Radar Layer Improvements - Hail Visualization & Toggle
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Hi Windy Team,
I’d like to suggest some improvements to the current radar layer regarding hail representation.
The Problem:
The black "hail dots" currently feel exaggerated and are often misleading. They frequently indicate hail in areas where high freezing levels (especially in the tropics or during summer) mean the hail melts before reaching the ground.Suggested Improvements:
Toggle Option: Please provide an option to deselect or hide the black hail dots on the radar layer.Refined dBZ Color Coding:
Instead of dots, use distinctive colors for high reflectivity ranges to better align with meteorological standards:
50–55 dBZ: Small hail/heavy rain mix.
60–65 dBZ: Likely hail/extremely heavy rain.
70+ dBZ: High certainty of large/giant hail.Again, these values only indicate hail presence in the cloud but not necessarily hitting the ground!
Better Algorithm:
To more accurately predict hail reaching the ground, I suggest overlapping reflectivity data with radar vertical wind velocities.User Guidance:
It would be very helpful to provide simple in-app guidance explaining how to delineate areas of hail formation versus the actual risk of ground impact.The goal is to move away from an "all or nothing" dot display and toward a more nuanced, data-driven visualization.
Thanks for considering this for the sake of providing more accuracy rather than just adding more unnecessary clutter on your maps.
Sincerely,
AJ -
Hello,
They frequently indicate hail in areas where high freezing levels (especially in the tropics or during summer) mean the hail melts before reaching the ground.
Same as ‘virga’ for rain: the radar shows rain, but sometimes the rain doesn’t reach the ground. I’m not sure the radar data can discriminate the precipitation, rain or hail, reaching or not the ground.
Toggle Option: Please provide an option to deselect or hide the black hail dots on the radar layer.
This option is already available in Settings. Disable “Show precipitation type on Radar”
Instead of dots, use distinctive colors for high reflectivity ranges to better align with meteorological standards:
You can do it yourself. In Settings see “Customize color scale” and set the colors you want.
I’ve set a bright red for 54-55dBz to warn of a risk of hail.
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@idefix37
Thank you for bringing to my attention the option in the settings to deselect that “hail” option on the radar layer.Please refer to my previous feedback regarding visualization of model precipitation overlay on cloud cover layer.
Much appreciated
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@idefix37 ya I do the same thing it's a lot of fun to create colour scale but they do need better algorithm
For hail except for USA and ground clutter -
@HardikP said in Radar Layer Improvements - Hail Visualization & Toggle:
they do need better algorithm
You have better algorithm ?
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@idefix37 no
