---
title: "Getting Around on Windows: Layers"
description: The Layers tab includes various data layers that can be overlaid on the map. Learn more about RadarScope and download the app today.
---

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# Getting Around on Windows: Layers

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.

### Warnings

The warnings layer displays warning polygons for tornado (**red**), severe thunderstorm (**yellow**), flash flood (**green**), and special marine (**orange**) warnings issued by the United States National Weather Service (NWS). Warnings are displayed for the entire United States, but are not currently available elsewhere. Warnings are refreshed once a minute.

### Watches

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.

### Mesoscale Discussions

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.

### Lightning

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.

### Storm Tracks

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

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.

### Local Storm Reports

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.

### Spotter Reports

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.

### mPING Reports

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.

### Locations

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.

### Assets

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.

### Spotter Locations

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.

### Cities

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.

### Highways

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.

### Outlooks

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 an AllisonHouse data plan. Outlooks cover the United States.

[Back to RadarScope Documentation](https://www.radarscope.com.au/take-a-tour/)

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- [Getting Around](https://www.radarscope.com.au/guide/getting-around-on-windows-layers#features)
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- [Radar](https://www.radarscope.com.au/guide/getting-around-on-windows-layers#radar)
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Getting Around on Mac: Menu Bar and Keyboard Shortcuts

Getting Around on Mac: Toolbar

Getting Around on Mac: Sidebar

Getting Around on Mac: Radar Legend

Getting Around on Mac: Map Interaction

Products on Mac - Product Legend

Products in iOS - Product Legend

Products on Android - Product Legend

Products in RadarScope - Precipitation

Products in RadarScope - Reflectivity

Radar in iOS: Radar List

Radar on Android: Radar List

Radar in RadarScope: Radar Data Details

Radar on macOS: Radar List

Radar on Windows: Radar List

Advanced Settings on Mac

Preferences on Mac

RadarScope Accounts within iOS

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RadarScope Accounts within Android

RadarScope for Apple Watch

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Spotter Network on RadarScope for Mac

Spotter Network on RadarScope for iOS

Spotter Network on RadarScope for Android

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[Getting Around on Windows: Location →](https://www.radarscope.com.au/guide/getting-around-on-windows-location)

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