So, I’ve been looking at different radar images for our region.
To put it midly, the options out there really suck for coverage of Central Vancouver Island.
Part of the problem is topography. The closest weather radar to us is the “Victoria” radar (which is actually just north of Duncan). It’s signal is well blocked to the north, west, and south by mountains… I’m not sure why they even use it… they probably don’t.
The next best is a toss up between the Aldergrove/Vancouver radar (what has been on the website here), and the Seattle radar. Vancouver reaches a little farther north… but is so far from the West Coast of the Island that it’s pretty difficult for it to really see what’s coming at us until it’s overtop.
Seattle has a bit different angle and because of the angle of Vancouver Island, I think it gets a better view of the West Coast… since what we get in terms of weather generally comes from Barkley Sound way… I’m going to try out a few different sources for the American radar.
What’s really frustrating is there are 2 different, current, radar installations that would provide excellent weather coverage, unfortunately, the radars in place at Ucluelet and Neah Bay, Washington are marine traffic radars (Neah Bay was built as a Cold War defense… before the Soviets built ballistic missiles! I suspect Ucluelet has the same roots.) and don’t use the same frequencies as weather radars, so apparently they’re not as good. Oh well.
Anyway, if you have any suggestions for good sources of local radar imagery, let me know and I’ll try it out.
About The Author
Comments
4 responses to “Radars Suck”
Hi again, Try “NEXRAD Radar” web site: http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=ATX
You can make a box for just around our area. The radar will show how far it can get a signal back by an arc of light gray. Hope this helps.
Bill
I use this radar site as well as the ones you mention to get a better idea. This one is flight but it gives a good picture of what’s up along with the other sites.
I check your site often, thanks for keeping us updated!
http://www.flightprep.com/rootpage.php?page=wxxnxreg04
Hey that’s great thanks guys! I’m going to see at some point here if I can’t maybe do a little manipulation of various radar sources and merge them together like you see on some sites.
Perhaps I could enlist readers help here, if you frequent a lot of radars for our region, and happen to notice *THAT THEY ARE THE SAME SCALE* please pass it along, I might be able to layer them one on another and get a more complete picture.
(sorry for the ALL CAPS, done only for emphasis, not for yelling :+) ).
Hi Chris, try this one. Is it the same scale? It looks the same as te one you’ve got with slightly different highlights.
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=atx&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no