Topic: NWS changes, some other loose ends

[wvdkuil]

On or about Monday, April 24 2017, the National Centers for
Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Central Operations (NCO) will implement a
major change to its Point Forecast application at:
 
http://forecast.weather.gov

There are other NWS products / links affected as became clear yesterday:

1. Detailed XML  forecast used for graphs and more in-depth tables
https://graphical.weather.gov/xml/SOAP_server/ndfdXML.htm
Example: select only MaxT and Weather Conditions Icons
Returns in the xml this http link for the icons  http://forecast.weather.gov/images/wtf/ra100.jpg
This link is normally redirected to https => OK
These links became invalid and returned 404 error during the "change Point Forecast application"

They are working OK for now

2. 7 day condensed forecast used as backup
https://graphical.weather.gov/xml/SOAP_server/ndfdSOAPByDay.htm
Example: Request default values
Returns in the xml this http link for the icons  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/weather/images/fcicons/ra100.jpg
NOT redirected to https
NOT available with https
This one continued to work at April 24 before, during and after the "change Point Forecast application"

3. other link used in some scripts
http://forecast.weather.gov/newimages/medium/ra100.png
Always redirected to https

Working before April 24, not during the changes, now working again

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My problem is that I tend to use the original links for icons and detail-pages (as with alerts) as supplied by the xml products themselves. 
If they change their icons or links the scripts should remain functional as it are the original NWS links.

Yesterday the SOAP products  I use, returned correct and updated forecast but invalid icon links.
Due to the time-difference I was not able to test most other links, but they all seem invalid now or after a new  "change Point Forecast application". Other invalid links in the xml:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=38.99&textField2=-77.01  => old format MapClick warning
http://www.weather.gov/images/xml_logo.gif => 404 error
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/forecasts/xml  => redirects to https://graphical.weather.gov/xml/
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The "MapClick" / Leuven version works OK as Stand-alone and in the Leuven- and Saratoga-Template
Example: http://weather-template.nl/weather28/index.php?p=noaa_plain_page&lang=en&wp=VW
The extensive XML+MapClick forecast works OK, but there were problems with the icons in the graphs and details tab:
Example: http://weather-template.nl/weather28/index.php?p=noaa_full_page&lang=en&wp=VW

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Updates for the scripts for Stand-Alone or Saratoga-Template at http://www.weerstation-leuven.be/northam/noaafct/demo.php?plain&lang=en
The download link is at the tab "Install".
Discard all references to Leuven-Template !

Updates for the scripts dated 2017-04-20 for Leuven-Template http://support.leuven-template.eu/ and check "Issues" either release 2.8 or 2.7

As I am abroad without decent internet  for two weeks from April 29-May 12, I cross my fingers that they will schedule a new "major change to its Point Forecast application" after Mid May.

Wim