[ale] putting a weather radar window on your screen

[Ron Frazier]

Hi all,

A few months back, I wrote in with a question about how to put a live 
weather radar image on your screen.  I've found a pretty good method 
which I wanted to share.  This will provide a scalable near real time 
(15 min) weather radar image in a Firefox window.  This will work on any 
PC that's running Adobe Flash, whether Linux or Windows.

* Open up a new Firefox window and go to this address: 
http://www.accuweather.com/enhanced-radar.asp

* If you're using something like NoScript to block scripting, you'll 
have to trust this domain name.  Also, go into the Firefox preferences 
screen under the content tab, and allow an exception for this site for 
popup windows.  Then, go into the privacy tab and allow an exception for 
cookies and set status to allow.  I don't know if the last two items are 
strictly necessary, but I always do that for sites I trust which may not 
work without popups or cookies.

* If you wish, resize the radar browser window to fit in the corner of 
your screen, for example.  Don't worry if the radar image doesn't fit.

* Now use the Firefox zoom feature to adjust the size of the displayed 
image so it fits the window.  Either use the the View menu, Zoom, Zoom 
In or Zoom Out; or press CTRL - or CTRL + to zoom the radar image.  
Firefox will remember the settings for this site unless you clear site 
preferences data.

* Scroll to the top of the window and enter your zip code into the 
"Enter Location" field.  This will center the radar image on your city.

* Once you have it the right size, use the scroll bars to adjust it's 
position

* Use the on screen + / - buttons to set the scale for the radar map.  I 
find that 250 miles works well.

All that is really harder to say than it is to do.  Once you're done, 
you'll have a continuously updated radar image.  Every so often, you'll 
have to hit the refresh button.  Most of the time, it refreshes every 5 
minutes.  The actual radar data updates every 15 minutes though.  Close 
this window before closing your main browsing window.  Otherwise, you'll 
get a very small main browser window next time you open Firefox.

You can also get the ForecastFox plugin to put weather data at the 
bottom or top of any browser window.

Sincerely,

Ron

-- 

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier

770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT c3energy.com