Weather Sites

I am a weather buff--not a scientist at all, however. There are some pretty cool weather sites on the net. One site I used to frequent is Weather Underground (Wunderground). I don't go by there as much anymore because the people who run it now want users to pay to see radar. Since radar is available without charge from other sites, why would anyone pay Wunderground?

Other sites worth checking out are: The Tornado Project, the various sites listed under NOAA,
The National Weather Service (NWS) and the Storm Prediction Center. Earthwatch is a nice complement to the NWS site. It provides forecasts, warnings, and lots of weather-related graphics. Weatherwise, a magazine you may have seen in your local library, has a good web site, also. Although, honestly, I prefer to read magazines while holding them, rather than from a computer monitor. Skywarn is a site devoted to weather spotting. It is run by the NWS.

If you visit any of the NOAA sites, you may notice that they refer to services, web sites, etc. as "products." I think this must be because NOAA (and all of its subordinate agencies) operate under the rubric of the Department of Commerce. What does that say about our government's reasons for monitoring weather, climate, and the oceans? Although I find it a little disheartening that our gov's reasons may have more to do with commercial and business interests than with wonder and awe at natural phenomena, I have to say the revamped NWS sites are really fun to play around with. If there is any fault, it could be that there is too much information.

If you have any interest in tornadoes, even if only for a school project, you have to check out the Tornado Project Online. (See the link above.) Just about everything you could possibly want or need to know about tornadoes can be found there. On my last visit, I noticed that the site has won lots of awards, so this praise must not be too far from the mark. Significant Tornadoes, the magnum opus of site creator Tom Grazulis, will be updated in 2004. I am both proud and a little ashamed to say that I have read the combined volume, including most of the graphs and maps, more than one time. It is an encyclopedic tome that one can dip into for tidbits of information or read straight through. Definitely worth the money--or you can maybe go halfsies with someone. Better yet, try to persuade your local library's reference department to purchase a copy.