NOAA’s Aviation Weather Center is adding a host of new tools and capabilities to the Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA) effective May 4. All the same information is there but in a modernized and more colorful package. “While the layout and navigation have been slightly adjusted for better accessibility, all the core data parameters and layers you rely on will remain fully available,” the organization said in an explanatory page on its website. These changes are designed to provide a more intuitive experience without compromising the information provided.
The main user interface has new sliders and toggles that make finding the specific information for each flight easier to access. To get more detailed information, the page now offers range rings, which allow the user to focus on one particular area of airspace. New color infrared imagery has been added to satellite views, and there are now “streamlines” that can be added to wind maps to show the general direction of the winds. NOAA said the changes were made in response to public input on improving the utility of the GFA.
Amazing how the winds don’t appear to affect Mexico or Canada!
Since the wind data is based on US sensors and the US NWS likely doesn’t have access to Mexico or Canada data, that’s not surprising at all.
My comment was intended as a joke as there is clearly wind data off all four coastlines of Mexico, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, the coasts of Maine, etc.
I think Dan had his tongue firmly in cheek.