HikeArizona.COM

If you value the NWS Detailed Point Forecast maps your comments are requested asap!

Here is the new design for a random point. You will notice it is missing the Detailed Point Forecast map seen on the old design.

Comment here through May 18th. If you plan outdoor activities with the Detailed Point Forecast they need to know, be sure to use that term in your comments.

I prefer the detailed point forecast map, especially for the elevation forecast. It's nice to know the difference between a forecast specific for 4000 ft, versus one for 9500 ft.

I agree. I hope the public does not loose that valuable tool.

The new point forecast still features the exact lat/lon and elevation data. But I don't know how it plans to let you select specific points if there is no map and no way to enter the coordinates. Perhaps they have a licensing/cost issue with the non-evil folks from mountainview?

While I like the map, the search function is quite powerful (based on the Google database).

A quick test turned up the exact point for Humphreys Peak, Agassiz Peak, Fremont Saddle, and even Houston Draw, McFarland Spring (on the cabin loop) and Tonto Fish Hatchery.

It did not return the correct response for Reavis Ranch, or Battleship, though it got La Barge Mountain and Garden Valley.

It did get Battleship Mountain when I added Pinal to the search, so that it knew which Battleship Mountain to choose.

Would it be easier if it also had a map? Yes. But I can live without the map if it's location search functions are as powerful as they appear to be.

joe bartels wrote:If you value the NWS Detailed Point Forecast maps your comments are requested asap!

@joe bartels Thanks for letting others know about this!

@All HAZ members While you may not care about the detailed point forecast or agree with my opinion, please do take a moment to make your voice known. After all it's our tax dollars that funds the NWS.

I've relied on this feature for a number of years and had links to all my favorite hiking areas. So when the NWS proposed a new look, with an already intense dislike for the 'new look' to the Weather Channel's forecast site I checked out the proposed NWS site right away. When I saw it missing the detailed point forecast map I responded immediately to their request for comments. Being the most used feature on their site, if the detailed forecast goes away I'll have no reason to use the site.

My main reason for NOT using the NWS site exclusively in the past was the lack of timely current condition updates for Falcon Field, usually anywhere from 3 to 24 hours behind. Telling me at 6 am that the temp WAS 90 degrees at 7 pm the night BEFORE isn't my idea of current.

@CannondaleKid The Point Forecast is not going away. Only the map is gone. While I think that will be an inconvenience, you can still bookmark specific points at all your favorite hiking areas just like you did before. And I've never understood why Falcon Field doesn't have overnight reporting. Perhaps they don't have electricity out there yet? ;)

BTW- In addition to requesting the map in the webform, I sent an email to the actual forecaster in the PHX office who oversees the trained volunteer weather spotters (like me), so maybe that carries a little bit more weight...?

I noticed today that the new NWS page has been implemented ... and they listened to the feedback and the Google map remains!

A victory for common sense and logic!

Does the new page have anything to do with the forecast on Mapdex being buggy?

joy

should be resolved now

It's not a bad set up. I use the satellite loop and radar mosaic most.