Forecast Maps

Forecast maps show what weather models predict over a whole region — temperature, precipitation, wind and more — on the same map as your live observations. Play the forecast forward to see where the rain is heading, or read the value predicted at any point.

Forecast maps are part of the weather map in the web app:

1. Open Weathermap from the main navigation (Map on a phone).
2. Next to the search box, choose Forecast.

Choose Observations to go back to live conditions. The map keeps its place when you switch, and the address of the page keeps the forecast you are looking at, so you can bookmark or share it.

Forecast maps need a free SmartMixin account. If you are not signed in, choosing Forecast opens Sign in to see forecast maps: choose Log in or Create account, and you come straight back to the forecast.

The column of buttons on the right of the map chooses what the forecast shows: Temperature, Precipitation, Wind or Cloud cover. Point at a button, or reach it with the keyboard, to see its name. A variable that only Premium models provide is marked as Premium.

The button at the top left of the map, under the search box, names the model drawn. By default it is on Auto: the map shows the most detailed model that covers the area you are looking at, and picks again each time you move or zoom the map. On a free account it reads Auto · GFS, followed by the model's grid spacing.

To choose a model yourself, click that button. The list shows the models In this area first — with, for a model that covers only part of your view, how much of it — then the models for Other areas; Show area moves the map to a model's area. Pick the Auto row at the top of the list to go back to Auto.

See Understanding Forecast Models for what each model is.

GFS forecast maps are free with any SmartMixin account, everywhere in the world: in the list, Auto reads Free accounts use GFS. Premium adds every other model, including high-resolution regional ones such as AROME over France or ICON-D2 over Germany. Premium models show a lock in the list; choosing one shows you what Premium includes instead of opening it. See Premium Features.

The bar at the bottom of the map steps through the forecast. Press play to animate it, or drag the slider to a time. Each time is shown in your local time, with UTC beside it.

Click Map settings (bottom right) to see the forecast shown, under Forecast maps: its name, a short description and the model run it comes from. When the map has extra layers — isolines, wind barbs or fronts — Layers gives each one a switch, and Wind animation turns the moving wind particles on or off.

Click anywhere on the map to read the forecast value at that point, for the time shown. The Value at map centre button, above Map settings, does the same for the centre of the map, which it marks with a crosshair — useful with the keyboard. Press Escape to close the value.

A few forecasts can't be drawn on the interactive map. The map then says so and offers Open as animation, which plays the forecast's pre-rendered images instead.

• Using the weather map
• Understanding forecast models
• Premium features