Winter Cycling - Weather on the WWW

For the last time, I am trusting Weather.com. Last night they said cloudy and cold, well being December in Minnesota, the got one out of two right. But last night was anything but cloudy. There was a beautiful moon for riding under and with all the snow a lot of extra "ambient" light. I don't watch TV (I don't have the time), so I'm on the WWW and do a quick check of the weather forecast, anyone find a reliable weather sight? I've given up on the paper, and the local quacks, they predicted this big storm three weeks ago, had everyone buying can goods off the shelves, and there was a mere dusting. It was like this big media even where they were interrupting the local state football championships to announce the storm's progress. Talk about egg on the face. hope they're glad I'm not king or paying their salary.

So where do you go?

I dunno, I don't trust that much weather reports on the web or otherwise, since my commute is only about 40 minutes, I'll simply look outside at a thermometer and up at the ski. I will get current conditions from www.intellicast.com and will check the radar forecasts (NEXRAD, etc) from there but as far as believing forecasts for the next day, I don't really rely on any of them.

www.intellicast.com is one and the other I've seen is
www.weatherunderground.com

They all kind of get most of their data from local airports so you might see if the airport near you has data on the web. Figure the pilots need weather forecasts as much as anybody.

Jay

I use The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration web site. http://www.noaa.gov/

I'm from the New Hope/Mineapolis area, most of the weather forcasts for our area come out of Chanhassen (National Weather Service), WCCO, KARE 11 get theirs from the Crystal Airport various times during the day/night. KSTP gets theirs live from their location (St Paul Midway). I've downloaded Weather Bug and get the temp (in my tool bar) and can get current forcasts and radar by clicking on it. From my experience that seems the most accurate (if there is such a thing in weather forcasting). It's free and you can get it at http://www.weatherbug.com

National Weather Service Forecast for St. Paul (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ifps/MapClick.php?MapType=3&site=MPX&CiTemplate=1&map.x=210&map.y=147)

The national weather service is the only place to go for a forecast. After all, they are the National Weather Service. That is where all weather watches and warnings originate that your local TV weatherman takes the credit for.

I use them every day and they are dead on most of the time. YOu can lay out your clothes the night before, they are so accurate. :D Man, your forecast looks worse than mine here.

I am really having bike withdrawl. I have ridden 12 + miles every day since
August and now have missed 3 of last 4 days because of snow and terrible roads. The cold I don't mind a bit. I can handle that, but the treacherous roads I just can't deal with. I rode about 5 miles yesterday on slush/ice/hardpack/softpack and very narrow roadways due to snow piled on sides.

I remember reading about icebiking and the cold last Summer. I thought, yeah I can ride in the cold, no problem. Well I could and still can. But these freakin roads are horrible. I had more near crashes in 30 minutes yesterday than I have had in my cycling lifetime. I even lowered the air pressure and I know that studs are an option but I just don't think it is worth it to me. I dunno though cuz I am having MAJOR withdrawl.

My legs are starting to feel sore from NOT RIDING. What is up with that?

BTW, that weatherbug is a bad idea. People install that and it does all sorts of stuff to your computer registry without your knowledge. It installs Gator or Gain advertising software which will make you soooooooooo sorry you ever downloaded that little bug. It is definitely a bug sort of like the flu. (hard to get rid of)

Like Gojohnnygo, I rely on the NWS. It's where your local tv weather yahoo gets his or her info anyway. They've got all the radars, satellite photos, and ground observations.

And I hate being bombarded by ads and popups on the commercial websites.

So where do you go?
We have Environment Canada and the Weather Network on the web here for general prognostifications on what to expect, but you have to take it with a couple of grains of salt. I try and bring lots of clothing, you can always take it off if it's too warm, can't put it on when it's cold if you don't have it.
I usually check the current windspeeds which are usually pretty accurate, but the temperatures are for the airport which is about 25 miles away from my house.
I ride along the western shore of Lake Ontario which has a big impact on the weather around here. In winter an east wind brings warmer temperatures off the lake as well as lots of lake effect snow, but usually only to a small area.
The best web tool I've found is the highway traffic camera website. I can see if it's snowing or raining along my route, even though it may not be doing anything at home or at work.

So where do you go?

Naisme,
Here is the National Weather Service page for St. Paul (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/forecasts/MNZ062.php?warncounty=MNC123&city=Saint+Paul). Your local NWS Forcast office is located in Chanhassen, MN. This office covers the entire Twin Cities area. I think you will find less "fluff" and more substance on the NWS page. Here is the page for my area. (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Greatfalls/)

Being right off the Rocky Mountain Front Range, you never know what the weather is going to do. Things pop up over the Continental Divide with little notice. :D

Here is the "Twin Cities" page with a clickable map. (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/)

I like weatherunderground.com and the NWS for my sources since I am outside almost every day of the year working.

Ok I'm betting on the NWS for a storm that is going to hit my area,On late sunday or early monday.They are saying a significant amount of snow should fall here.We will see if they are correct.


Here is part of their forecast.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT THE NORTH COUNTRY
LATE SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

THIS TRACK WILL KEEP PLENTY OF COLD AIR ACROSS VERMONT AND NORTHERN
NEW YORK AS WELL AS PROVIDE PLENTY OF MOISTURE INTO THE SYSTEM.
THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN VERMONT BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

THIS SNOW WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY ON SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY.
ENOUGH WARM AIR IN THE MIDDLE LAYERS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE MAY CHANGE THE SNOW OVER TO SOME SLEET ACROSS SOUTHERN
VERMONT.

The forecast is looking good at this point, :) It's Time to mount the studded tires.




THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR
THE ADIRONDACKS AND NORTHERN CHAMPLAIN VALLEY OF VERMONT AND NEW YORK
FOR LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY. SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY.
STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS BY LATE MONDAY WILL BE 10 TO 20 INCHES WITH
LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ACROSS THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS.

The forecast is looking good at this point, :) It's Time to mount the studded tires.

.


Don't forget to take pictures & post them here for all to see!

Don't forget to take pictures & post them here for all to see!
I have a pic of my back yard from early today and will take a pic of it on monday after noon.I just have to find that damm patch cord for the digital cam. :crash:

The weather.com really messed up this time!!! They where saying only 10" to 16" from this storm.I have a least 29" in the back yard,With high winds and it's still snowing.

I still made it to work on my Trek 6000 at 4 am.(13 miles) Just to get coworkers phone calls about how they would not be able to make it in to work today.Then to hear how did you ride threw all that snow? I replied ONE PEDAL AT A TIME and they basically made fun of me.

What would they have done 100 years ago?

The NWS rocks!!!

<snip>Then to hear how did you ride threw all that snow? I replied ONE PEDAL AT A TIME

That is a lot of snow! Is it powder or more wet? Sure makes a big differance. Also, I wonder about your temperatures. Congrats on making the trip. Are you gonna ride home too?

The weather.com really messed up this time!!! They where saying only 10" to 16" from this storm.I have a least 29" in the back yard,With high winds and it's still snowing.

I still made it to work on my Trek 6000 at 4 am.(13 miles) Just to get coworkers phone calls about how they would not be able to make it in to work today.Then to hear how did you ride threw all that snow? I replied ONE PEDAL AT A TIME and they basically made fun of me.



GoJohnnyGo, where in Gods country are you located? I'm over to the west, Canton - Potsdam.

Weather dot coms only redeeming qualities are the bunnies

Only had bout 8" here, didn't even bother with the snowblower, just used the shovel.....how quaint.

Weather dot coms only redeeming qualities are the bunnies


A resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is www.intellicast.com . They have great doppler radar screens that show precip and storms on their way so you can do your own forecast. I use both Buffalo and Detroit radars, cover my area pretty good - you can get a radar loop that shows direction a storm is moving, so you can guess where it's going - that's what the weather guys do! :D

NWS What a sweet site! Now this is something I can live with. It seems to be right on at the moment.
Thanks.

By-the-way guys. Most, if not all, of the weather.com type sites use the NWS data feeds and forcast models as a basis for their own products.

By-the-way guys. Most, if not all, of the weather.com type sites use the NWS data feeds and forcast models as a basis for their own products.

Thanks for bringing that out, I forgot to mention that when I mentioned the Weather Bug site and local stations.

That is a lot of snow! Is it powder or more wet? Sure makes a big differance. Also, I wonder about your temperatures. Congrats on making the trip. Are you gonna ride home too?
All of it was nice light powder.The temp was anywhere from 25F to 5F.
No I didn't ride home to much traffic. The ride in was something else!! I live next to state rt 3 and it's maintained very well, Just had to ride through 4"to 5" of powder on the road.
I don't wish to do this again.

GoJohnnyGo, where in Gods country are you located? I'm over to the west, Canton - Potsdam.

Weather dot coms only redeeming qualities are the bunnies

Only had bout 8" here, didn't even bother with the snowblower, just used the shovel.....how quaint.
I am located Just south east of Redford about 13.5 miles west form Plattsburgh. Let me tell it can get pretty nasty in this neck of the woods.Just 13 miles away in Plattsburgh they had a snow fall of just 22" to 24" It just depended on what snow bands hit your area.
You should come down an do some skiing the back side of Whiteface Mt looks like it's totally covered.

Okay, so I'm watching the weather on NWS site. And it is a cool site, with the two day history of weather. I noticed something about the pressure, the high numbers is what they (weather persons) call a High pressure area, correct? So I should be able to see the front that came through the other day (if it were two days ago). I'm new to this weather stuff, and I am really relying on the NWS, they've been the most accurate, other than the wind direction, that I've seen on the WWW. I dress and carry what I need for the ride home, so I'm beginning to take a deeper interest in the weather, and how to read it so that I'll know more about it as winter progresses, and Spring arrives. I hope to be able to read the sky and get an idea of what I'm seeing and how it transposes to the NWS site.

Okay, so I'm watching the weather on NWS site. And it is a cool site, with the two day history of weather. I noticed something about the pressure, the high numbers is what they (weather persons) call a High pressure area, correct? So I should be able to see the front that came through the other day (if it were two days ago). I'm new to this weather stuff, and I am really relying on the NWS, they've been the most accurate, other than the wind direction, that I've seen on the WWW. I dress and carry what I need for the ride home, so I'm beginning to take a deeper interest in the weather, and how to read it so that I'll know more about it as winter progresses, and Spring arrives. I hope to be able to read the sky and get an idea of what I'm seeing and how it transposes to the NWS site.
I'm like you just getting in to predicting the forecast myself and I have found a couple of helpful links. http://gaga.essortment.com/howdoipredi_rgoe.htm and one more. http://www.allsands.com/HowTo/predicttheweat_xpr_gn.htm
I hope this helps you.
Be safe and stay warm!
John

www.wunderground.com

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/

I don't trust the Weather Channel since the radar didn't say there was any rain during a heavy rain hail storm.
www.weatherunderground.com
www.noaa.gov
www.intellicast.com

they are the best.

I used to use intellicast. Then when I started paying more attention, I noticed that their forecasts (next 1-3 days) were way off. I have an applet that fetches the NWS report. Much closer to reality.

If you want to see what the staff at NOAA are thinking about when they make their forcast, you should read the link on your local area forecast called Forecast Discussion or Forecast Reasoning. The forecasters use various global weather computer models to predict the weather for the next few days. The models often vary from one extreme to another. If you read their discussion of the forecast, it will often give you a heads up on what *might* be coming, but not mentioned in the forecast. The science/art of weather predicting still has a lot of room for error.

Some of the acronyms/terms they use can be confusing, here is a link to a glossary of weather terms: Weather glossary (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/severewx/glossary.php)

Hey map Map Tester. Thanks for that insight and bringing this thread back. It is timely and I'm sure many of our new winter commuters will find it useful.

I use the National Weather Service site, because they update their forecasts
more often, but soon ACCU weather and the Weather channel and others will
be just as good... as Computers will be issuing forecasts on their own with little
Meteorologist overview. I prefer dealing with Private companys, but for now
I'm staying with the Federal Governments NWS (weather bureau).