*** Unfortunately at this time, these features have been deprecated due to modifications and changes that have taken place within our University-based systems. Please contact us and we would be happy to discuss possible potential alternatives. ***
As mentioned on the Surface Weather Maps Help Page, the Surface Weather Maps allow the user to overlay National Weather Service (NWS) watch, warning, and advisory product layers onto the surface weather map.
To access these layers click "Layer Options" on the left panel of the map interface. See the Surface Weather Map Overlay Help Page for more on how to display these layers.
The NWS layers are generated by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. They are updated every five minutes.
To interpret the NWS product layers, use the color to determine the significance level and the code to determine the specific phenomena.
Layer Color: The layer color determines the signficance level of the NWS product issued. The colors shown are...
Warning: Warning products are colored red.Watch: Watch products are colored orange.Advisory: Advisory products are colored yellow.Statement: Statement products (e.g. Special Weather Statement) are colored tan.Product Code: The VTEC Code indicates the type of phenomenon the NWS product is reffering to. The following table contains the codes and their respective phenomena.
| Product Code | Phenomenon |
|---|---|
| AF | Ashfall |
| AS | Air Stagnation |
| BS | Blowing Snow |
| BW | Brisk Wind |
| BZ | Blizzard |
| CF | Coastal Flood |
| DS | Dust Storm |
| DU | Blowing Dust |
| EC | Extreme Cold |
| EH | Excessive Heat |
| EW | Extreme Wind |
| FA | Areal Flood |
| FF | Flash Flood |
| FG | Dense Fog |
| FL | Flood |
| FR | Frost |
| FW | Fire Weather |
| FZ | Freeze |
| GL | Gale |
| HF | Hurricane Force Wind |
| HI | Inland Hurricane |
| HS | Heavy Snow |
| HT | Heat |
| HU | Hurricane |
| HW | High Wind |
| HY | Hydrologic |
| HZ | Hard Freeze |
| IP | Sleet |
| IS | Ice Storm |
| LB | Lake Effect Snow and Blowing Snow |
| LE | Lake Effect Snow |
| LO | Low Water |
| LS | Lakeshore Flood |
| LW | Lake Wind |
| MA | Marine |
| RB | Small Craft for Rough Bar |
| SB | Snow and Blowing Snow |
| SC | Small Craft |
| SE | Hazardous Seas |
| SI | Small Craft for Winds |
| SM | Dense Smoke |
| SN | Snow |
| SR | Storm |
| SU | High Surf |
| SV | Severe Thunderstorm |
| SW | Small Craft for Hazardous Seas |
| TI | Inland Tropical Storm |
| TO | Tornado |
| TR | Tropical Storm |
| TS | Tsunami |
| TY | Typhoon |
| UP | Ice Accretion |
| WC | Wind Chill |
| WI | Wind |
| WS | Winter Storm |
| WW | Winter Weather |
| ZF | Freezing Fog |
| ZR | Freezing Rain |