm tracks are available to everyone via a NOAA feed. An alternative feed is available to AllisonHouse subscribers.

Derived Contours

Derived contours indicate the probability of hail, estimated hail size, and azimuthal wind shear as determined by processing real-time radar data through custom algorithms. They are available via a RadarScope Tier 2 subscription. Contours cover a 24-hour period and are updated about twice an hour. They provide useful indicators of where hail and wind shear occurred during recent severe weather events and, when combined with the 30-Day Archive in Tier 2, are helpful for post-event analysis.

Storm Reports

The storm reports layer displays local storm reports received and disseminated by NWS forecast offices. They are submitted by storm spotters, public safety officials, and others to report a wide variety of events including extreme temperatures, floods, high winds, hail, tornadoes, and more. Storm reports are available via a RadarScope Tier 2 subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan.

Spotter Reports

The spotter reports layer displays severe weather reports submitted by trained storm spotters through the Spotter Network. They are used to report a range of weather events including wind, floods, hail, and tornadoes. Spotter reports are available via a Spotter Network account.

mPING Reports

The mPING reports layer displays crowd-sourced weather reports that are collected and disseminated by the National Severe Storm Laboratory’s mPING project. They are used to report precipitation types and other weather events.

Mesoscale Discussions

The mesoscale discussions layer displays mesoscale discussions issued by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center regional forecast offices. They provide short-term technical weather forecasts concerning potential thunderstorms, high winds, and tornadoes. Mesoscale discussions are available via an AllisonHouse data plan.

Outlooks

The outlooks layer displays Day One convective outlooks issued by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. They estimate the probability of convective storms, high wind, hail, and tornadoes, and are issued five times a day. Outlooks are available via a RadarScope Pro Tier 2 subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan.

Locations

The locations layer displays custom user-defined locations. Custom locations are displayed in light blue. If two locations are close enough together that their names overlap on the map, only one will be shown.

Assets

The assets layer displays asset locations defined in the WeatherOps Commander portal used by WeatherOps enterprise customers. Assets are displayed in light red. If two assets are close enough together that their names overlap on the map, only one will be shown. A WeatherOps enterprise account is required for this layer.

Spotter Locations

The spotter locations layer displays reported locations of Spotter Network members. Spotter locations are available via a Spotter Network account. When enabled, the spotter location feed updates every two minutes. Spotter locations are displayed as red dots on the map and are aggregated when the dots overlap.

Cities

The cities layer displays the names of over 25,000 cities and towns obtained from a U.S. census database. Names are filtered at varying zoom levels to reduce overlap and visual clutter.

Highways

The highways layer displays interstate and U.S. highways obtained from United States Geological Survey (USGS) databases. Roads are shown as blue lines on the map. More roads and detail are displayed at higher zoom levels.

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