Free Government Weather Sites
Many people don't realize that much of the weather data they see on the Internet is delayed or inaccurate. You don't have to pay a lot of money for real-time, accurate weather. You just have to know where to look. Here are a few of the best weather sites, all of them free.
#1: Storm Prediction Center http://www.spc.noaa.gov
The Storm Prediction Center (or SPC for short) issues forecasts on Severe Weather out to 7 days. Often meteorologists will review Convective Outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center because of the expert staff and state-of-the-art technology that is used to create these forecasts.
#2: NWS Doppler Radar http://radar.weather.gov
This site is a helpful resource providing direct access to more than 150 Radar sites across the United States. The information from these radar sites will not only tell you where it is currently raining, but also rainfall accumulations over a 24 hour period or whether or not there is rotation in a thunderstorm. This is a great site for broad weather forecasts, but due to the low resolution of the radar, it is not possible to zoom in for closer details.
#3: National Digital Forecast Database http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical
There are dozens of different data options making it easy to create detailed weather forecasts. Some of the data includes: Chance of rain, what type of weather is coming, Temperature & Dewpoint, Wind speeds, wind directions, and sky cover.
The forecast information here is much more detailed, allowing the user to zoom in on a specific region.
Each forecast can be updated for a twelve-hour period out to 7 days. There is also an option to animate the forecast, so that weather trends can be better visualized.
Weather is a crucial element for any outdoor activity or event. With the National Digital Forecast Database, you can easily create your own forecast in seconds--and you know it will be accurate.
Of course these websites represent just a few of the dozens of free weather resources. Nonetheless, they are going to be more accurate and more reliable. With these three sites bookmarked on your computer, you have all of the most accurate and trusted weather information at your fingertips.
About the Author
Rory Groves is a weather preparedness expert and developer of Weather Defender, desktop weather software designed to protect families and communities from severe weather. http://www.weatherdefender.com
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