XCSkies updated 2019.. last few months - Faster, smoother better UI

Walt WX here...

Just reviewed XCSkies and noted that the UI works a lot better and is more polished. Performance is much faster. Includes easy comparison between the GFS, NAM 3KM, NAM 12KM, HRRR and RAP. It also adds the German ICON 13km global model and ICON 6.5km Eureope regional model.

I was impressed... & just renewed my $39.95/year

No announcement or updates from Chris Galli



Walt Rogers WX

Here a screen showing the GFS thermal height/time forecast for next 5 days at Mountain Valley Airport (Tehachapi, California). Shows winds, cloud bases, etc. This seems to work a lot better than on the previous UI of XCSkies.

Good for long term planning:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rsyeag9mfn...0709.jpg?raw=1

Walt WX

On Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 7:20:08 PM UTC-4, WaltWX wrote:
Here a screen showing the GFS thermal height/time forecast for next 5 days at Mountain Valley Airport (Tehachapi, California). Shows winds, cloud bases, etc. This seems to work a lot better than on the previous UI of XCSkies.

Good for long term planning:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rsyeag9mfn...0709.jpg?raw=1

Walt WX

I found the height/time plot to be the most useful part of XCskies when I tried it out some time back. I liked the 3-day format they used then better than the current 5-day format, for two reasons: it fit way better on the screen without making it all look tiny, and more than 3 days out the forecasts are rather inaccurate anyway. But in any case I find that seeing the time development through the day like that is very helpful.

"No announcement or updates from Chris Galli"

Well at least he's consistent

On Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 7:48:42 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 7:20:08 PM UTC-4, WaltWX wrote:
Here a screen showing the GFS thermal height/time forecast for next 5 days at Mountain Valley Airport (Tehachapi, California). Shows winds, cloud bases, etc. This seems to work a lot better than on the previous UI of XCSkies.

Good for long term planning:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rsyeag9mfn...0709.jpg?raw=1

Walt WX

I found the height/time plot to be the most useful part of XCskies when I tried it out some time back. I liked the 3-day format they used then better than the current 5-day format, for two reasons: it fit way better on the screen without making it all look tiny, and more than 3 days out the forecasts are rather inaccurate anyway. But in any case I find that seeing the time development through the day like that is very helpful.

3-day PointCast charts are available. The width of the chart depends on the selected weather model. The upper left corner of Walt's image shows that the chart is for the GFS model, which goes out to 5 days. NAM 3 and RAP give 3-day charts, and HRRR somewhat less.

Changing the model selected for the main map window updates the PointCast chart without having the close and re-open the chart.

Cheers,
...david