Layers

The Layers tab 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), special marine (orange), snow squall (light blue), and extreme wind (pink) warnings issued by the U.S. National Weather Service, Environment Canada, and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Warnings are displayed for the entire United States, Canada, and Australia, but are not currently available elsewhere. Warnings are refreshed once a minute. When warnings are enabled, tap the filter button next to the on/off switch to select the types of warnings you wish to display.

Watches

The watches layer displays tornado (dark red) and severe thunderstorm (dark yellow) watch polygons issues by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and Environment Canada. Watches are displayed for the entire United States and Canada, but are not currently available elsewhere. Watches are refreshed once a minute. When watches are enabled, tap the filter button next to the on/off switch to select the types of warnings you wish to display. Watches are available via a RadarScope Pro Tier One subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan.

Special Weather Statements

The statements layer displays special weather statements issued by the U.S. National Weather Service and Environment Canada. They are issued for hazards that have not yet reached warning or advisory status or that don't have a specific code of their own. Special weather statements are available via a RadarScope Pro Tier One subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. Special weather statements cover the United States and Canada.

Mesoscale Discussions

The discussions layer displays mesoscale convective discussions issued by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and mesoscale precipitation discussions issued by NOAA's Weather Prediction Center. They provide short-term technical weather forecasts concerning potential thunderstorms, high winds, tornadoes, and rainfall. Mesoscale discussions are available via a RadarScope Pro Tier One subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. Mesoscale discussions 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 areas where we provide single-site radar coverage.

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

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 Pro Tier One subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. Storm reports cover only the United States. When storm reports are enabled, tap the filter button next to the on/off switch to select the types of reports you wish to display.

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. When spotter reports are enabled, tap the filter button next to the on/off switch to select the types of reports you wish to display.

mPING Reports

The mPING reports layer displays crowd-source 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. When mPING reports are enabled, tap the filter button next to the on/off switch to select the types of reports you wish to display.

Outlooks

The outlooks layer displays day one convective and fire weather outlooks issued by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and excessive rainfall outlooks issued by NOAA's Weather Prediction Center. They estimate the probability of convective storms, high wind, hail, tornadoes, fire danger, and precipitation and are issued several times a day. Outlooks are available via a RadarScope Pro Tier Two subscription or an AllisonHouse data plan. Outlooks cover the United States.

Locations

The locations layer displays custom user-defined locations. Custom locations are displayed in light blue color. 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 Commander portal used by WDT enterprise customers. It requires a WeatherOps enterprise account. Assets are displayed in light red color. 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 U.S. census database. Names are filtered at varying zoom levels to reduce overlap and visual clutter.

Roads

The standard roads layer displays interstate and U.S. highways obtained from OpenStreetMap databases. RadarScope Pro Tier Two includes more detailed roads provided by Mapbox. Roads are shown as blue lines on the map. More roads and detail are displayed at higher zoom levels. Pro Tier Two subscribers can select the desired road map provider in the Data section of the General settings tab.

Road Labels

When the Mapbox road map provider is selected, highway labels can be toggled on or off.

Satellite

The satellite base map layer displays satellite imagery from Mapbox. It's available to RadarScope Pro Tier Two subscribers.