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Setting Trigger Levels for Storms
Here's a step by step outline
of how the DTD program can be set to trigger on VIP color levels in
storms.
Generally, you can use the
default DTD settings that are shipped with the program for the
sliders and you'll get a popup alert on most types of storms.
However, if you only want to trigger on very serious storms, or you
want to detect when light precipitation enters your Storm Zone area,
you may wish to changes the settings. If
you are unsure, just set both sliders to the middle.
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to the Help Home Page
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VIP LEVEL |
Color |
Precipitation
Rate/type and Description |
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Use this table
to set Storm Zone Trigger VIP Levels |
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15 |
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75 DBZ
Undetermined intense echoes or radar range folding |
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14 |
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70 DBZ 16"+
/hr Very heavy rain and hail; large hail possible. |
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13 |
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65
DBZ 8" to 16"/hr Very heavy rain; marble to golf ball sized hail possible |
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12 |
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60
DBZ 4" to 8"/hr Very heavy rain; marble size hail possible. |
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11 |
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55
DBZ 2" to 4"/hr Very heavy rain; pea to marble sized hail possible. |
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10 |
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50 DBZ 1" to
2"/hr Heavy rain; small granular or pea sized hail possible |
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9 |
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45 DBZ .50 to
1"/hr Heavy rain |
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8 |
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40 DBZ .50"/hr
Moderate to Heavy rain |
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7 |
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35 DBZ .25"/hr
moderate rain |
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6 |
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30 DBZ .10 to
.175"/hr light to moderate rain |
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5 |
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25 DBZ .075"
to .10"/hr light rain |
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4 |
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20 DBZ trace
to .05"/hr light rain |
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3 |
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15 DBZ trace
to .025"/hr |
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2 |
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10 DBZ .01"
/hr to trace mist/ground clutter |
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1 |
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5 DBZ
trace/mist/ground clutter |
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0 |
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0 DBZ no
precipitation |
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Before you
start- We suggest taking a moment to understanding Radar Color
Levels. See the Chart at left.
For
a complete overview on NEXRAD radar, click here
NOTE: DTD uses an enhanced
color table that is different from the standard color table
used by the National Weather Service. Each radar image is
"color processed" before we display it to you.
This is done to provide you with a better quality image that
is easier to interpret because it minimizes color details
that are less important in the image so you can easily spot
storms. See
more info here.
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1.
Click on the DTD Tools Icon on
the upper left of the DTD main program window.. |
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The Precipitation Threshold slider sets the
lowest
color in the radar image that will trigger
a popup Storm Alert
The Scan Sensitivity slider controls the number
of
"pixels" of the Precipitation Threshold color
required in the radar image for a storm alert to pop up.
If you are unsure how to set this control, we
suggest leaving it in the middle. |
2.
You set the Precipitation
Threshold slider to the color level that you want to be
alerted for, and set the Scan Sensitivity control to the level
you desire. This allows you to fine tune the DTD Storm Alerting
feature for the type of storms that most concern you. For
example, for severe thunderstorms that produce hail, you would
select level 9 or 10. We provide a guide to help you determine
how to set DTD for the kind of storm you want to be alerted
about. See our FAQs for more info.
Also- you can click on the
color scale in the Tools Window to get the "help color table" as
shown above. |
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5.
Close the Tools Window then
click on the Scan Icon to
initiate a new image download and scan. |
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6.
Let DTD run continuously either
in full screen mode or in minimized background mode. |
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7.
If a sufficiently strong storm
enters your personal Storm Zone, then DTD will pop up an alert
to let you know!
See
our FAQ on this subject for more info
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Return
to the Help Home Page
Copyright © 2002 ItWorks/IntelliWeather. All rights reserved.
Revised:
March 17, 2002 .
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