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goedde2
01-13-2013, 13:40
Planning for your day on the AT according to the weather, can be a daunting task to say the least, especially if change is inevitable, which always seems to be the case. What makes it easier is a reliable forecast. One such tool I find very useful is this site: http://sophiaknows.com/atdb/weather.php

It will give you the current weather conditions, shelter by shelter, state by state, as well as the highs and lows. You also have several alternative options to choose from. I carry an iPhone, and by converting the site to an app, I know instantly and exactly what to expect, just by a simple click.

Hope this might help. Glad to share.

HikerMom58
01-13-2013, 14:35
That's a great site! When we go to knock out some miles in PA, in May, this will be very helpful. Thanks! :)

"Atlas"
01-13-2013, 14:48
Nice find, I like the idea of using it on the Trail. Does anyone know if there is a record online of the average temps/weather at any point in the years, like an old farmers almanac?

bert304
01-13-2013, 15:41
That is a great site

ChinMusic
01-13-2013, 15:48
Planning for your day on the AT according to the weather, can be a daunting task to say the least, especially if change is inevitable, which always seems to be the case. What makes it easier is a reliable forecast. One such tool I find very useful is this site: http://sophiaknows.com/atdb/weather.php


It almost looks like a spam site from today's forecast.....lol There is not one shelter on the AT without rain in the forecast.

Liminal
01-13-2013, 16:24
of interest just because :-?: today's temps on Mount Washington set record...


"Today's daily record high is 41F, which, as of 5AM this morning, has already been broken. The more interesting record in sight is the all-time monthly record for January, which stands at 47F. The latest run of the NAM predicts a high of 47F today, while the GFS is boasting a high of 51F on the summit. A consensus between the two, along with a good initialization of both computer models, would suggest that this monthly record is very much in jeopardy today."
http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/index.php

nu2hike
01-13-2013, 23:19
"You also have several alternative options to choose from. I carry an iPhone, and by converting the site to an app, I know instantly and exactly what to expect, just by a simple click. "

How do you convert that site to an App?

BigHodag
01-14-2013, 00:24
The best sources for up-to-date weather information for the AT have proven to be the FM radio built in to my phone's hardware and Google's SMS search. (Personally I've long thought a NOAA weather radio should be built into each phone's hardware for a while now.)

If you have bars on your phone, just text a "w" and a zipcode to Google at 9-77-33-00000. You'll receive a weather forecast for the next 24-48 hours from Google. I annotate zipcodes on my hiking plan so they're easily available.

http://www.google.com/intl/en_in/mobile/sms/search/

goedde2
01-14-2013, 12:03
"You also have several alternative options to choose from. I carry an iPhone, and by converting the site to an app, I know instantly and exactly what to expect, just by a simple click. "

How do you convert that site to an App?

I have an iPhone so I'm not sure if these instructions are universal, but here goes.

1) Find the (any) site you are looking for using Safari (my Web Browser) as opposed to Internet Explorer for a Windows PC
2) Make the site you have chosen a "bookmark"
3) Press the "forward" arrow
4) Select "add to home screen"

BA-DA-BING - she is done. Simple as that. Choose which home screen you want to use to display the new app. Hope this helps.

ChinMusic
01-14-2013, 13:03
I have an iPhone so I'm not sure if these instructions are universal, but here goes.

1) Find the (any) site you are looking for using Safari (my Web Browser) as opposed to Internet Explorer for a Windows PC
2) Make the site you have chosen a "bookmark"
3) Press the "forward" arrow
4) Select "add to home screen"

BA-DA-BING - she is done. Simple as that. Choose which home screen you want to use to display the new app. Hope this helps.

I have always just done bookmarks for this but this is great........thanks.

fins1838
01-14-2013, 15:17
Thanks. Did a short overnighter from Pen-Mar to Deer Lick shelter. Weather called fir a high of 60 & a low of 52. Luckily I didn't trust the report because it was in the twenties at night. (by the way; picked up way to much trash along thus section of trail)

Majortrauma
01-14-2013, 15:20
Accuweather.com actually provides average temps. Just need to know the zip code but it does NOT account for elevation.

Odd Man Out
01-14-2013, 17:34
Planning for your day on the AT according to the weather, can be a daunting task to say the least, especially if change is inevitable, which always seems to be the case. What makes it easier is a reliable forecast. One such tool I find very useful is this site: http://sophiaknows.com/atdb/weather.php

It will give you the current weather conditions, shelter by shelter, state by state, as well as the highs and lows. You also have several alternative options to choose from. I carry an iPhone, and by converting the site to an app, I know instantly and exactly what to expect, just by a simple click.

Hope this might help. Glad to share.

From today's weather forecast. Welcome to the AT



Conditions

# of stations






Chance Rain

42



Chance Rain Showers
93


Chance Rain/Sleet
2


Chance Rain/Snow
19


Chance Snow Showers
11


Chance Snow/Sleet
8


Rain
107


Rain Likely
21


Rain Showers
56


Rain Showers Likely
57


Rain/Snow Likely
2


Slight Chance Snow Showers
6


Nothing Reported
18

jj2044
01-14-2013, 17:39
LOl looks like alot of rain on the AT today

Dogwood
01-14-2013, 17:54
That was a site new to me Goedde2. Nice find. Thanks for sharing. LOL. AT has more beta available than any other trail I know of. Now, we can find weather at individual AT shelters. Whew!

G-FOURce
01-14-2013, 18:34
The best sources for up-to-date weather information for the AT have proven to be the FM radio built in to my phone's hardware and Google's SMS search. (Personally I've long thought a NOAA weather radio should be built into each phone's hardware for a while now.)

If you have bars on your phone, just text a "w" and a zipcode to Google at 9-77-33-00000. You'll receive a weather forecast for the next 24-48 hours from Google. I annotate zipcodes on my hiking plan so they're easily available.

http://www.google.com/intl/en_in/mobile/sms/search/


just tried this on my iPhone and it didn't work. i had a buddy here at work who has an Android try it and it didnt work on his phone, either. neat idea, but only if it works.

Scotto
01-14-2013, 19:10
Nice find, I like the idea of using it on the Trail. Does anyone know if there is a record online of the average temps/weather at any point in the years, like an old farmers almanac?

Weather Underground has a great historical database tool. Here is a link for Athens, GA.

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KAHN/2013/3/1/MonthlyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA

This shows the averages, highs and lows for each day in September. Each weather station has a code. The code for this location is KAHN. You can search Weather Underground by weather station codes just as you would for a city. Here are some of the codes I identified that had very complete data sets.

KAHN Athens, GA
KAVL Asheville, NC
KROA Roanoke, VA
KCXY Harrisburg, PA
KALB Albany, NY
KBGR Bangor, ME

If you want to know what the weather was like on March 13th in Athens try this link:

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KAHN/2012/3/13/DailyHistory.html

You can see temperature hour by hour and precipitation as well. To adjust for elevation I use 3 degrees per 100 feet. Athens is at 807 and Springer is at 4000, so about 10 degrees colder. Sometimes it is hard to find a really good station close by. Springer seems to be one of cases, but still there is very valuable information to be gained.

ChinMusic
01-14-2013, 19:19
just tried this on my iPhone and it didn't work. i had a buddy here at work who has an Android try it and it didnt work on his phone, either. neat idea, but only if it works.
I tried it too and got nothing. I liked the idea of a text as that works well with sporadic coverage.

Scotto
01-14-2013, 19:25
just tried this on my iPhone and it didn't work. i had a buddy here at work who has an Android try it and it didnt work on his phone, either. neat idea, but only if it works.

Use "Weather" instead of "W" and send to 466459

eg. "Weather 90120"

Neat trick

ChinMusic
01-14-2013, 20:14
Use "Weather" instead of "W" and send to 466459

eg. "Weather 90120"

Neat trick

That doesn't work for me either. I get a return text "Error Invalid Number..............."

Shutter
01-17-2013, 21:46
I just released a new and updated version of an android app I wrote for my own thru-hike back in 2011.

You can search for a shelter by which mile you're at, view by state, or a large list like this site has.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atweather#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDIxMiwiY2 9tLmF0d2VhdGhlciJd

Not to pull traffic away from that site, but my app is way more portable and uses an insanely low amount of data, which is important when you have spotty service in the mountains.

Enjoy all you 2013 NOBOs and SOBOs.

Wise Old Owl
01-17-2013, 21:56
goedde2 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php?26846-goedde2) Honest I did not concern myself with the prior posts. The weather is "going to happen" you will go for a day or two in total downpour, there might be snow.... you cannot fix it. It will happen. You need to be a postal worker. Wind and Nor easters are you biggest surprise, they do not happen all that much.

Just be prepared and try not to bug -out!

goedde2
01-18-2013, 13:32
I just released a new and updated version of an android app I wrote for my own thru-hike back in 2011.

You can search for a shelter by which mile you're at, view by state, or a large list like this site has.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atweather#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDIxMiwiY2 9tLmF0d2VhdGhlciJd

Not to pull traffic away from that site, but my app is way more portable and uses an insanely low amount of data, which is important when you have spotty service in the mountains.

Enjoy all you 2013 NOBOs and SOBOs.

Shutter, thanks for the input, checked out your link. Ran into trouble because apparently your Android app needs to be accessed with Google Play Store, and I was not able to download it. I think that involves another set of instructions. Doesn't seem to like iOS, and/or my email account. The link below will help explain what I'm talking about. It's probably just me doing something wrong, but I like your idea. Thanks for sharing.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1141080

goedde2
01-18-2013, 13:52
goedde2 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php?26846-goedde2) Honest I did not concern myself with the prior posts. The weather is "going to happen" you will go for a day or two in total downpour, there might be snow.... you cannot fix it. It will happen. You need to be a postal worker. Wind and Nor easters are you biggest surprise, they do not happen all that much.

Just be prepared and try not to bug -out!


Funny you should mention that. I was a Postal Worker, now retired. I just thought making http://sophiaknows.com/atdb/weather.php available might be of some use. Always happy to share.

Shutter
01-23-2013, 20:57
Doesn't seem to like iOS, and/or my email account


Goedde2: Sorry but this app was only written for Android phones. I've never owned an Apple product so in order to write for them would cost quite a bit of money and a steep learning curve which I'm not really prepared to do right at this moment. Plus, it would have to be 100% rewritten. Perhaps for 2014 if there is big demand I can port it over to iOS or even work with an iOS developer to get a version running. But for right now it's Android only. Thanks for your interest though.