Tools

A variety of online tools are available for assessing bird migration and weather conditions at a variety of scales. Becoming familiar with local weather forecasts of winds, precipitation and temperature can provide insight into potential migration weather in your region. Tools like Birdcast have been developed to make this information more accessible to birders. 

This page covers additional sources of information which could be used to make more localized assessments of specific phenomenon such as groundings or fallouts of migratory birds. 

Weather Tools

Radar / Satellite

• RAP Radar - recent US NEXRAD radar data. 

• WISC Edu Radar - current high resolution view of the CONUS radar network.  

• Canadian Radar - poor functionality for viewing migratory birds but suitable for Rain/Snow. 

• GOES Great Lakes Sector - Geostationary satellite products for current clouds / water vapour. 

Be sure to check out eBirds understanding radar and birds article here. 

Surface Forecasts

At its most basic, surface forecasts provide a quick and clear method to assess air mass movements at ground level: 

• NWS Short-range Surface Forecast

• NWS Medium-range Surface Forecast

• CPC 6-10 Day Probability Forecast

• CPC 8-14 Day Probability Forecast

Marine Forecasts:

• Canadian Forecast for Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario as well as Simcoe, St. Clair and Nippising. 

• Canadian Forecast for Lake Superior, Nipigon and Lake of the Woods. 

• Great Lakes Operational Forecast System (including wind, water temperature, waves, etc.): 

  • Ontario 

  • Erie

  • Michigan-Huron

  • Superior

Ice Data:

• NOAA Snow/Ice Maps

• ECCC Ice Coverage Maps

Weather Model Data: 

• Windy.com - Several models available, updates less frequently without paid membership. Easier visualization of weather information. Includes ECMWF, GFS, 5km NAM, ICON and HRRR data. 

• TropicalTidbits.com - Wide variety of models available and updates at pace with their outputs. Website provides tutorial on first visit. 

• earth.nullschool.net - free globe-view, GFS model data only. 

Weather model data provides a numerical/mathematical, computer calculated "forecast" with an emphasis on the geography or weather phenomenon it has been designed to focus on. Here's a quick overview of frequently used weather models:

• Global, Short- to Medium-Range Forecast Systems 

  • GFS (Global Forecast System) - Output up to 364 hours, although accuracy is greater below 240 hours. Runs four times a day. 

  • ECMWF (Euro / European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) - 240 hours for public output at 00z and 12z, 90 hours at 06z and 18z.  

• Mesoscale (Short-range) Models (higher resolution for more local mesoscale conditions) 

  • NAM 3km, 5km, 12km or 32km resolutions (North American Mesoscale) - Up to 84 hours. Four runs per day. 

  • HRRR (High Resolution Rapid Refresh) - Generally 18 hours; however, 48 hours at 00z, 06z, 12z and 18z. Runs every hour. 

Storms

• SPC Convective Outlook (includes Days 1-3, 4-8) for thunderstorm potential with detailed text analysis. 

• ECCC Thunderstorm Forecasts (Days 1-3) 

• NOAA National Hurricane Center for tropical system analysis for the north Atlantic. 

Long-Range to Seasonal Outlooks

• CPC 3-4 Week Outlook (updates on Friday)

• ENSO Discussion (weekly) 

• NAO Forecast

• AO Forecast

• MJO Forecast

• GEFS North American Weather Regime Forecast

• CPC Three-Month Outlooks (monthly) 

Historical Weather

• NWS Archived Surface Analysis Maps from 1985-today 

• NWS Surface Map Archive - 2005-today

• Climate Data Online, long-term ECCC historical observation by Canadian weather station. 

• earth.nullschool.net - has functionality for historical information as well as current GFS model data.