WeatherShare Update - January 12th, 2011

WEATHERSHARE HOME | ARCHIVED UPDATES


UPDATE: Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

One Stop Shop (OSS) and WeatherShare are overlapping, but complementary websites. While WeatherShare is geared towards weather information only, One Stop Shop adds information such as camera images and sign messages. And, OSS provides coverage for Oregon, although weather information is only shown for California. It’s taken us a couple weeks to put this update together, but we wanted to show how these systems indicate severe weather and road conditions.

On December 21st and 22nd, there was a great deal of precipitation throughout California and Oregon. Here we’ve grabbed some screenshots to show magnitude of the storm, and the wealth of information available in WeatherShare and OSS. Click here to view an extended version of this update, including over 50 screenshots. (Note that this is a large file - 20 MB.)

The NWS Observed 24 Hour Precipitation layer in WeatherShare (and OSS) shows estimated precipitation throughout California. Information from sensors and some complex models from the PRISM Group at Oregon State University are used to make these estimates. In the following image from WeatherShare, you’ll see a large amount of precipitation throughout the state, including very heavy precipitation in the Los Angeles area:

WeatherShare screenshot (12/21/2010): The NWS Observed 24 Hour Precipitation layer shows a large amount of precipitation throughout California, including very heavy precipitation in the Los Angeles area.

We zoomed in on the Los Angeles area and found values of over 4 inches (and more) from the past 24 hours:

WeatherShare screenshot (12/21/2010): The user can zoom in on a specific area to get more detail about the conditions.  Here, we zoomed in on the Los Angeles area and found precipitation values of over 4 inches or more from the past 24 hours.

Not only are past and current weather information available in these systems, we also show forecasts using data from the National Weather Service’s National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). Here is forecasted cumulative snow for a six hour period:

WeatherShare screenshot (12/22/2010): In addition to past and current weather information, WeatherShare also provides forecasts using data from the National Weather Service’s National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). This screenshot shows forecasted cumulative snow for a six hour period.

The forecasted amounts of snow were high in the mountains near Los Angeles. We zoom in for further detail and find the following location along Highway 2, which indicates over 11 inches of snow during this 6-hour period:

WeatherShare screenshot (12/22/2010): With the zoom function, the user can get pertinant forecast information for the area of interest. We zoom in for further detail and find the following location along Highway 2, which indicates over 11 inches of snow during this 6-hour period.

Now, let’s look at OSS. In the screenshot below from December 22nd, 2010, we’re looking at the DOT Field Elements layer and the CCTV, CMS and Chain Requirements sub-layers:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): DOT Field Elements layer and the CCTV, CMS and Chain Requirements sub-layers of OSS.

CMS were indicating chain and traction tire requirements in Oregon:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010):  CMS indicating chain and traction tire requirements in Oregon.

This CCTV image showed why:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): Streamed data from CCTV's can give the user a better look at the road conditions, like this image from the camera on US26 at Government Camp.

And there were plenty of similar images across Oregon and California at this time:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV's can be accessed across Oregon and California.  This camera image is from US26 at Blue Box Pass Summit.

Here’s US 20 at Tombstone in Oregon:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image of US 20 at Tombstone, OR

I-5 at Siskiyou Summit:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image of I-5 at Siskiyou Summit

Snowman summit on SR-89 near Mt. Shasta:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image of Snowman Summit on SR-89 near Mt. Shasta

Obrien near Mt. Shasta shows rain rather than snow:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image at Obrien near Mt. Shasta shows rain rather than snow.

Fredonyer Summit west of Susanville:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image of Fredonyer Summit west of Susanville

Here’s more rain along I-5 south of Redding:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image along I-5 south of Redding also shows rain.

SR-99 near Fresno:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): CCTV image of SR-99 near Fresno, CA

We currently don’t have CCTV images from all of California in OSS, but we plan to add more soon. Here are some images from Caltrans. This one is from US 395 near Mammoth. There was very heavy snow here at the time:

OSS screenshot (12/22/2010): Caltrans CCTV image from US 395 near Mammoth showing very heavy snow.

As you can see, these were eventful days in terms of weather. Keep an eye on the conditions using OSS and WeatherShare.

Click here to view an extended version of this update, including over 50 screenshots. (Note that this is a large file - 20 MB.)


TOP