some long overdue updates

[Tighe]

I spent some time cleaning the wind page. A few new forecasts, some cool new images.

I also added a few new smiles to the Faces section. Sorry it took so long.

I want to thank Scott and Tom L. for providing some of the new links. thanks guys.

let me know if there is any problems.

next update: Lakes Section. Some new, adding kite info, etc
Gallery: new photos, better interface.

[jeff]

The:

Windguru
AirSports
iwindsurf
Intellicast

forcast links are very convienent!

Thanks
Jeff

[Tighe]

they have cool graphics and stuff, but I'm just not too sure how accurate they are. Anyone else monitor these for accuracy?

The new 12hr experimental (provided by Kevin O and Tom L) seems to be one of the more accurate models for near term forecasting.

It probably is pretty overwhelming for new riders. Maybe we should open the dialog up as to what people use, what everyone finds the most accurate, or what advanced triangulation of forecasts gives the best read.

[Jim N]

You know I dig the smileys and the added 4-casts rock Thanx JN

[Dopper]

When I click on the wind site i get a blank screen? Is anybody else having the same problem? Everything else seems to come upokay. Dopper

[Tighe]

Thanks. I fixed that and struggled with what to put up as the default screen. I really liked the current winds image, and after some thought and a chat with Scott we thought having the current conditions up first made sense. If you are checking the current conditions, time is of the essense. If you are checking forecasts, one extra click isn't gonna kill you.

It feels a bit weird at first though any change would. Unfortunately, the other argument is we look at forecasts more than we look at currents. Try it for awhile.

let me know what you think. I'm open.

[johnbaker17]

I miss one of the forcast models I looked at quite frequently. I don't know where it came from, but it was a conglomorate of graphs and charts arranged together as rows (in one img). It was a 7-day forcast with the date on the x-axis and the various units on the left y-axis. One of the graphs was for wind speed and direction, which I found to be helpful. Maybe the link was just moved and I can't find it. Could I at least know where the img came from?
Thanks, John

[Tighe]

not sure which you are speaking about. Any one else?

[Jim N]

I liked that one too! It was the 0-7, & 7-14 day long term MOS graph. Re-
member it had the little flags? The shaft showed wind direction, & the number of bars on the flag was wind speed at different altitudes. Many other graphs were stacked below showing precip, pressure, temp. etc.

[jeff]

The current/forcast wind is great.

Now to nit-pick (any input is good, right?)

On current, under "hourly data" the default is Litchfield. Where is Litchfield? Is that near Waconia?

Jeff

[dave t]

Litchfield would be a good read for Washington especially if you also looked at Hutchinson.

[scottchapman]

I never thought the 0-7 day forecast was very good. It just got you excited about wind 5-7 days out and then most of the time it never happened anyway. Just my two flags (cents). Any meteorologist will tell you it is very hard to predict anything out past 5 days.

[Tom L]

I liked that one too! It was the 0-7, & 7-14 day long term MOS graph. Re-
member it had the little flags? The shaft showed wind direction, & the number of bars on the flag was wind speed at different altitudes. Many other graphs were stacked below showing precip, pressure, temp. etc.

Jim, here are those links you are looking for plus a 3.5 day.

http://grads.iges.org/pix/mspeta.gif

http://grads.iges.org/pix/mspavn.gif

http://grads.iges.org/pix/mspavnb.gif

Here's another one for you meteogram freeks:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ifps/MapClick.p ... headHour=0

Play around with this one it's pretty cool. Click on the "Interactive" link in the upper right corner. Then select "hourly weather graph"and click on the map where the lake you want a forcast for is located. It does a 48 hour period, for any selected 2 days going out 1 week.

[Tighe]

I agee with Scott those long range graphs never seemed too accurate. I'll look into putting them back in for those who want them.

Tom last suggestion was included with the last revision for Mpls, Mille Lacs county and Faribault. Under the NWS heading in Forecasts. Rick G and Steve Erickson told me about these last week at the lake. Not sure how accurate, but a pretty slick interface.

My mistake on the "hourly data" default screen. I'll update that to be the closest to Waconia.

any and all feedback always welcome.

[Tom L]

Nice job, Tighe. I didn't dig around too much so I missed that one.

[Jim N]

Hey Guys, Maybe the long terms weren't accurate, but they helped get me through the week thinking that a nice reward was just a few days away! Anyway, didn't mean to snipe; I know how much work you must pour into the site,so...Kudos to you!! Thanks again, JN

[Tighe]

Ok so I couldn't leave well enough alone. You may need to dump your cache or reload/refresh the frames to see the changes.

I went back to having Forecasts come up as a default. Bottom line, we check forecasts a lot more than we check what it is doing right now.

I also reordered things a bit. Putting all the statewide views together and the local ( by city or lake) forecasts together. This way if you are heading to Mille Lacs for example all the forecasts for that are are clumped together.

Let's play with it a bit and see how it works out. Feedback always welcome.