It is possible that this page will report a problem where no problem exists. If you believe that this has happened, then please contact me (address at the bottom of this page) and explain clearly why you think this page is in error. Note that any changes that you make may take a few days to show up here, so please give it a week before commenting.
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The elevation does not correspond with the estimated elevation (933 metres (3061 feet) -- source Geonames) at that point. Either the location or the elevation (or both) are almost certain to be incorrect. Please use the 'send the updated information' link below to update the location or elevation.
The site location should be at the mark shown -- or very close. Clicking within the map area (or you can drag the 'FW4559' marker) will display the latitude/longitude of that point.
If the displayed location (or elevation) of the weather observing location is incorrect, please drag the marker to the right location (or click in the right location), and then send the updated information. Please note that we are trying to spot either the Stevenson Screen (or equivalent) or the location where the barometric readings are taken.
The best way to get elevation is to consult a topographic map. Make sure that you know whether the contours are marked in feet or metres. Note that handheld GPS receivers do not provide readings of elevation accurate to better than 10-20 metres (technical discussion). If you do not have access to a topographic map, then a GPS receiver is acceptable, but make sure that it is operating in 3D mode and let it average the position for at least five minutes.
For more information on reading maps, please see the Topo Map Reading Guide -- in particular it discusses how to read contours.
NOTE: The Registered Location is the location that the station owner provided when they signed up with CWOP.
Latitude: dummy (deg min sec), dummy (decimal), dummy (LORAN)
Longitude: dummy (deg min sec), dummy (decimal), dummy (LORAN)
Estimated elevation is dummy metres (dummy feet) from dummy.
Location is dummy (reverse geocoded).
Move marker to new address.
There are no photographs of the station. If you are the site operator and have pictures of this location, then please email them to f4559@photo.gladstonefamily.net.
Once logged in, click on 'Upload Photos & Video'. Next click on 'Choose Photos and Videos', and walk through the process to upload your pictures. They will automatically be resized appropriately.
After the upload is complete, it will ask you to add titles, tags and descriptions. The key step is to add tags as follows:
If you had to create your account, then you must upload at least five pictures. It will also take longer for your pictures to appear (a week or so). Otherwise, the pictures should appear after 24-48 hours.
You can try to find photographs from the area surrounding the site marker by clicking on Find nearby photographs. (There are some) (There are none) (There may be some) (Automatically loaded if any)
The last 24 hours of weather data can be viewed at Findu. This page also provides access to the raw APRS packets and various other APRS related tools.
Recent observations from this weather station can be downloaded as a CSV file suitable for importing into various spreadsheet programs: last 7 days, last 14 days, last 28 days, last 56 days. This data can also be linked directly from Excel using a Web Query. The main link goes to the page with the data on it, and the IQY link is the Web Query that will access it: last 7 days (IQY: last 7 days), last 14 days (IQY: last 14 days), last 28 days (IQY: last 28 days), last 56 days (IQY: last 56 days).
All the means and standard deviations shown below are from the last 28 days. Change analysis period to Last 3 days Last 7 days Last 14 days Last 8 weeks Last 13 weeks Last 26 weeks Last 39 weeks Last 52 weeks
By default, the longer analysis periods display graphs that show the long term performance of this station. The graphs show the mean error over time, and include error bars which are one standard deviation long. This provides an easy way to see if there are any underlying trends in the data. Note that a 'step' in your data does not (necessarily) mean that something happened to your station. It could mean that another station came online in the local area, and they are changing the analysis.
The analysis is performed by MADIS. This web page just provides visualization of the data that MADIS produces. There are a number of very knowledgeable people who participate on the WXQC Mailing List who do understand exactly how MADIS works and can resolve issues when the analysis seems to be broken. However, in most cases, the station readings are at fault, or the software that is transmitting the data to CWOP. Please check those paths first.
You can also see how this station compares with other stations.
The inconsistency noted above in your location information means that the analyzed readings for your location may be incorrect. For example, if your location is incorrect, then the analysis values will be for a location other than your station. This will give different analysis results, probably leading to errors being shown below. If the elevation is incorrect, then the comparison of temperature readings will be in error.
A recently received weather report from this station was
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Latest daily graph:
There is a significant mean error in your barometer readings. You may need to calibrate your barometer. Since your readings are low, it is possible that your software is not adjusting the reading for elevation, or that your station altitude has been entered incorrectly into your software. Your station is at a high elevation and you are using Weatherlink. The pressure reduction algorithm used in this software does not produce the results required for CWOP. This gives problems when the temperature changes and makes it impossible to get consistent calibration.
NOTE: If the error above is POSITIVE, then it means that the analysis temperature is HIGHER than the reported temperature. This means that your sensor is reading COLDER than expected. |
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Latest daily graph:
These values are within the acceptable range. This probably means that your sensor is sited correctly and is calibrated correctly.
NOTE: If the error above is POSITIVE, then it means that the analysis temperature is HIGHER than the reported temperature. This means that your sensor is reading COLDER than expected. |
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Latest daily graph:
These values are within the acceptable range. This probably means that your sensor is sited correctly and is calibrated correctly.
The wind vector is the average wind over the relevant period. Note that if the wind blows North for half the time at 2 knots, and then blows South for the other half of the time at 2 knots, then the result is zero -- i.e. North wind and South wind will cancel out. Over time, the direction of the wind and of the analysis should match pretty well. If the lengths of the vector are different, then it could mean either that your anemometer reads high or low, or that you are in a more shielded or more open space. |
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Today | Last 7 days | |
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You can look at those for comparison purposes. The average difference between your station and each station below is listed as well. This may allow you to detect local stations which are erroneous. You can also use these numbers to adjust your instruments -- especially if a number of ASOS stations have similar differences to your station. Also, try increasing the analysis period to more than the default 28 days. The difference is only given if both stations report reasonably often during each day. Some stations only report every 6 hours, and this makes the average of less interest. In this case, the average is not displayed. The values reported are the differences between this station and the neighboring station. I.e. if the difference is positive, then this station is reading higher than the neighboring station.
You can also subscribe to an RSS feed to tell you when new stations come online in this area. Choose either within
100 miles or
250 miles
.
For stations covered by your Forecast Office: Roanoke (RNK)
.
Site | Distance | Location | Barometer | Temperature | Dewpoint | ||||||||||||||||||
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FW9479 | 1.2 miles | Northeast | West Jefferson, NC, US (lat 36.3102°, long -81.4388°, altitude 932 metres) | -5.5mb | -0.3°F | -2.1°F | |||||||||||||||||
GW0981 | 15.1 miles | Southwest | Blowing Rock, NC, US (lat 36.1408°, long -81.6405°, altitude 1125 metres) | -5.6mb | -2.4°F | -0.1°F | |||||||||||||||||
CW8217 | 21.8 miles | North | Whitetop, VA, US (lat 36.6012°, long -81.5383°, altitude 993 metres) | -4.1mb | -0.0°F | 1.6°F | |||||||||||||||||
N4ASP-13 | 23.6 miles | Southeast | Moravian Falls, NC, US (lat 36.0835°, long -81.1165°, altitude 653 metres) | -2.2mb | -1.4°F | -5.3°F | |||||||||||||||||
DW8069 | 25.4 miles | West | Beech Mountain, NC, US (lat 36.2252°, long -81.8967°, altitude 1206 metres) | -1.9mb | -4.8°F | -0.6°F | |||||||||||||||||
FW9076 | 26.6 miles | Southwest | Mortimer, NC, US (lat 35.9965°, long -81.7513°, altitude 507 metres) | -2.7mb | 4.3°F | -5.3°F | |||||||||||||||||
GW5164 | 26.7 miles | Southeast | TAYLORSVILLE, NC, US (lat 35.9700°, long -81.1923°, altitude 3 metres) | -1.2mb | 9.0°F | -6.1°F | |||||||||||||||||
GW475927.1 miles | South | | TAYLORSVILLE, NC, US (lat 35.9285°, long -81.2788°, altitude 110 metres)
| -2.5mb | 8.8°F | -5.6°F
| GW4757 | 29.6 miles | Southeast | | TAYLORSVILLE, NC, US (lat 35.9628°, long -81.1158°, altitude 100 metres)
| -1.2mb | 7.5°F | -6.9°F
| GW4714 | 30.0 miles | Southeast | | TAYLORSVILLE, NC, US (lat 35.9217°, long -81.1755°, altitude 100 metres)
| -1.5mb | 6.5°F | -6.6°F
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The sites marked above thus did not report continuously during the analysis period, so the offsets may (probably will) not be accurate.
The 'MADIS rating' reports on the percentage of observations that pass the MADIS checks. You should aim for two thumbs up!
Degrees Minutes Seconds: VWS/VWSAPRS, WeatherLink 5.5, WeatherLink (5.2-5.4), WeatherView (Linux)
Decimal degrees: FreeWX, WeatherView32 (PC application)
LORAN: WeatherDisplay, WUHU, Henriksen WServer
CWOP Siting Guide (PDF): This is a guide to siting and operating a CWOP station. This is a must-read document.
Another CWOP Guide (PDF): This is another guide to siting and operating a CWOP station. This is a must-read document.
Urban Siting and Operations (PDF): This is a guide to siting and operating a CWOP station in an urban environment.
APRS WX Message format: This describes the actual format of the messages transmitted that carry WX information.
WXQC Mailing List: This is a mailing list where data quality issues are discussed. Assistance with software configuration can often be found here.
Topo Map Reading Guide: How to read USGS topographic maps, with a good section on reading contours.
Geographically nearby web pages: Use Geourl to find web pages that deal with locations geographically close to this site.