Quick help...

This map displays current weather, advisories and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) based on information obtained in real time from NOAA, Aviation Weather Center, FAA, and other resources. See Help for more information about data sources.

You can zoom in/out using the +/- buttons in upper left, you can drag the map to scroll your view.

Tooltips are available for all menu items to guide you through what's available. You'll probably want to disable them (Menu: Help->Tooltips) once you're familiar with the interface so they don't keep popping up.

Current weather (METARs), Pilot Reports (PIREPs), Terminal Forecasts (TAFs), and Winds and Temperature Aloft information is displayed only for a portion of the map: otherwise the amount of data will overwhelm your network and browser. The current "window" of data is shown on the map using a thick gray circle. You can change this by double-clicking on the map, right-clicking on the map and using the pop-up menu, or setting a value in the Goto line above the map. Flight paths can also be entered, see Help for details. Valid points are Airports, Navaids (VOR, VORTAC, VOR/DME, NDB, NDB/DME, TACAN), Fixes and latitude, longitude pairs. As you move your mouse over any of these icons, details are shown. Most international airports are available; navaids and fixes are USA only. Lookup codes using Menu: Reports->Lookup

Inflight advisories (AIRMETs and SIGMETs), and TFRs are displayed regardless of the current data window. They are visible initially as gray bordered areas. As you move your mouse within an area, the border will change colors and details are shown. The interior of these areas can be lightly shaded to make them more visible using Menu: View->Fill areas. NEXRAD precipitation radar can be toggled on or off.

Warm Fronts and Cold Fronts, as typically presented on a Surface Analysis Chart, can be overlayed on the US map. Due to browser problems, it is disabled for IE6, but works fine with IE7+, Firefox, Chrome and Safari browsers. Given the scale of the fronts, it makes sense to zoom out and view the map covering the whole US.

Details, based on where your mouse pointer is located, are viewed in a pop-up Information Box. This info will change as you move your mouse over other areas or icons. Initially, the info box will show a data summary. If you single click (on the map or icon), the info box will expand to contain details and the info box will disable mouse updates -- that is, it becomes "sticky" and will no longer update automatically as you simply move your mouse around. Drag the Info window if it's in the way. This is explained in the help pages.

There are loads of configurable options which you set using the menus. Items under Menu: Weather generally cover show/hide of real-time data. Items under Menu: View generally cover static data: map backgrounds, airports, navaids, etc.: Non-real time data.

You can also right-click on the map or icons to get a pop-up menu of options, including getting translated Area Forecast (FA) reports, assuming you're clicking over the US. Right-click on an airport and you can also get details about that airport. In fact, we have details for over 20,000 US public and private airports, heliports, glider ports, etc. You can browse them here.

METARs, PIREPs and TAFs are available world-wide. All times can be optionally displayed as ZULU or Local (local to you, not local to the reporting area.) Nifty extras like sunset times, moonphases, density altitudes are also provided in the METAR pop-ups.

Also, (there are lots of "alsos" with this site), you can request a Full Weather Brief, if you're a registered user. (Registration is free -- press "Login" button for access.) Full Weather Briefs are text versions, suitable for printing and taking to your plane. These Briefs are stored on this website under your login for at least 15 days, so you can refer to them later, if necessary. Printable Briefs may be available only via subscription, but I've been saying that for a year now, so don't hold your breath: for now, they remain free.

Okay, thanks for reading this far: Contact Email and Help available under Menu: Help. Check out the Help pages for more detailed information on content and usage. Email me if you run into problems or have suggestions.

I lurk on a couple of Forums (Fora?) and regularly enjoy some podcasts:

• Airspeed podcast hosted by Stephen Force. Want to know what it's like to fly in a whatever? Listen to Steve.
• Uncontrolled Airspace podcast, where Dave, Jack, Jeb and a few of their friends chat about what's on their minds.
• The Purple Board for Pilots
• The Finer Points, where you really should be checking out Jason's podcasts;
• Pilots of America where you can sit on the "Back Porch" of Aviation and chat with friendlies... or is it the "Front Porch".

Additional support for this website can be found on our Facebook page: click the icon in the upper right of this page to access it. Please join the group!

If you're looking for flight training, there's no one friendlier than Fred Abrams at Abrams Aviation. I always look forward when we work together.

Finally, if you're new to weather, read the monthly "Weather Never Sleeps" column by Jack Williams in AOPA's Flight Training magazine. Simple, clear, and to-the-point.

These maps are, and will remain free. We can do this only through your support either through donations or by you checking out our sponsors.