High Sierra Topix

On the HST Map there are four display choices at the top right of the map: USA Topo, World Topo, Satellite, and Map. Of the two topo maps the USA Topo is by far the easiest to navigate (find locations) and view.

NOAA, on pages such as the one below, used to use the USA Topo. They now exclusively use the World Topo.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... W82E1J2zC5

I find it unnecessarily difficult, using their small topo map coupled with World Topo, to navigate to the spots where I want to get a site-specific weather forecast.

Is there any short term solution, that is, way of using USA Topo on their forecast pages?
If other people share the same frustration do you think it would be possible to get NOAA to at least offer the choice of using the USA Topo map?

-Scott

Hey Scott, I agree with you that the new map isn't great. I've been a bit annoyed with it too. They've been doing a bunch of stuff with their site recently, so it probably wouldn't hurt to email them a comment. They may still be in a position where it's not set in stone yet.

You could always get coordinates from elsewhere and plug them in somehow. I'm guessing you've noticed that when you click on the map, it highlights an section and then refreshes the forecast. I suspect the point forecasts are only accurate without a few hundred meters or so (I mean, it is just a forecast).

LightRanger wrote:I'm guessing you've noticed that when you click on the map, it highlights an section and then refreshes the forecast.

Yes, that is exactly how I use it. For example, say I want to backpacking into Kaweah Basin and I want a weather forecast and an estimate of the expected low temperatures at that altitude and location for the next few days. I think NOAA does a fairly good interpolation of that. However, finding places on the poor topo they've switched to is a lot more work than it used to be.

-Scott

In caltopo, if you right click on a point you can do Point Info > NOAA Forecast.

schmalz wrote:In caltopo, if you right click on a point you can do Point Info > NOAA Forecast.

That's an excellent option! Thanks.

This NWS experimental weather map is full page, gives good resolution on radar and, when clicked, spot weather forcasts:

http://preview.weather.gov/edd/

Use the toolbars at left to add applications like radar, weather alerts etc. It's also got a dropdown with a good selection of basemaps.

And, since we're talking mapping fun, here's a good link to active fires in the country:

http://www.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInform ... 5f4db6caf5

George