Before you travel, know which way the wind blows

  • By Elissa Leibowitz / The Washington Post
  • Saturday, August 28, 2004 9:00pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

We’re in the depths of hurricane season, a fact reinforced by Charley’s recent devastating path through Florida. The storms, however, can also wreak havoc on travel plans, whether you’re vacationing in a spot affected by a hurricane, heading there on business or simply flying through en route to another destination. While watching TV newscasts is one way to stay informed, that’s not an option if you’re glued to your desk. Here’s a look at four all-weather Web sites that track storms and provide general forecasts – and, ultimately, help travelers.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

www.noaa.gov

A weather geek’s paradise, this dry but fascinating site is packed with official weather reports, historical data, news and tips. Local forecasts (short and long term) are updated frequently, as are warnings for your area. Provides forecasts for U.S. only.

Cool Features: Pretend you’re a TV forecaster and evaluate satellite images and color-drenched maps. Graphics show temperature, dew point, sky cover and wind, among others. (For slightly fewer bells and whistles, head to weather.gov, the National Weather Service’s site.)

The site contains constantly updated forecasts, satellite images and warnings. Clicking on “Get the latest on hurricanes and tropical storms from NOAA” takes you to the National Hurricane Center and its bounty of tips, plus the latest advisories on a storm’s strength, strike probabilities and maps plotting its path.

Weather Channel

www.weather.com

This snazzy site is a traveler’s best friend. Monitor air quality and airport delays in your destination, or check ski and golf conditions. You can also whine about airport security lines in the aviation message board. Provides domestic/international forecasts.

Cool Features: Choose a temperature/month/region or a theme (such as “Beach Bum”), and the site’s Vacation Planner tells you where to go.

Besides frequently updated summaries on a hurricane’s progress provided by staff meteorologists, you’ll also find reports on the havoc it’s wreaking on air and highway travel.

Weather Underground

www.wunderground.com

A non-weather geek’s paradise, this site is geared toward those who like their weather over-easy. Sure, there’s plenty of historical data, UV forecasts and wind-chill indexes, but they’re boiled down into easy-to-read forecasts and color-coded maps. Provides domestic/international forecasts.

Cool Features: Programmable constellation maps show the stars’ positions from your latitude and longitude.

If NOAA’s reporting is above your head, look at easy-to-read tricolor maps that show a hurricane’s location, its expected path and when it will cross certain spots. Official advisories and updates are included, but don’t go here for loads of details and historical data.

AccuWeather

www.accuweather.com

This site seems tailor-made for the traveler on the go, with weather reports along interstates, all-in-one weather maps and forecasts catered to golf, ski or water-sports enthusiasts. Other features include 15-day forecasts and fun “world’s hot spot” graphics. Provides domestic/international forecasts.

Cool Features: An animated weathercaster delivers the national forecast each day in local-news style … but not without a nod to the drug company that sponsors it. A “Weather Glossary” on the home page’s left column makes sense of scientific mumbo-jumbo.

“Expert senior forecaster”/body builder Joe Bastardi shares his “bulldog intuition” of hurricanes – for a price (a monthly fee of $14.95). Who needs him when you can track storms with simple position and movement maps that are updated four times daily? Learn trivia such as how the storms develop and which hurricane names have been retired.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum (Olivia Vanni / The herald)
Fun for all ages: The best places for family adventures

From thrilling activities to relaxing outings, here’s where to make unforgettable family memories!

Everett P. Fog, 15, in front of an Everett mural along Colby Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hello, Everett! No escape when your name is same as the town

Everett P. Fog, 15, sees and hears his first name wherever he goes. His middle name is also epic.

Jared Meads takes a breath after dunking in an ice bath in his back yard while his son Fallen, 5, reads off the water temperature on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chill out: Dive into the cold plunge craze

Plungers say they get mental clarity and relief for ails in icy water in tubs, troughs and clubs.

Schack exhibit to highlight Camano Island watercolorists

“Four Decades of Friendship: John Ebner & John Ringen” will be on display Jan. 16 through Feb. 9.

XRT Trim Adds Rugged Features Designed For Light Off-Roading
Hyundai Introduces Smarter, More Capable Tucson Compact SUV For 2025

Innovative New Convenience And Safety Features Add Value

Sequoia photo provided by Toyota USA Newsroom
If Big Is Better, 2024 Toyota Sequoia Is Best

4WD Pro Hybrid With 3-Rows Elevates Full-Size

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser (Provided by Toyota).
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser revives its roots

After a 3-year hiatus, the go-anywhere SUV returns with a more adventurous vibe.

Enjoy the wilderness in the CX-50. Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda CX-50 Adds Hybrid Capability to Turbo Options

Line-Up Receives More Robust List Of Standard Equipment

Practical And Functional bZ4X basks in sunshine. Photo provided by Toyota Newsroom.
2024 bZ4X Puts Toyota Twist On All-Electric SUV’s

Modern Styling, Tech & All-Wheel Drive Highlight

Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus Hatch Delivers Value

Plus Functionality of AWD And G-Vectoring

2025 Mazda CX-90 Turbo SUV (Provided by Mazda)
2025 CX-90 Turbo models get Mazda’s most powerful engine

Mazda’s largest-ever SUV is equipped to handle the weight, with fuel efficiency kept in check.

Provided by Bridges Pets, Gifts, & Water Gardens.
Discover where to find the best pet supplies in town

Need the perfect store to spoil your furry friends? Herald readers have you covered.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.