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metarchart

A python web app for plotting METAR data.

Contents

  1. Description
  2. Features
  3. Usage
  4. Interpreting the plots
  5. Structure

Description

metarchart is designed to allow you to visualise the meteorological variables reported in Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs).

Features

Station overview

Screenshot of overview plots Screenshot of overview plots Screenshot of overview plots

Station overview shows a set of plots covering all the core meteorological variables reported in a METAR, for a single specified station. The variables shown are:

  • Cloud base
  • Wind direction and speed (Gusts are included if reported)
  • Temperature and dew point
  • Visibility and any significant weather reported
  • QNH pressure

Single variable

Screenshot of single variable plot

Single variable plots allow you to view a single plot of a chosen variable for a specified station. The variables available are:

  • Cloud base
  • Wind direction and speed (Gusts are included if reported)
  • Visibility and any significant weather reported
  • Temperature
  • Dew point
  • QNH pressure
  • Wind speed
  • Wind direction
  • Wind gust (if reported)

Responsive design

Screenshot of app on a mobile device Screenshot of app on a mobile device

Responsive design means that the web app is optimised for use on mobile devices.

Usage

Station overview

Enter an ICAO airport code in the ICAO box. Enter your desired time window in hours (Default is 24 hours; ie covering the last 24 hours from the current time). Press "Go" to view the plots.
Screenshot of overview settings area

Single variable

Enter an ICAO airport code in the ICAO box. Enter your desired time window in hours (Default is 24 hours; ie covering the last 24 hours from the current time). Select the variable you wish to view from the dropdown menu. Press "Go" to view the plots.
Screenshot of single variable settings area

Hiding the settings area

It is possible to toggle the settings area on and off by pressing the cog/wheel icon to the right of metarchart at the top left of the screen.
Screenshot of cog icon and navigation bar

Interpreting the plots

Cloud base

Each reported cloud base is shown as a coloured dot. They are colour-coded according to UK Military colour states. Cloud amounts of FEW are shown with lower opacity. Hovering over or tapping each point will show the reported cloud base & amount and time of observation.

Cloud base plot example

Visibility/weather

Each reported visibility is shown as a coloured dot. They are colour-coded according to UK Military colour states. Hovering over or tapping each point will show the reported visibility, time of observation and any significant weather reported at that time.

Visibility/weather plot example

Wind (combined)

Wind direction is plotted in purple against the scale on the right. Wind speed is plotted in green against the scale on the left. If any wind gusts are reported in the METARs, they will be shown as larger green dots "floating" above the main wind speed. Hovering over or tapping each point will show the reported wind direction and speed and time of observation. Any gusts at that time will also be shown.

Wind (combined) plot example

Temperature/dew point

Temperature is plotted in red, and dew point in a fainter red. Hovering over or tapping each point will show the reported temperature, dewpoint and time of observation.

Temperature/dew point plot example

QNH pressure or other single variable

QNH pressure, or any other standard single variable plot will show that variable in yellow. Hovering over or tapping each point will show the reported value of the variable and time of observation.

QNH pressure plot example

Structure

Flask, WTForms and Bokeh are used for the front end, while python-metar, requests and numpy are used to acquire and process the data.