National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Search Engine
CGi Software
overLIB javascript library
Glossary
Third Party Plug-ins, applets, and applications
Mapping Applications and Extensions to support KML/KMZ file formats
GoogleTM Maps/GoogleTM Earth images used on National Weather Service pages
Third party provided social networking/social media tools and services

  •  National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration wide search services provided by USA.gov
    References to the following vendors or commercial web sites does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NWS) or any of its field offices or employees.
     
  • CGI Software support provided in part through the cgic © library:
    cgic, copyright 1995 by Thomas Boutell. Permission is granted to use cgic in any application, commercial or noncommercial, at no cost. HOWEVER, this copyright paragraph must appear on a "credits" page accessible in the public online and offline documentation of the program. Modified versions of the cgic library should not be distributed without the attachment of a clear statement regarding the author of the modifications, and this notice may in no case be removed. Modifications may also be submitted to the author for inclusion in the main cgic distribution.
     
  • The overLIB javascript library is used on various pages on this website.
     
  • Glossary listing - created using MD Glossary, Copyright (c) Matthew Dingley 2003, Express permission has been granted for non-display of copyright notice.
     
  • Some content presented on National Weather Service sites require additional applications or plug-ins. These third-party tools and links for download include:
    • Color Blindness tools
      • Visolve - Visolve is a software application (free for personal use) that transforms colors of the computer display into the discriminable colors for various people including people with color vision deficiency, commonly called color blindness. Available for Windows and Mac OS X. Download from Visolve web site - https://www.ryobi-sol.co.jp/visolve/en/
         
      • eyePilot eyePilot is designed as a “floating window” that is easily dragged-and-dropped over a web page, document or computer application, and allows users to quickly and more accurately view color-coded information. Available for Microsoft Windows XP, 2000 or NT and Mac OS X 10.2 or later. (Purchase) - A 30-day free trial of eyePilot is available from eyePilot web site - https://www.colorhelper.com/
    • Java Java Virtual Machine - free download from java.com
       
    • Adobe Reader Adobe Reader for PDF formats - free download from adobe.com
       
    • PowerPoint viewer PowerPoint Viewer - free download from Microsoft.com
       
    • Excel Viewer Excel Viewer - free download from Microsoft.com
       
    • Macromedia Flash Flash Player - free download from Macromedia.com
       
    • Real Player Real Player (for Windows, Linux/Unix, and Mac's) - free download from Real.com
       
    • Windows Media Windows Media Player - free download from Microsoft.com
       
    • Quicktime Player QuickTime Player (for Windows and Mac's) - free download from Apple.com
       
    • SVG Viewer SVG Image Viewer - free download from Adobe.com
       
    • DjVu Viewer DjVu (for Windows, Mac OS X, UNIX) - viewer for some large NOAA Atlas and Technical Paper - free download from lizardtech.com
  • Mapping Applications
    • ArcGIS extension that allows ESRI software to read KML until the next full release of ESRI software that will natively support KML/KMZ - (Purchase) - download from KMLer.com
    • ESRI ArcExplorerESRI’s ArcGIS Explorer - KML file format support - free download from ESRI.com
       
    • FME (Feature Manipulation Engine) that converts data in one format to another - KML file format support - (Purchase) - download from Safe.co
       
    • Gaia3 - supports KML/KMZ - free download from https://www.thecarbonproject.com/gaia.php
       
    • Gmap4 (free online software based on Google Maps) that displays most KML/KMZ files that are hosted anywhere online. https://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html
       
    • GoogleEarthGoogleEarth viewer - KML file format support - free download from Google.com
       
    • Keyhole Mapping Keyhole Keyhole 2 LT and Keyhole 2 NV (NVIDIA graphics cards only) - KML file support - (Purchase) - download from Keyhole.com
       
    • NASANASA WorldWind viewer (latest version 1.3.5 released May 12, 2006) - free download from NASA
       
    • uDig - supports KML - free download from https://udig.refractions.net/
       
    • Swift Weather Defender® Arming public safety agencies, utilities, contractors and others with up-to-the-minute weather tracking
       
    • World Wind plug-in to support KML (for versions of World Wind earlier than 1.3.4) - free download from WorldWindCentral.com
  • GoogleTM Map/GoogleTM Earth

    Google Maps and Google Earth map information and photographic imagery are used under license by Google. NOAA/National Weather Service data presented using Google Maps/Google Earth are in the public domain and is also made available in open standard KML/KMZ format. The map information and photographic imagery contain trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, and other distinctive brand features. This does not imply an endorsement of Google, Google Maps, or Google Earth products or services by NOAA/National Weather Service. Under the terms of the license, you are permitted to copy or use the Google Maps/Google Earth images on your site so long as Google Maps/Google Earth trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, and other distinctive brand features are not deleted or in any manner altered.
     
  • Third party provided social networking/social media tools and services

    Third party provided social networking/social media tools and services may be used by the National Weather Service as a supplemental channel to promote weather awareness activities across the agency, highlighting NWS meetings and outreach efforts, and highlighting NWS educational efforts, resources, and activities across the agency. Use of third party provided services/tools for dissemination of environmental information will be implemented consistent with existing NOAA policies and NWS Directives. Prior to NWS implementation of any third party provided social media / social networking service or tool, a government Terms of Service agreement will be signed by the Department of Commerce on behalf of the agency, and only those services with DoC approved Terms of Services will be used. Content posted to third party provided social networking/social media tools and services will be first posted on NWS official Web pages. No new environmental products will be developed exclusively for third party provided social networking/social media tools and services.

    Third party provided social networking/social media tools and services used by the NWS include:
    • AddThis - a social bookmarking service allowing users to share NWS web content on their own social media accounts (like Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
       
    • FaceBook - a social networking service to bring people together to share weather, water, and climate safety messages, stories, photos, and videos.
       
    • Twitter - a micro-blogging service that allows subscribers to tag severe weather reports using a consistent "hashtag". The use of consistent "hashtags" allows local NWS offices, emergency managers, and other partners to aggregate the reports into XML feeds. The reports may be used by NWS offices to supplement reports from observation stations, Skywarn reports, and other ground truth reports.

Please also review the NWS Social Networking sites/Blogs/forums commenting policy