Wherefore art thou, weather?

August 19, 2009 12:32 PM

What's the most up-to-date online weather website for the twin cities (MN) area?

Seeing as a line of storms is currently blasting the hell out of our fair city, I would like some up to date information about when, where, etc. I'm looking for something written like a blog with updates, rather than info mined from the national weather service as the WCCO website does it.

I don't have a sound system on my work computer, so I can't follow streaming radio or television broadcasts.

Thanks all!

posted by Think_Long to Science & Nature (9 answers total)

I subscribe to this RSS feed directly from the NWS, so I guess I mine it myself, thus cutting out the middleman.
posted by gimonca at 12:52 PM on August 19, 2009

Seconding the NWS (that's a main page map link), but another site I like is Weather Underground. They offer virtual weather stickers for your website, if you have one, as well.
posted by IndigoRain at 1:22 PM on August 19, 2009

+1 for weather.gov and seconding wunderground.com. Both awesome sites.
posted by cdmwebs at 1:33 PM on August 19, 2009

I like having the animated radar picture for the metro area (via weather channel) available as a widget. Look for "radar in motion" -- don't know if there is a Windows version...
posted by omnidrew at 2:06 PM on August 19, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers everybody. I already am aware of the nws and such, wunderground seems pretty good too. I was hoping for something more in a narrative "breaking news" blog form though, if there is such a thing. Like my own personal weather blogger, telling me what's happenin

really though, I can just wait until after any event and read up on it myself. Thanks again
posted by Think_Long at 2:11 PM on August 19, 2009

Twitter feed? Looks like mostly the same info, though.
posted by cdmwebs at 2:19 PM on August 19, 2009

This one looks like it's a little more up to date.
posted by cdmwebs at 2:20 PM on August 19, 2009

Best answer: Weather Underground is pretty on top of posting NWS weather advisories for whatever area you're in, and you can see all of them (U.S.) on the map. If there's a weather event going on, it will be covered there from a meteorological standpoint. The advisories usually have a plain English description of what's going on, and are updated as the situation changes and more info comes in. Samples from your current storm:

Local Storm Report

08/19/2009 0220 PM

Minneapolis, Hennepin County.

Thunderstorm wind damage, reported by amateur radio.


Trees down on houses at 37th and 5th Ave so. And also at
38th and 4th Ave. So. And at Portland Ave so and 35th




08/19/2009 0220 PM

Minneapolis, Hennepin County.

Thunderstorm wind damage, reported by Emergency Mngr.


Roof off house, large tree blocking Road and power poles
down at Portland and 35th Ave south.




08/19/2009 0255 PM

Bloomington, Hennepin County.

Heavy rain u0.00 inch, reported by amateur radio.


One foot of water on i494 in both directions at i494 and
Lyndale Ave. So.




08/19/2009 0220 PM

Minneapolis, Hennepin County.

Thunderstorm wind damage, reported by trained spotter.


2 homes damaged, 3 garages destroyed, and 2 ft diameter
trees down near Portland Ave and 4th Ave south. Also 2
garages damaged at intersection of park Ave and 47th...
and 2 houses damaged at 48th and park Ave.




08/19/2009 0220 PM

Minneapolis, Hennepin County.

Thunderstorm wind damage, reported by Emergency Mngr.


Lots of trees reported damaged from 4th Franklin to 4th
and Portland. Heard of reported damage at 15th and
Portland near the convention center.

I'm not sure what else you would get from a 'blogger' going through this same info.

and wherefore means 'why' not 'where'
posted by Who_Am_I at 8:09 AM on August 20, 2009

Response by poster: and wherefore means 'why' not 'where'

yes, true, but why sacrifice alliteration for semantics?

thanks all
posted by Think_Long at 9:19 AM on August 24, 2009