SRM

Fixed a bug that had been lingering for a while on the site.  The SPC uses GMT+12 time for all of their storm reports.  This means a day at the SPC goes from 1200UTC to 1159UTC (as opposed to 0000UTC to 2359UTC).  The bug on the map was the Reported field was showing the current report date for every report, when it should show the real report date for reports after 2359UTC.  Before the change, for example, a report today showed a tornado near Augusta on April 10, 0254Z.  The real date should be April 11, 0254Z, instead.

This has now ben resolved.  Thanks to those who pointed it out.

SRM

Just a couple things…

• Added the ability to send load a date through the URL path.  For example, a link to http://www.stormreportmap.com/?date=080410, will bring up storm reports for April 10, 2008. There were a lot of links out there that still used that to link to specific dates, so I figured it would be a good idea to keep that functionality.
• Added an overall count of just how many storm reports we actually have in out database.  You should see them just above the search bar.

Look for some more fixes and additions over the next few weeks.

So, as many of you have probably already noticed, the site has been updated again with a new design and some new features:

• Accounts: Register for an account to control how the map functions.  Don’t like having the radar display on?  Turn it off.  Don’t like the convective outlooks?  Turn those off as well.  Only want to show show reports near your house?  Use your account to set a “home” location and the map will only zoom around that location.

• New map icons along with the ability to cluster them:  This will become important as the storm season rolls on this year.  Instead of displaying every markers, we’ve implemented a cluster scheme where markers that are close together will be shown in a small black icon with the number of reports shown that are below that viewing level.  Clicking on that icon will soon in and show those markers.  If you don’t like this feature, simply uncheck the “Enable cluster” window on the map, or completely turn it off through your account.
• Layout choices have changed as well.  Instead of only displaying each type of icon, you can now display a combination (e.g. hail and wind, tornadoes and hail, etc..)

There have been some other changes under the hood as well that should make the site a little faster browse around with.

Questions? Comments?  Please contact us!

I was contacted this afternoon by the great folks at The Weather Channel for permissions to use graphics from my site on-air for their Evening Edition show.  The snippet was snown at about 8:30 CST, and was used to show  just how large the reported hail sizes were in the OKC area and compared it to a baseball.

Welcome to anyone coming from TWC!

For those that are interested in Google Maps Mashups, I cannot recommend a better source than Mike Pegg’s GoogleMapsMania blog.  Mike initially covered my site when the blog was only 3 months old.  Since then his blog has grown exponentially and is now the source for Google Maps Mashups.

He talked about my site today with a great review and I want to ensure that others are aware of his fantastic site.