StormPredator
is designed to easy to use and to be fully automatic in operation.
Once you choose the radar location you are
interested in and define your local Storm Scan Zone to
scan for possible severe weather, its fully
automatic after that. When SP detects a storm in
your area, it will automatically popup a visual alert
and audible alert to let you know
severe weather is on the way!
StormPredator has Nationwide Radar
coverage including Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and
Puerto Rico!
Automated
internet communications
StormPredator automatically checks for the newest
radar images available, then automatically
updates!
How the Personal Storm Scan Zone Works
Here's a step
by step outline of how the SP program can be set
to provide you personal storm alerts using the
Nationwide NEXRAD Network:
| |
 |
1.
Click on the
SP Site Options Button.
You choose
the NEXRAD radar for the state and location
you are interested in. This is done
simply by choosing a state, then a location
from the list
Click OK. SP will then automatically connect
to the NEXRAD radar and download the latest
image.
If you have
"download history" checked in the Display
Options Page, SP will also download the last
10 radar images to provide you with an
instant storm history loop. |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
2.
You click on
the "Scan Zone" button
3. You
draw a circle over the area where you live
or work. This becomes your own Personal Scan Zone. |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
4.
Click on the
"Thresholds" button.
5.
You set the
Precipitation Threshold slider to the
minimum VIP color
level that you want to be alerted for, and
set the Scan Sensitivity control to the
level you desire. This allows you to fine
tune the SP Alerting feature for the type
of storms that most concern you. For
example, for severe thunderstorms that
produce hail, you would select level 9 or
10. We provide a guide to help you determine
how to set SP for the kind of storm you
want to be alerted about.
The Flash
checkboxes determine what color levels will
flash when you activate the ALT-F hotkey to
increase visibility of higher VIP color
levels. |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
6.
Let SP run
continuously either in full screen mode or
in minimized background mode by pressing the
F2 hotkey. |
| |
 |
7.
If a
sufficiently strong storm enters your
personal Storm Zone, then SP will pop up an
alert to let you know! You can choose to
delay additional alerts up to 30 minutes.
For situations where
you may be away from your PC, you can also
set SP to repeat the alert sound
continuously until you return to your PC and
move the mouse. This ensures you know of an
alert in your Scan Zone.
Optional add on packages will allow for
alerting you via email, cell phone, and
pager, and even send radar pictures to
web/picture phones! |
|
| |
How the Storm Tracker Tool Works:
|
 |
| |
|
This tool will
help you predict the motion, direction,
speed, and estimated time of arrival (ETA)
of advancing thunderstorm cells.
It works by
having you choose points within key frames
of storm cells at the beginning of the
history loop, then at a middle point, and
finally at the most recent radar image.
Note: The
Storm Tracking tool performs best when you
are accurately able to locate the storm
cells and input the location properly. Like
any tool, it is only as good as the user
input provided. Choosing points carefully
can help make the ETA more accurate.
A box will
be drawn on the main radar screen that
represents the "probable" path of the storm
cell based on the key frame points you have
provided. The dashed line down the center
indicates the projected path, and the bounds
of the box represent the possible variance
from that path based on the variance of the
key frame points. Another dialog box will
display the time, distance, and direction
calculations for the storm cell. |
| |
 Key
frame Thumbnails show the Oldest, Midpoint,
and Newest Storm Cell Positions.
The thumbnail highlighted will display full
size in the
main radar screen, allowing for tracker icon
placement.
Then after
you have the key frame positions of the
Oldest, Midpoint, and Newest radar positions
placed, click the Track button to create a
plot on the screen similar to what you see
below:
 |
To operate the
Tracker, simply do the following:
- Click on
the "Oldest" thumbnail, then place the
tracker icon in the main radar screen to
set the first key frame
- Click on
the "Midpoint" thumbnail, then place the
tracker icon in the main radar screen to
set the second key frame
- Click on
the "Newest" thumbnail, then place the
tracker icon in the main radar screen to
set the third key frame
- When you
have chosen three key frame points, press
the "Track" button and the tool will
calculate and display a path, average
speed, direction, and you can click and
hold inside the box drawn on the radar
image to get an Estimated Time of Arrival
(ETA) for the storm cell you have tracked.
|
| |
|
Once you have
placed a tracker icon in a frame by clicking
with the mouse, you can "nudge" the icon up,
down, left, or right by pressing the arrow
keys on your keyboard. |
| |
 |
The projected
storm path is down the center of the box,
while the possible path variance is
represented by the bounds of the box.
Click and hold inside the box to get an ETA
report
|
 |
The velocity,
direction, and travel distance of the
storm cell you are tracking will display in
a dialog
box as shown at left |
| |
|
|
|
At the top
of the Tracker Dialog screen, you'll see
a series of colored squares as shown
above.
The
GREEN
squares show good images that have been
loaded
The
BLUE
squares show the current location of the
key frame (which can be moved)
The
BLACK squares show images which
have not yet been loaded into the local
history loop
|
|
FINE TUNING:
If the storm cell does not appear in the
newest, oldest, or midpoint image in the
history loop, you'll have the option of
jumping ahead or back until you locate it.
The < and > buttons on the Tracker dialog
allow you to jump backwards and forwards for
locating an image where the storm cell is
better defined. |
| |
|
Starting
Over: You can plot another track by
simply clicking on one of the key frame
thumbnails. Then you can click on a new
position to place the tracker icon. Repeat
the process for other key frames and press
the Track button again.
When finished:
Press the Close button to return to the main
screen. |
|
