advforecast2.php V5.07 - 14-Apr-2018 was released today. It adds two features:
1) I've added an URL cache (forecast-URLcache.txt) for the point->gridpoint forecast to skip the access to api.weather.gov for a 302 redirect they provide for a /points/ request to a /gridpoints/ request. The URL cache file will auto-update as needed. This saves one HTTPS access when loading a freshened forecast.
2) I've added the WFO phone and email contact info and details about the gridpoint involved to the notice box when a Zone forecast is displayed due to a point forecast not being available. The box now contains info like
The detailed point forecast weather data is not currently available.
The zone forecast data for CAZ513 (Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose) will be displayed
until the point forecast data is again available.
If this persists, contact the NWS San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, CA WFO
at (831) 656-1725 or email at w-mtr.webmaster@noaa.gov
to have them update the point forecast for /gridpoints/MTR/97,101 on api.weather.gov
(area in italics is added). This allows you to contact the responsible NWS field office with the details about which gridpoint forecast is failing.. hopefully this will reduce the time to get the point forecast back. I was hesitant to include the NWS phone and email, but after checking the real weather.gov pages, they already display that info in the footer, so it is 'public'. Be aware that calling the phone number may result in a voice-response system, and not a person, but the voice may give an additional number to call to talk with a forecaster.. use that one instead. Emails to the address shown may take longer to resolve those stale/unavailable gridpoint forecast issues.
Standalone users download from
the script pageTemplate users use
the update tool page with a query Base-USA, Plugin-*, 14-Apr-2018
Hopefully this update will improve (a bit) the load-time for the script by eliminating one HTTPS access and help you to resolve stale point forecasts easily.
Best regards,
Ken