Tools
Storm Mapping Tutorial
Tool Description
NOAA creates and distributes valuable weather information before, during, and after hurricanes. Examples include rainfall forecasts, flash flood warnings, wind speed forecasts, and cumulative rainfall estimates. Many of these data sets are available on the Internet but are scattered over many websites and are in different formats. This tutorial guides users, click by click, through the process of downloading, converting, and displaying these data in a geographic information system (GIS). A GIS allows users to display NOAA data with local data (e.g., roads, critical facilities, and vulnerable populations) to get a better picture of storm impacts on a community.
Sample Functions
- Discusses where to find NOAA National Weather Service data and other related resources
- Gives basic directions on how to use GIS for cartographic production
- Provides guidance on standard cartographic principles in designing specific presentation-quality maps
User Requirements
- ArcGIS, ArcView version 8.x or higher with the Spatial Analyst extension
Contact Information:
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)
www.esri.com
- HURREVAC
Contact Information:
John F. Townsend
Sea Island Software Inc.
(843) 881-0593
www.hurrevac.com
support@hurrevac.com
- SLOSH Display Program with GIS shapefile export capability enabled
Contact Information:
Arthur Taylor; Wilson (Wil) Shaffer
Arthur.Taylor@noaa.gov; Wilson.Shaffer@noaa.gov
(301) 713-1613, ext. 163; (301) 713-1613, ext. 167
- National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) GRIB2 Decoder
Contact Information:
Arthur Taylor
Arthur.Taylor@noaa.gov
(301) 713-1613, ext. 163
www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/NDFD_GRIB2Decoder/howto.php
- A file decompression utility such as WinZip or PKZIP to extract compressed shapefiles that are used throughout the tutorial:
WinZip – www.winzip.com/downwzeval.htm
PKZIP – http://nct.digitalriver.com/fulfill/0018.18
- Adobe PDF to create files for easy exchanging and printing of finished maps:
www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html