Topic: Update USA-regional-maps-inc.php V1.01 for changes in radar.weather.gov

[saratogaWX]

I've done an update to USA-regional-maps-inc.php V1.01 - 17-Dec-2020 to use the available images at https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/lite/

Sadly, only Alaska and Hawaii regional images are now being produced (along with individual NEXRAD sites 10 images and loop), so the script now defaults to using your local radar (specified in $SITE['GR3radar']) for the 'regional' image selected.  Best I could do with what little they now offer.

Update from the update tool using query Base-USA, Plugin-*, 17-Dec-2020

It looks MUCH more bleak for the wxnwsradar.php set of scripts .. while there are images available, all the overlays are now not available, so I'd recommend you comment out a link to wxnwsradar.php (which stopped working 17-Dec-2020) in your flyout-menu.xml for now.  Maybe Jerry and I can resurrect that script (or replace it with some others using map software instead).
Sigh...

[Silversword]

Hi Ken,

Just updated to V1.01 and it seems not to work for my site at http://www.dwayneyamato.com/wx/wxnwsradar.php for some reason.

Is there something else I should do?

Thanks for the heads up on these changes.

Aloha,

--Stan Y.
  Maui, Hawaii

[ed_heaton]

Mine's not working after the update either

[gwwilk]

Actually, guys, the 'wxnwsradar.php' script is officially dead, thanks to the idiots at NOAA/NWS.

I've eliminated it from my menu system.

The USA-regional-maps-inc.php script selects the only, and unfortunately barebones, radar that is currently available for your WFO.  It's ugly and dysfunctional for my WFO, so I've just used a webcam image in its stead.

I'm not sure why the appropriate animated GIF isn't showing up in your index.php, Ed.  After Ken has had his much needed rest, he'll address this issue I'm sure.

[ed_heaton]

Thanks gwwilk...  I can't figure out how to substitute a different radar map in that area either lol

[gwwilk]

Actually, ValentineWeather pointed me toward a much better solution.  I still contribute my data to WU, so I've no guilt from using their WFO radar.

[gwwilk]

Re-reading this bulletin provides some hope that the regional radar images will return by February 26, 2021:
https://www.weather.gov/media/notification/pdf2/scn20-117radar_emwin.pdf

I think our preferred WFO Ridge Radar images are history, though.

[saratogaWX]

Mine's not working after the update either

What's the URL to your website, Ed.  The link in your profile to http://www.atglenweather.net/ is 'parked' on GoDaddy.

Hi Ken,

Just updated to V1.01 and it seems not to work for my site at http://www.dwayneyamato.com/wx/wxnwsradar.php for some reason.

Is there something else I should do?

Thanks for the heads up on these changes.

Aloha,

--Stan Y.
  Maui, Hawaii

Stan, your site doesn't use the default setup for USA-regional-maps-inc.php on your index page.  The script you cited (wxnwsradar.php) is fatally broken as the NWS has stopped generating the radar images required by the script.  That's what gwwilk said above.  The image may come back in the future, but for now.. just remove the link to the page in your flyout-menu.xml.

[ed_heaton]

Good morning Ken, it's www.atglenweather.com  I did switch over to use the old index.php instead of the wxindex.php and I don't have any blank spots now.  Do you think that's ok?

[saratogaWX]

Hi Ed,
The missing image is caused by your Settings.php entry

Code: [Select]

$SITE['GR3radar']    = 'dox';    // set to lower-case full name of NEXRAD radar site  It should be

Code: [Select]

$SITE['GR3radar']    = 'kdox';    // set to lower-case full name of NEXRAD radar site

[ed_heaton]

Thanks Ken!!!  I changed it...  Do you think it's okay to run the old index.php?

[saratogaWX]

Hi Ed, Sure.. it's ok to run your older index.php if that suits you better.  The update I did was for anyone using the the newer format index page to fix a (now broken) image due to the NWS change.
Keep in mind that the old index shows the right-most image of a WU regional radar that hasn't updated since Feb. 18, 2020, so it might be better to use the wxindex.php version, now that it's fixed.

But, your site is yours.. configure it to your satisfaction.

Best regards,
Ken

[ed_heaton]

Thanks Ken!

[gwwilk]

Digging into some of the NOAA/NWS changes, I found this MRMS (Multi-Radar, Multi-Sensor) Operational Product Viewer.  The URL is now set to my region, but it is highly configurable, lightning fast, and it appears to be very functional.

The initial 'Permalink' I created with the button contained the date and time, but deleting those allows the URL to display the latest products.  This Operational Product Viewer was created and is served by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman Oklahoma.

[ed_heaton]

I like that... thanks Jerry!!!

[Otis]

Jerry thanks for sharing that site, I like it.

[jgillett]

I don't see them here but meanwhile this is what I just started using (not really a "map" as discussed here but FYI)..    

https://radar.weather.gov/
https://www.weather.gov/ctp/newRadarTutorial/

Went live on 16 Dec as they announced. AK and HI are there but choking a bit when I looked earlier. The preview they had showed a CONUS map just like WXStory with ALL the buttons active but that is gone.

[miraculon]

The MRMS is very nice. Thanks for the post! Duly bookmarked.
 

Greg H.

[chief-david]

I just put the WU radar map on my index page.  Saved the old code just in case things change again.

Learning how to manipulate a few things on the template.

[Silversword]

Hi All,

Thanks Jerry for the MRMS, now to default it to my area and figure out on put it on my site as well.  Any suggestions or recommendations?

Ken. I don't understand what you recommended on this "Stan, your site doesn't use the default setup for USA-regional-maps-inc.php on your index page." How do I incorporate this into my index page or is it necessary? Thanks for you insight. I have commented out the Ridge Radar site.

Aloha,

--Stan Y.
   Maui, Hawaii

[saratogaWX]

Stan,
When the USA-regional-maps-inc.php was released, it was incorporated into the wxindex.php page.  The instructions on how to modify your page were also included as a readme file (attached below).  It contains the instructions you need.

[Silversword]

Thanks Ken for the heads up on the wxindex.php as my page starts with a plain index.php.  I have to see if I am using that and will check it out and how it is used.

Thanks for all and have a good and safe Holiday Season to you and your family.

Aloha,

--Stan Y.
  Maui, Hawaii

[ed_heaton]

Ken, I've read the instructions and I'm still lost   I am by no means a programmer and will be the first one to admit it...    I dislike the left weather map on the new wxindex page and have no idea how to change it.  I switched back to the index.php only because it had a nicer map on the left side.   Any help would be greatly appreciated

[saratogaWX]

Hi Ed,
Sorry you're having issues with the updated version.  Unfortunately, only a meager radar image can be the default for the left pane with the standard setup, as the NWS has stopped producing regional radar maps on 17-Dec-2020.

You can use the WU map you have as your left panel (with the wxindex.php that includes USA-regional-maps-inc.php) by adding to your Settings.php the line

Code: [Select]

$SITE['leftMap']  = 'WU Radar|https://radblast.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/radar/WUNIDS_map?station=DOX&brand=wui&num=6&delay=60&type=N0R&frame=0&scale=0.999&noclutter=0&t=1593381932&showstorms=0&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&transx=0&transy=0&showlabels=1&severe=0&rainsnow=1&lightning=0&lat=39.946916&lon=-75.979117&label=Atglen|wxradar.php';
Note that your current index.php displays a right side map from WU that stopped updating back in February, 2020 -- very old.

[ed_heaton]

As always Ken you are a life saver!!!  Thank you    Merry Christmas