The embedded map shows NEXRAD base reflectivity — the amount of precipitation in the air — as a static image from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, which serves official NWS Doppler radar tiles. It is a single snapshot, not an animation. Colored polygons (when present) are official NWS warning areas.
What do the colors on the radar mean?▾
Colors show precipitation intensity. Light blue and green indicate light rain, green indicates moderate rain, yellow indicates heavy rain, orange indicates very heavy rain, red indicates intense rain, and magenta indicates hail or the most intense storms. A readable legend appears below the map.
Can I play or pause the radar loop on this dashboard?▾
No. The embedded radar is a static snapshot that refreshes automatically about every 5 minutes. There is no play/pause control or timeline slider on this dashboard. For an animated radar loop with play/pause and a timeline, use the "Full screen" link to open Windy, a separate third-party site that animates NWS Doppler data.
What is the difference between the embedded radar and the Windy link?▾
The embedded map is a static NEXRAD snapshot from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet (official NWS radar tiles). The "Full screen" link opens Windy, a separate third-party website that animates radar and offers additional layers. Windy is not run by the NWS; it repackages NWS data.
What is the difference between reflectivity and velocity radar?▾
Reflectivity (what this site shows) measures how much precipitation is in the air. Velocity radar shows wind direction and speed within a storm, which helps meteorologists detect rotation and potential tornadoes. Velocity data is available on the NWS radar site but not on this dashboard.
Why is there sometimes a clear circle around the radar site?▾
The radar beam tilts upward at a slight angle, so very close to the radar station the beam is too high to detect low-level precipitation. This creates a "cone of silence" — a small clear area near the station. The nearest NWS radar to Paulding County is in Peachtree City (KFFC).
How often does the radar update?▾
NWS Doppler radar scans approximately every 4–6 minutes. The embedded snapshot on this site refreshes about every 5 minutes. The scan timestamp shown in the map header is the time of the radar frame currently displayed.
Understanding Alert Levels
What is the difference between a Watch and a Warning?▾
A Watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop — stay alert and be ready to act. A Warning means severe weather is occurring or imminent — take action now. A Watch is "be prepared," a Warning is "take action."
What do the alert severity levels mean?▾
NWS alerts use four severity levels: Extreme (take action immediately, life-threatening), Severe (significant threat, take action), Moderate (possible threat, stay informed), and Minor (low threat, be aware). The alert banner color matches: red for Extreme/Severe, amber for Moderate, yellow for Minor.
What alert types should I know for Paulding County?▾
The most common alerts in our area are Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Flood Watch, Special Weather Statement, and Wind Advisory. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings are less frequent but do occur.
How do I know if an alert applies to Paulding County specifically?▾
The alert banner on this dashboard only shows alerts that are active for the Paulding County geographic point (33.92°N, 84.84°W). The "Area" field (visible when you expand an alert) lists the specific counties affected.
What should I do when I see the alert banner?▾
Click the expand arrow (chevron) to read the full alert description and any instructions from the NWS. Red banners (Warnings) require immediate action — see the Safety Guide. Amber and yellow banners (Advisories/Watches) mean you should stay informed and prepare.
Using the Dashboard
Where does the weather data come from?▾
Current conditions and forecasts come from the National Weather Service API (api.weather.gov), which pulls from the nearest official observation station. Radar imagery comes from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, which serves official NWS Doppler radar tiles as a static snapshot. An external link to Windy is provided for an animated radar loop. Social feeds are embedded directly from Facebook.
How often does the data refresh?▾
Active alerts refresh every 60 seconds. Current conditions refresh every 3 minutes. The forecast refreshes every 10 minutes. The radar snapshot refreshes about every 5 minutes. The page does not need to be manually refreshed — data updates automatically.
What do the numbers in the Current Conditions panel mean?▾
The large number is the current temperature in Fahrenheit. "Feels Like" accounts for heat index (humidity) or wind chill. Wind shows speed and direction. Humidity is the relative humidity percentage. Pressure is barometric pressure in inches of mercury. Visibility is in miles.
How do I use the Social Intelligence Stream?▾
Click the tabs at the top of the social panel to switch between PC Weather & Prep (Facebook) and Paulding County EMA (Facebook). These feeds provide real-time commentary and updates from local weather experts and official emergency management.
What does the footer status indicator mean?▾
The footer shows one of several states: "NO ACTIVE NWS ALERTS" (green) means a successful alert check found no active alerts for Paulding County. "ADVISORY ACTIVE" (amber) means a minor or moderate alert is in effect. "WARNING ACTIVE" (red) means a Severe or Extreme alert is in effect — take action immediately. "ALERTS UNAVAILABLE" or "STALE DATA" (amber) means the dashboard could not reach the NWS — do not assume conditions are safe; check official sources.
Is this site an official government source?▾
No. This is a community dashboard that aggregates data from official sources (NWS, Windy, Paulding County EMA social media). For official warnings, always rely on NOAA Weather Radio, the NWS website, or official emergency alerts on your phone.