Messages

211

General Discussion / Re: NWS website redesign

« on: February 28, 2014, 02:31:32 PM »

I'm really glad those headlines are highlighted now, and I like seeing the changing weather conditions within a period.  However, dual icons with no space between them will be a problem until the public becomes familiar with it.  There is a learning curve with recognizing the new icons and combinations that may occur within a period, but I'm going to help you all now.   Here is a "before" and "after" page of the NWS icons based on all possible conditions that any METAR report could show along with any forecasts that could be made:

http://innovation.srh.noaa.gov/newicons/icons.html

Thanks for providing that link, Patrick.  I actually didn't know some of those icons existed, like the tornado and funnel cloud ones.  I wonder if an ASOS station has ever been able to report a tornado at the exact time the hourly observation was taken to display that icon?

Regardless of whether they do the split-icon thing and the highlighting of the alerts in effect, I really think they should switch to the new icon set, as they are just so much clearer than the old ones.  And I know the old ones were originally created for and used on the old NWS design and got pixelated when they became enlarged for use on the newly designed webpages.

I guess I only have problems with a couple of the icons.  For example, with the rain/snow, it's hard to tell that it's rain in the background since they overlay the icons and don't do the diagonal slash thing anymore.  I guess any new icon set will take a learning curve, but I do think they will be better in the long-run.

BTW, out of curiosity, does anyone know where they get these pictures from?  Some look computer-generated while others look like actual pictures taken by a professional that they must use.

212

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: February 27, 2014, 12:46:08 PM »

Well, Old Man Winter returns this weekend.  I, for one, am not looking forward to this, especially if it's going to be icy.

213

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: DirecTV Dropping TWC

« on: February 27, 2014, 12:40:51 PM »

I'm not looking forward to the launch of AccuWeather.   As far as I see it, they're going to be just as bad as TWC (or worse) when it comes to a Northeast/East Coast coverage bias (their website is already a great example of this).  At least WeatherNation seems to devote equal time in covering each region of the US.

AccuWeather is also not so "accu." At least in my area. They sometimes don't even get the current conditions right!

Yes, I would agree with you there also.  I think AccuWeather needs to stop focusing so much on extending their forecast to over a month and at least concentrate on getting the 7-day right!

214

General Discussion / Re: NWS website redesign

« on: February 27, 2014, 12:35:12 PM »

BUMP

Proposed changes to icons on NWS Point Forecast pages

What are everyone's thoughts on this?  I personally think it's a good idea and like the slightly modified look of the new icons.

215

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: DirecTV Dropping TWC

« on: February 26, 2014, 11:27:39 PM »

Accuweather is the only competition TWC needs to be worried about as far as I see it...

I'm not looking forward to the launch of AccuWeather.   As far as I see it, they're going to be just as bad as TWC (or worse) when it comes to a Northeast/East Coast coverage bias (their website is already a great example of this).  At least WeatherNation seems to devote equal time in covering each region of the US.

216

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: February 20, 2014, 01:54:38 AM »

This makes me sad.   I was enjoying the warmer temperatures.

You drank too much of that Spring Fever flavored Kool Aid didn't you? It's still February, you didn't honestly think Spring was here for good already did you?

Speaking of Spring Fever, were gonna be awfully close to a record high tomorrow, but I think we'll fall short of tying or breaking it. The record is 78 set back in 1986.

No, but I certainly wouldn't mind returning back to near normal as opposed to falling 10 to 15 degrees below normal.

Plus, March isn't that far away anymore...

217

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: February 19, 2014, 10:43:55 PM »

This makes me sad.   I was enjoying the warmer temperatures.

218

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: DirecTV Dropping TWC

« on: February 19, 2014, 10:41:19 PM »

Network Weather is really confusing me right now.   I really can't tell if they're serious about anything or not.  I know the on-air network probably isn't happening anymore, but the website (which apparently has been re-designed) is very "messy" looking and not professional.

219

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: February 19, 2014, 10:38:11 PM »

From that video there is so much space on the right side. they could have Current Conditions for up to 2 cities in that whole spot.

I agree.  The local forecast segments are formatted specifically for 4:3, and the extra space in widescreen is left completely unused.  The local forecasts are already very lacking in products because they're only 60 seconds long now, and there's so much of the screen that has nothing except a pretty picture.

Yeah, the fact that the HD forecasts have all that wasted space just baffles my mind.  I thought the whole purpose of HD was to have that extra space be used for something.  An added bonus.  That blank space is just taking the bonus away.  I would rather see them extend the boxes to fill the screen than put a sidebar or something there.

220

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: February 18, 2014, 05:08:13 PM »

73°F Fair

221

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: February 15, 2014, 05:46:54 PM »

63°F Fair

It sure isn't winter anymore.

222

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: February 13, 2014, 12:23:05 PM »

46°F Fair

After over a week with several rounds of wintry weather, and rather dreary, cold conditions may I add, a dramatic weather pattern change will bring the start to spring across the southern Plains.
Today's High: 56 °F
Friday's High: 60 °F
Saturday's High: 67 °F
Sunday's High: 70 °F



EDIT: It's 61 degrees right now - warmer than expected!!

223

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: Comcast to buy Time Warner Cable

« on: February 13, 2014, 12:18:31 PM »

Ironically, Time Warner Cable took over Comcast in the DFW Metroplex a few years ago.

I really hope this doesn't happen.  The amount of companies these days that are buying each other or merging is getting a little out of hand.

224

General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday, phw115wvwx!

« on: February 13, 2014, 12:04:40 AM »

A very happy birthday to you Patrick!! . Thanks for bring such a great friend.  I hope today was an okay day for you despite dealing with the winter weather.

225

Local Forecast / Re: Weather STAR XL Replaced

« on: February 11, 2014, 04:57:47 PM »

This is the IntelliStar Jr. It is replacing all legacy units. It will get the updated graphics at some point.

Intellistar Jr., huh?

Do you know how this compares, tech-wise, to the IS1 and IS2?  It's obviously different in that it has Cantore's Vocal Local, but also the specs have to be closer to the IS2, right?

And, if we have an IS already, like with Fios, will they go to the ISJr.?

My guess is that the legacy STAR platforms are unable to "support" the IS or IS2 hardware, so a slightly simpler form of hardware (hence the suffix "Jr.") needed to be used.  If you already have the IS, I doubt they would go to the IS Jr. because that would be considered a downgrade (like going from the IS to the XL).

I'm not quite sure why the graphics have not been updated yet, though, but Tyler said they would eventually be updated.