Weather Unlimited and METAR

[Guest Robs]

Hi all again,Thought I'd tap into the vast knowledge base again!Who has used weather unlimited. Is the forth version the latest?I have downloaded the METAR files and imported them but I can't get FU3 clouds to match the METAR ones.I have exported the generated fu3 weather file but the weather isn't exciting and doesn't match the METAR data - shame cos it looks good!. I think the weather front mucks it up.Any hints or tips - from anyone??? I was hoping for an auto prog to synthesize todays weather in USA.Rob.

[Guest]

Here's a step-by-step explanation of how to use Weather Unlimited:Download the METAR file (I use for this) and save the weather to a .txt fileThen run Weather Unlimited and select from the menu METAR -> ReadSelect the METAR .txt file and double click on it.Now from the menu select View -> Weather Cells and in the window that opens check the METAR Clouds checkbox.This will display the METAR weather on the FU3 map.Select Edit -> Front from the menu, select the SanFran or Seattle area and click on the Generate out of METAR buttonThen select File -> Save As and save the .wsd file in your Flight3Weather folderIn FU3 you can select this .wsd file from the Weather menuI hope this helpsGideon[link:www.geocities.com/alive.geo/flight3.html]The Flight Unlimited R&D Page

[Guest Robs]

Hi Gideon (the Great!)I have been using your resviewer and must say thankyou in person.I have got weather unlimited working in that I can get the metar files in and get fu3 weather files out etc.My problem is that I have tried placing the weather front (presumably around the biggest drop in isobars) and can't really get the fu3 clouds to really resemble the metar displayed clouds. I am not a meterologist and I guess if you don't get the front right the clouds don't match!I wish the program had an auto weather front generator based on the isobars!(ie one button weather gen based on metar data)I have however got some suitable representative weather in fu3 based on seattle and sanfran today.It is very interesting. Any further tips?Rob.

[Guest]

Rob,I don't know how the program actually translates METAR weather into FU3 weather, it may only define clouds and not the modify the front position because this info is not explicitly in the METAR data.Like you say, it may be possible to deduce the front position from the METAR data but only Markus (the author) can tell you if the program actually does this.Usually when I import METAR data I just leave the front as it is and I get the same weather that is shown on the Weather Unlimited map.Keep in mind that the FU3 weather system was not designed to be used with METAR data and the fact that Markus managed to add this ability to FU3 is quite amazing in itself.Gideon