Topic: Update to NOAA Ridge Radar Animation

[ValentineWeather]

I know I'm asking a lot with all the wonderful scripts I already have and thanks everyone for sharing. I think a water vapor loop in this script would be something very useful. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/satellite/2km_wv_Arizona_loop.php/=

Actually, my Satellite Loops display has just been updated.  Combining radar and satellite views is something to consider I suppose, but not today.  You can see it here.

Thats it, very nice thanks Jerry.

[gwwilk]

For several reasons, not the least of which is the need to become more familiar with PHP multi-dimensional arrays, I've modified the NOAA Ridge Radar Animation script to display location and radar type.  The information from the persistent drop-down selections is OK, but for quite a few sites it is incomplete and even misleading at times.

There may still be a need for refinements of the locations, but I think I've found and merged most of the duplicate entries in the drop-down list.  The directional radars, e.g. Nrn. Alabama, have been modified to include or converted to actual city locations where possible.  At least one remains, South Shore, HI.  Let me know if you find a radar site that's misrepresented or could be somehow better presented.

[NCHurricane]

Thank you for this script! I finally got a chance to implement it on my site. Thanks again to everyone involved.

http://easternnc.nchurricane.com/radars.php

[CNYWeather]

Looks good Chuck 

[NCHurricane]

Thanks, Tony. I'm still trying to decide how to use the other radar code you showed me. I haven't forgotten about it. 

[MackerelSky]

Hey Jerry,

Hope things are well.

Finally got around to putting this script up this morning, works and looks nice.

http://mckeanweather.com/mwridgeR.php

But (you knew it was coming) Danny's link in the credits only goes to a 404 on your site and anyone that has installed your zip.

Here's the link in the credits from inc-wxusradars.php

<a href="/scripts/ridge-radar-standalone/ridge.php">El Dorado Weather</a>

Hope this helps.

Brad

[gwwilk]

Hey Jerry,

Hope things are well.

Finally got around to putting this script up this morning, works and looks nice.

http://mckeanweather.com/mwridgeR.php

But (you knew it was coming) Danny's link in the credits only goes to a 404 on your site and anyone that has installed your zip.

Here's the link in the credits from inc-wxusradars.php

<a href="/scripts/ridge-radar-standalone/ridge.php">El Dorado Weather</a>

Hope this helps.

Brad

Thanks for pointing out the dead link, Brad.  I apparently didn't get a full url when I copied it.  This link is fixed in the attached wxusradars3a.zip, and I've added a link to the NOAA Flanis Radar FAQ's.

It may be deliberate, but you aren't running the latest version of wxusradars.php that allows user selection of radar type...just saying.

[MackerelSky]

It may be deliberate, but you aren't running the latest version of wxusradars.php that allows user selection of radar type...just saying.

Nope - dag gummer, simply overlooked it when setting up. I downloaded both versions and put the wrong one up.

Thanks for taking a look and 'just saying', appreciated...

Brad

[Breezy]

Thanks Jerry and all for your hard work.  Great script. Have it up and running ... Much appreciated !!! 

Best to all ...

Jeff

[mikeym2m]

Yes, Thanks Jerry for another Great script. Appreciate all your hard work.

Cheers

 

MikeyM

[gwwilk]

One thing that was missing from this script was the radar status.  I've incorporated a modified version of Ken True's 'radar-status.php' into this NOAA Ridge Radar Animation.  By default '$noMsgIfActive = true;' in 'radar-status-getradar.php' to suppress the display of the chosen radar's status unless a fault is present.

I've included the Stand Alone version, 'wxusradars-SA.php', which also displays the chosen radar's status using the other three supporting scripts.

As before, in 'wxusradars.php' change the default '$radar = 'oax';' to your Weather Forecast Office's three-letter code and '$radarType = 'N0R';' to your preferred default radar type.  The WFO and radar type lists are in 'wxusradars-select.php' where you will need to move the 'selected="selected" text from my default choices to yours if you want the selectors to display your defaults.

You can view my 'wxusradars.php' here with radar status turned off by default, a version with radar status turned on by default here, and the Stand Alone version here.

There's a bug in that for me with the radar status display always on and a normally updating radar, the status doesn't appear until a new radar or radar type is selected. Upon a second selection if any recent messages were posted, they will then also display.

Edit 5 August 2015:  The bug was discovered and swatted as in the messages below.  In the version dated today I also added a link to NOAA's radar status page and reformatted the attribution files while finally crediting Ken True at Saratoga-Weather for the radar-status script.

[gwwilk]

I should also add that one 'side-effect' of the use of the above script is the creation for each radar site of a 'radar-status-????.txt' file in the '$cacheFileDir' designated in 'radar-status-getradar.php' which is potentially overridden by your cache file directory set in 'Settings.php' if they differ.  This caching of a radar status for each radar visited could leave your cache directory littered with cache files that quickly become stale and therefore worthless.  I don't plan to alter the function of 'radar-status-getradar.php', so during your periodic housecleaning of your web site, remember to delete those now nuisance files.

In reality this probably isn't a big deal.  I just checked my site's '$cacheFileDir' => './cache', and found no problem with excessive 'radar-status-???.txt' files.  I just thought you should know what's creating those 'radar-status-????.txt' files in your cache directory and that it's safe to delete them.

[Breezy]

By default '$noMsgIfActive = true;' in 'radar-status-getradar.php' to suppress the display of the chosen radar's status unless a fault is present.

I don't know but I have the default set to "true" and it is still showing the message when the radar site is active.

http://indiantrailweather.com/wxusradars.php

[gwwilk]

By default '$noMsgIfActive = true;' in 'radar-status-getradar.php' to suppress the display of the chosen radar's status unless a fault is present.

I don't know but I have the default set to "true" and it is still showing the message when the radar site is active.

By default '$noMsgIfActive = true;' in 'radar-status-getradar.php' to suppress the display of the chosen radar's status unless a fault is present.

Yet when you select a different radar type or a different site the message disappears.  Try commenting out this line in 'radar-status-getradar.php'

Code: [Select]

if (isset($SITE['showradarstatus'])) {$noMsgIfActive = ! $SITE['showradarstatus'];}
by changing it to a comment

Code: [Select]

#if (isset($SITE['showradarstatus'])) {$noMsgIfActive = ! $SITE['showradarstatus'];}
to see if this helps.  I just checked, and this is also why my radar status doesn't show up until I change radar or radar type!

Another problem in 'radar-status-getradar.php' is

Code: [Select]

if (isset($SITE['GR3radar'])) {$statRadar = $SITE['GR3radar'];} // Useful only in 'radar-status.php'!!!
which should also be commented out

Code: [Select]

#if (isset($SITE['GR3radar'])) {$statRadar = $SITE['GR3radar'];} // Useful only in 'radar-status.php'!!!

Modified 'radar-status-getradar.php' with those lines comment out attached as a .txt file.

[Breezy]

That did it ... Looks much better now. Thanks. 

[gwwilk]

That did it ... Looks much better now. Thanks. 

Good to know.

I've posted a version dated today above which swats these bugs and finally credits Ken True for the radar-status script.

[Breezy]

I've posted a version dated today above which swats these bugs and finally credits Ken True for the radar-status script.]

Got it thanks. Well out to mow the lawn. I don't belong to a "housing association". http://indiantrailweather.com/mywebcam.jpg