NWS & NEXRAD Live Storm & Tornado Tracker

An interactive WordPress storm-tracking map combining NWS/RainViewer radar, NEXRAD radar, NWS active alerts, NOAA/NWS MRMS ProbSevere storm information, location tools, search, and multiple basemaps.

Features

• NWS/RainViewer radar as the default radar source.
• Optional NEXRAD radar using Iowa Environmental Mesonet data.
• Radar source switcher so visitors can switch between NWS/RainViewer and NEXRAD.
• Radar animation with play/pause controls.
• Adjustable radar animation speed.
• Latest radar frame available when the map starts.
• NWS active weather warnings and alerts.
• Clickable NWS warning polygons with additional information.
• NOAA/NWS MRMS ProbSevere storm-cell information.
• Storm-cell polygons with color-coded probability categories.
• Snow/winter alert polygons.
• Browser-based My Location support.
• Manual location/address search.
• CARTO Dark Canvas basemap.
• OpenStreetMap basemap fallback.
• Esri Satellite basemap.
• Storm Map Key / legend.
• Responsive Leaflet-based map.
• WordPress AJAX proxies for weather data requests.
• Configurable startup radar source.
• Configurable startup radar scan state.
• Configurable startup zoom level.
• Shortcode support.

Installation

1. Deactivate and uninstall any previous version of the Storm Tracker plugin if you are replacing an older installation.
2. Upload storm-tracker-2.0.13.zip through WordPress → Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin.
3. Activate NWS & NEXRAD Live Storm & Tornado Tracker (Full Suite).
4. Go to Settings → NWS & NEXRAD Storm Tracker.
5. Configure the startup radar source, scan state, zoom, and optional CARTO API key.
6. Add the shortcode to the WordPress page where you want the storm map displayed.

Shortcode

Use this shortcode to display the storm tracker:

[storm_map]

The shortcode can be placed in a WordPress page, post, shortcode block, or another location that supports WordPress shortcodes.

Radar Sources

NWS Radar / RainViewer

This is the default radar source in version 2.0.13. It provides recent radar frames that can be animated through the radar controls.

NEXRAD Radar

NEXRAD is an optional second radar source using Iowa Environmental Mesonet NEXRAD data. NEXRAD radar imagery is based on five-minute radar intervals.

Visitors can switch between the available radar sources without leaving the map.

Radar Controls

The radar control provides animation controls and a timeline for the available radar frames. The plugin can be configured to start with scanning enabled or disabled.

Default Radar Source

Choose whether the map starts with:

• NWS Radar (RainViewer)
• NEXRAD Radar

Visitors can still change the radar source from the map control.

Default Radar Scan

Choose whether radar animation automatically starts when the map loads:

• On — radar scanning starts automatically.
• Off — the map starts paused and the visitor can press Play.

Default Startup Zoom

The startup zoom can be set from 3 through 12. Lower numbers show a wider area, while higher numbers provide a closer view.

NWS Active Alerts

The plugin retrieves active NWS alerts through the official weather.gov API. Warnings and alerts are displayed as map polygons and can be clicked for more information.

The plugin requests active actual NWS alerts and processes them through a WordPress AJAX proxy.

MRMS ProbSevere

The tracker also retrieves NOAA/NWS MRMS ProbSevere information and displays storm-cell information on the map.

ProbSevere polygon categories include:

• Snow/Winter alerts: blue/cyan
• Normal ProbSevere storm cells: purple
• High tornado probability: magenta
• High hail probability: orange
• High wind probability: yellow
• High overall ProbSevere: red/orange

My Location

The My Location control uses the visitor's browser geolocation capability to center the map on the visitor's current location when permission is granted.

The visitor's browser must allow location access for this feature to work.

Location Search

The map includes a location/address search control. Visitors can search for a location and move the map to that location.

Basemaps

CARTO Dark

The plugin supports a CARTO Dark Canvas basemap. A CARTO Basemaps API key can be entered under:

Settings → NWS & NEXRAD Storm Tracker

A free CARTO Basemaps API key can be obtained from the CARTO Basemaps dashboard.

CARTO Basemaps Dashboard

OpenStreetMap

If no CARTO API key is entered, the plugin can use OpenStreetMap as the basemap.

Esri Satellite

An Esri Satellite basemap is also available for satellite imagery.

Storm Map Key

The Storm Map Key explains the warning and storm-cell colors used on the map. The legend is displayed directly on the Leaflet map and identifies the different types of active weather information.

WordPress Settings

Open:

WordPress Dashboard → Settings → NWS & NEXRAD Storm Tracker

The available settings include:

• Default Radar Source
• Default Radar Scan
• Default Startup Zoom
• CARTO Basemaps API Key

Updating the Plugin

When installing a new version, deactivate/remove the previous version as directed by the plugin documentation, then upload and activate the new ZIP.

Troubleshooting

The map does not load

Make sure the plugin is active and that the page contains:

[storm_map]

Also check the browser developer console for JavaScript errors and make sure the site can load the Leaflet libraries used by the plugin.

The map is blank

Check that external map/data services are reachable and that the page is not blocking required HTTPS resources. Browser caching or a WordPress optimization plugin can also interfere with JavaScript files.

CARTO does not work

Verify the CARTO API key under the plugin settings. If the key is left blank, OpenStreetMap can be used instead.

NWS alerts are not appearing

Check that the WordPress server can make outbound HTTPS requests to the NWS API. The plugin uses a WordPress server-side proxy for the alert request.

ProbSevere information is not appearing

ProbSevere data depends on NOAA/NWS MRMS data availability and the ability of the WordPress server to retrieve the current MRMS data files.

My Location does not work

Make sure the visitor has allowed location access in the browser. Browser geolocation is normally restricted to secure HTTPS sites and requires user permission.

External Data Services

This plugin uses public weather and mapping services including:

• National Weather Service / NOAA
• RainViewer radar data
• Iowa Environmental Mesonet NEXRAD data
• NOAA/NWS MRMS ProbSevere data
• OpenStreetMap
• CARTO
• Esri mapping services

Privacy

The normal storm map does not require a visitor account or an API key. The My Location feature uses the visitor's browser geolocation only when the visitor activates the feature and grants browser permission.

License

This plugin is released under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.

GNU GPL v2 License

Disclaimer

Do not rely solely on this plugin for making life-safety, travel, or critical operational decisions.

Radar imagery, storm-cell estimates, warnings, and other weather information can change rapidly. Always use official National Weather Service warnings and other appropriate emergency information when severe weather threatens.