Hint.fm Wind Map, genius!
It's a beautiful data graphic even as a static screenshot, but you must check out Hint.fm's live Wind Map. Is it just me or is Wind Map the best presentation of macro wind direction and speed ever? It let me almost feel what that big low over the upper Midwest was doing yesterday, and if I was teaching weather I'll bet this is a live graphic that would help students truly get it. And while the two talents behind Hint.fm may characterize Wind Map as "a personal art project" I can't help but wonder how this presentation style and data source might benefit boaters...
One thing that caught my attention is the fact that Wind Map is based on surface wind data forecasts that are "revised once per hour" at the National Digital Forecast Database. I failed to find detail on these forecasts at that site -- like how granular is it? -- but at several spots I checked the near-term forecast corresponded closely to real-time ground observations. Note that you can hover your cursor over Wind Map to get speed detail and click to zoom...
I also compared Wind Map to NEXRAD precipitation radar, and you can see below how the storm cell near Sioux City is accompanied by rapidly shifting wind. Here's hoping that Hint.fm or someone animates the Wind Map style data presentation over multiple hours or days so we could get a sense of what's coming our way, sort of like NEXRAD animations. It could probably be beautiful too. And wouldn't it be nice to have on an MFD or iPad? Please check out Wind Map, maybe compare it to other data like radar and traditional wind barbs, and see if your sense of what's happening is improved.
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I like it. I bookmarked it to my weather folder. Thanks Ben.
Patrick Harman