Note: The seismic link is now working again, and the RADAR link provides access to all NEXRAD sites in the National Weather Service system, including all of Alaska.

The following links are to pages, maps, and satellite images which are helpful for weather forecasting. This page is intentionally graphics-challenged, so that it loads faster. I am sure you would much rather see my links rather than any pretty pics I might have.

The focus of these links is for forecasting in the Interior of Alaska, but like most weather junkies, weather in other places is interesting to me too, so there are links to weather information which focus on other parts of North America, also.

Satellite images:

There are two main types of weather satellites: geostationary, and polar-orbiting. Geostationary satellites appear to hover over one location on the earth, and image that particular hemisphere. Polar-orbiting satellites pass over the earth in low orbits, recording images as strips, which can be cut up and made into mosaics, which are combinations of subsequent satellite passes.

Selecting images from geostationary satellites is as simple (in this case) as clicking on the link. Polar-orbiting satellites pose the challenge of selecting an image which covers the area of interest, and of selecting the band (color) to look at. In the polar-orbiting images referred to on this page, the most useful images are band 2, which is visible light, and band 4, which is thermal infrared.

A couple things that the user might look for in some of the polar-orbiting images... In visible images which are taken during the warmer months, the sun and the satellite will be in just the right positions so that a bright reflection occurs off the water bodies. Obviously, it must be clear enough so that you can actually see the bodies of water. Other than a curiousity, this is useful for finding the exact location of particular geographic locatons, because very small features such as small lakes, can be found by seeing the reflection of the sun off the water.

The other interesting artifact that a user might look for is when surface temperatures in Alaska are very cold (-30F/-35C) or colder. At these times the skies are generally very clear over Alaska, and looking at band 4 images will show a visual representation of the surface temperature, where the skies are clear enough. What the viewer will see is something that looks like a snowscape, with the brightest returns from the valleys. This is because the coldest temperatures are found where the coldest air drains into the low spots. Coincidentally, cloud tops (which are generally quite cold) may be considerably warmer than the ground, so the clouds will appear as dark smudges over a lighter background; not unlike a negative image (which is what the band 4 image is).

Geostationary Satellite Images:

Polar-Orbiting Satellite images:

These links are to directories of images. The user should select images based on the time of the image (the date is usually incorrect), the band (band 2 is visible, band 4 is IR) and the size of the file. Generally, the larger the file, the more likely it is to have a complete view of Alaska. Click here for Low Resolution image archive, and here for the High Resolution Archive.

Weather Maps:

I have spent a fair amount of time wading through weather-related web sites looking for a set of weather maps which would be a good resource for the weather professional or enthusiast. The search has taken me to some wonderful and sophisticated sites, with a wealth of information, but most of the sites focus on the "Lower 48", and so the amount of data which pertains to Alaska is rather sparse. Recently we had a houseguest who was a pilot, and when we began investigating Alaskan Aviation Resources on the web, we strayed across a site which provided the entire fax product list for both the Domestic and Alaskan NWS FAX circuits! This is the site I have been waiting for for many months, and I use it every day. I have provided an abbreviated list of products that I find most useful, and links to the site, so you (and I) can peruse the less useful and more esoteric products. These products are exactly as the National Weather Service provides them for their Facsimile circuits, and they require some sort of viewer to display them correctly. There are several good choices. Some are external programs, and others are plug-ins. I use Graphic Converter 2.6 when viewing maps on a Macintosh, in part because it allows you to rotate and resize the maps, which is useful for these products, which are predominantly on polar stereographic projection maps (and almost all of the products end up displayed upside-down at first glance). a plug-in called "Tiffsurf" works adequately well for windows browsers. At one time, they made a shareware plug-in. Last I heard, they had a demo version which expired some short period of time after installation. Despite the hassles involved in displaying the maps, the vastness of the data makes the trouble worth going to.

NWS Fax Circuit sites:

Analyses:

00Z Analysis:
  • 850 MB Height/Temp - 300 MB Height/Isotachs [2 Panel]
  • 500 MB Height/ Temp   00Z Analysis, Polar Stereographic Northern Hemisphere
    12Z Analysis:
  • 850 MB Height/Temp - 300 MB Height/Isotachs [2 Panel]
  • 700 MB Heights/Temp - 500 MB Heights/Temp  [2 Panel]
  • 500 MB Heights/Temperature  12Z Analysis, Polar Stereographic Northern Hemisphere
    Latest Analysis:
  • Latest Alaskan Surface Analysis  
  • Latest North American Surface Plot  

    • NGM Product Suite:
  • 500 MB Height/Vorticity - MSL Pressure/1000-500 Thickness   Initial N America
    12 Hours:
  • 700 MB Height/ RH - Precip/700 MB VV  [2 Panel - Alaska] 12 HR
  • 500 MB Height/Vorticity - MSL Pressure/1000-500 Thickness   ; [2 Panel - Alaska] 12 HR
    24 Hours:
  • 700 MB Height/ RH - Precip/700 MB VV  [2 Panel - Alaska] 24 HR
  • 500 MB Height/Vorticity - MSL Pressure/1000-500 Thickness   [2 Panel - Alaska] 24 HR
    36 Hours:
  • 700 MB Height/ RH - Precip/700 MB VV  [2 Panel - Alaska] 36 HR
  • 500 MB Height/Vorticity- MSL Pressure/1000-500 Thickness   [2 Panel - Alaska] 36 HR
    48 Hours:
  • 700 MB Height/ RH - Precip/700 MB VV  [2 Panel - Alaska] 48 HR
  • 500 MB Height/Vorticity - MSL Pressure/1000-500 Thickness   [2 Panel - Alaska] 48 HR
    NGM 850MB Progs:
  • 850 MB Height/Temp - 2 panel 12/24 hr   North America NGM Model
  • 850 MB Height/Temp - 2 panel 36/48 hr  North America NGM Model
    ETA 850MB Progs:
  • 850 MB Height/Temp - 2 panel 12/24 hr   North America ETA Model
  • 850 MB Height/Temp - 2 panel 36/48 hr   North America ETA Model

    • Other Numerical Model Products out to 60 hours, Centered on the North Pacific:

    00Z initial products:
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   Analysis / 12 HR FCST [2 Panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   24 HR / 36 HR FCST [2 Panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   48 HR / 60 HR FCST [2 Panel]
    12Z Initial Products
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   Analysis / 12 HR FCST [2 Panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   24 HR / 36 HR FCST [2 Panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   48 HR / 60 HR FCST [2 Panel]

    Medium-Range Forecast Products:

  • 3-5 day SFC/108 HR 500 MB   FCST - Polar [4 Panel]
  • 500 MB Prog   72 HR FCST Continential U.S.
  • 500 MB Prog   84 HR FCST Continential U.S.
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   72 HR / 84 HR FCST North America & Adjacent Waters [2 panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   96 HR / 120HR FCST North America & Adjacent Waters [2 panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   4 Day / 6 Day FCST [2 Panel]
  • 500 MB Height/Vorticity   7 Day / 9 Day FCST [2 Panel]
  • SFC/1000-500 MB Thickness   8 Day / 10 Day FCST [2 Panel]
  • MRF analysis-240 hour interactive maps (maps created interactively by University of Wyoming)

    Alaska-Centered model graphics from NWS Anchorage Web Site:

  • Anchorage NWSFO Model graphics, for ETA, NGM AVN MRF and NOGAPS.

    NCEP current model graphics

     

    00 UTC

    06 UTC

    12 UTC

    18 UTC

    ETA

    maps

    maps

    maps

    maps

    GFS

    maps

    maps

    maps

    maps

    NGM

    maps

    -

    maps

    -

    Alaska Hydrology Products

  • River Stages
  • Snow Depth
  • Observed Precipitation


    Text Products - Model Output

    Note: Ohio State (which is the source for much of the text products) has reorganized their website. In the process, I have lost track of some of the products which are hyperlinked below. I have not been able to track down all of the links, but many have been restored. If you are coming up against dead links from Ohio State, please drop me an email, and I will attempt to track them down. Hopefully I will have them all restored in a week or two. lmt 7/15/00.

  • Anchorage One-Stop MOS
  • Fairbanks One-Stop MOS
  • Talkeetna One-Stop MOS
  • Elmendorf One-Stop MOS
  • Portage One-Stop MOS
  • Homer One-Stop MOS
  • Soldotna One-Stop MOS
  • Denali Park One-Stop MOS
  • Wasilla One-Stop MOS
  • NGM MOS for BRW, BTI, BTT, FAI, OME, OTZ
  • NGM MOS for ADQ, AKN, BET, CDB, MCG, SNP
  • NGM MOS for ANC, ANN, CDV, JNU, ORT, YAK
  • MRF and AVN MOS bulletins for Alaska Cities from the University of Wyoming.
  • New MRF text output for all of Alaska
  • New AVN text output for all of Alaska

    Text Products - Forecasts

    The National Weather Service has reorganized their public forecast products. As a result, many of the products hyperlinked here previously have since moved. Most notable is the extended forecast for the Tanana Valley. That product is now found as a part of the Tanana Valley Zone Forecast, and now goes out to seven days. Also, every Alaska zone now has an extended forecast, whereas before only the metropolitan areas had extended forecasts.

    Further changes are expected from the Weather Service regarding zone forecasts. When these new changes are implemented, I will make the appropriate changes and notations on this page.

    Forecast Discussions

  • Fairbanks Area Forecast Discussion
  • Anchorage Area Forecast Discussion
  • Juneau Area Forecast Discussion
  • Alaskan synoptic discussions

    Public Forecasts for Northern and Interior Alaska

  • AK Zone 222 Forecast for Central Tanana Valley including Fairbanks.
  • AK Zone 223 Forecast for Tanana Flats and Delta Junction.
  • AK Zone 221 Forecast for Western Tanana Valley including Nenana and Clear, Upper Koyukuk Valley and Central Yukon Valley.
  • AK Zone 224 Forecast for Upper Tanana Valley and the 40 Mile Country, to the Canadian border and the Upper Yukon Valley from the Canadian Border to Takoma Bluff, including Eagle.
  • AK Zone 220 Forecast for Upper Yukon Valley upstream to Takoma Bluff including Fort Yukon, Circle, Central and Circle Hot Springs.
  • AK Zone 225 Forecast for Anderson south including Healy Canyon to Denali Park Entrance.
  • AK Zone 226 Forecast for North Slopes of the Eastern Alaska Range south to Summit and Mentasta Lakes
  • Other Northern Alaska Zone Forecasts from NWSFO in Fairbanks, selectable by map.

    Public Forecasts for Southcentral Alaska

  • AK Zone 101 Forecast for Municipality of Anchorage, including Glenn Highway from the first Knik River bridge to Bird Creek.
  • AK Zone 145 Forecast for the Susitna Valley from Willow north to Cantwell and Denali Park.
  • AK Zone 111 Forecast for the Matanuska Valley including Palmer and Wasilla.
  • AK Zone 121 Forecast for the Western Kenai Peninsula including Kenai, Soldotna and Homer.
  • AK Zone 125 Forecast for the Eastern Kenai Peninsula and Western Prince William Sound. including the Kenai Mountains, Seward and Whittier.
  • Anchorage NWSFO forecasts

    Forcasts for Northwest Canada

  • Forecasts for Southeast Yukon and Northern British Columbia.
  • Forecasts for Western Yukon and Northwest British Columbia.
  • Extended Forecasts for the Yukon Yerritory and Northern British Columbia.

    Extended Outlooks

  • National Center for Environemtal Prediction 6-10 day forecast

    Text Products - Observations:

  • Alaska Weather Summary
  • Temperature and Precipitation Summary
  • Hourly Weather Summary
  • Alternate source of Alaskan weather information - National Weather Service.

    Text Products - Climate Data

  • Comprehensive Climate Summaries for many Alaska locations.

    NEXRAD Radar


    NEXRAD radar is the latest radar system from the National Weather Service. This is a great improvement from previous radar systems, in that the radar can also determine movement in relation to the radar site. This is done by employing a Doppler system. This system allows the user to see air movements because precipitation and clouds are carried along with the moving air. There are many possible applications to Doppler radar, but among the most visible is in the detection of tornadoes. While this application is not of particular importance in Alaska, the system is still quite useful.

    These particular displays are from Intellicast, which is from WSI, Inc.

  • Fairbanks Radar: Pedro Dome NEXRAD Base Reflectivity.
  • Fairbanks Radar: Pedro Dome NEXRAD Base Reflectivity time lapse loop.
  • Fairbanks Radar: Pedro Dome NEXRAD Storm Relative Velocity.
  • Anchorage Radar: Kenai NEXRAD Base Reflectivity.
  • Anchorage Radar: Kenai NEXRAD Base Reflectivity time lapse loop.
  • Anchorage Radar: Kenai NEXRAD Storm Relative Velocity.
  • Valdez Radar: Middleton Island NEXRAD Base Reflectivity.
  • Valdez Radar: Middleton Island NEXRAD Base Reflectivity time lapse loop.
  • Valdez Radar: Middleton Island NEXRAD Storm Relative Velocity.

    Alaska Links:

    If you're thinking of taking a vacation in Alaska, why not let Alaska's best vacation planner put one together for you? Visit Alaska Vacation Store!

    Other Weather Links:

    This is a list of my weather bookmarks that I use frequently. Some of these contain pages and links referenced above, and some refer to multiple locations at a single site (such as COLA). This is by no means an exhaustive list of weather links. It is intended primarily as a list of links for the serious weather hobbyist or professional to get real-time or near real-time weather information. If you have comments, including URLs for links you think I may be missing, please let me know!

  • Current Weather Maps/Movies
  • Medium Range Forecasts for North America
  • Tropical Weather
  • INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE
  • NCSU METEOROLOGY MODEL DATA
  • Atlantic Tropical Weather Center
  • National Hurricane Center
  • Purdue Weather Processor
  • Welcome to IGES (COLA)
  • COLA/IGES Weather and Climate Images
  • FAA Alaska Home Page w/WX links
  • GIF image 855x710 pixels
  • Texas A&M Weather Page

    This page has been visited more than a few times Since October 3, 1996

    The author has been interestsed in meteorology since he was a small child in Washington, DC, when as a 5-year old, was dwarfed by the 20-foot plus snow drifts from the blizzard of '66. He was employed in Meteorology in the 1980's but today it has become just a hobby. You can reach the author by clicking here.

    Copyright 2003 by lmt - All rights reserved