The layers sidebar view includes various data layers that can be overlaid on the map. Some layers are available to all RadarScope customers. Others are available via our RadarScope Pro subscription tiers, our WeatherOps decision support platform, or via third-party sources such as AllisonHouse and Spotter Network.
The warnings layer displays warning polygons for tornado (red), severe thunderstorm (yellow), flash flood (green), and special marine (orange) warnings issued by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). Warnings are displayed for the entire United States, but are not currently available elsewhere. Warnings are refreshed once a minute.
The watches layer displays tornado (dark red) and severe thunderstorm (dark yellow) watch polygons issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center. Watches are displayed for the entire United States, but are not currently available elsewhere. Watches are refreshed once a minute.
The mesoscale discussions layer displays mesoscale discussions issued by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. regional forecast offices. They provide short-term technical weather forecasts concerning potential thunderstorms, high winds, and tornadoes. Mesoscale discussions are available via an AllisonHouse data plan and cover the United States.
The lightning layer displays lightning strike locations within the coverage area of the selected radar over the past 30 minutes. Lightning data is refreshed once a minute. Lightning data requires a RadarScope Pro subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. The RadarScope Pro lightning feed displays cloud-to-ground strikes. Strikes are animated in sync with the radar loop and fade out with age. The AllisonHouse lightning feed displays both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground strikes, but it doesn’t animate with the radar. Lightning data are currently available for the United States and Canada.
The storm tracks layer displays projected storm paths determined by NWS storm-tracking algorithms. Storm tracks are available to everyone via a NOAA feed. An alternative feed is available to AllisonHouse subscribers. Storm tracks are available only for the United States.
Derived contours indicate the probability of hail, estimated hail size, and azimuthal wind shear as determined by processing real-time radar data through custom algorithms. They are available via a RadarScope Tier Two subscription. Contours cover a 24-hour period and are updated about twice an hour. They provide good indicators of where hail and wind shear occurred during recent severe weather events and, when combined with the 30-day archive in Tier Two, are useful for post-event analysis. Derived contours cover only the United States.
The storm reports layer displays local storm reports received and disseminated by National Weather Service forecast offices. They are submitted by storm spotters, public safety officials, and others to report a wide variety of events including extreme temperatures, floods, high winds, hail, tornadoes, and more. Storm reports are available via a RadarScope Tier 2 subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. Storms reports cover only the United States.
The spotter reports layer displays severe weather reports submitted by trained storm spotters through the Spotter Network. They are used to report a range of weather events including, wind, floods, hail, and tornadoes. Spotter reports are available via a Spotter Network account.
The mPING reports layer displays crowd-sourced weather reports that are collected and disseminated by the National Severe Storm Laboratory's mPING project. They are used to report precipitation types and other weather events.
The locations layer displays custom user-defined locations. Custom locations are displayed in light blue. If two locations are close enough together that their names overlap on the map, only one will be shown.
The assets layer displays asset locations defined in the WeatherOps portal used by DTN WeatherOps customers, and requires a WeatherOps account.. Assets are displayed in light red. If two assets are close enough together that their names overlap on the map, only one will be shown.
The spotter locations layer displays the reported locations of Spotter Network members. Spotter locations are available via a Spotter Network account. When enabled, the spotter location feed updates every two minutes. Spotter locations are displayed as red dots on the map and are aggregated when the dots overlap.
The cities layer displays the names of over 25,000 cities and towns obtained from a United States census database. Names are filtered at varying zoom levels to reduce overlap and visual clutter.
The highways layer displays interstate and United States highways obtained from United States Geological Survey (USGS) databases. Roads are shown as blue lines on the map. More roads and detail are displayed at higher zoom levels.
The outlooks layer displays Day One convective outlooks issued by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. They estimate the probability of convective storms, high wind, hail, and tornadoes, and are issued five times a day. Outlooks are available via a RadarScope Pro Tier 2 subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. Outlooks cover the United States.
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