Lightning as a standalone layer
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Currently, lightning is combined with the radar layer. It would be great if lightning could be made an optional, standalone layer - just like pressure isolines - so that it could be combined with any other layer, such as radar, satellite, etc. This would be especially useful now that you have provided several other excellent thunderstorm tracking tools such as the infrared satellite later.
Would this at all be something you would consider?
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@inAjet It is certainly interesting idea, we may consider it.
Korina
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Thanks, @Korina! I hope to see it maybe one day soon...
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@inAjet Dropping in to say I like this idea.
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@Korina here’s a good example of how combining the lightning layer with the satellite IR layer is helpful in locating thunderstorms. This screenshot is from another product we use in the aviation world. I’d love to be able to get the same info from Windy’s far superior satellite resolution and interface!
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I have a followup question/suggestion to my previous suggestion of a standalone lightning layer:
Would it be possible to integrate satellite-based lightning data to extend the availability of lightning data to areas on the globe outside of radio range, i.e. the middle of the Pacific Ocean?
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Lightning in Windy is based on data from Blitzortung. I don’t think that all parts of the globe are covered because the detectors are not everywhere. They are missing in large parts of south hemisphere, in Pacific too. The coupling with the Radar layer is valid but may be much less with the Satellite layer which cover the globe.
https://www.blitzortung.org/en/live_lightning_maps.php?map=10 -
Lightning data in a wider area (over oceans, deserts etc) will be available from satellites with lightning imagers.
EUMETSAT has launched on Dec 2022 the Meteosat Third Generation – Imager 1 (MTG-I1).
After an 12-month commissioning phase MTG-I1 will move to its final position over Europe, and will begin disseminating those data by the end of 2023.
I hope Windy will integrate it into the site. -
And I like this idea! :)
