Live Weather (METAR Decoder) Mod

[alpenman]

Hello All,

I have created a spreadsheet that can decode a METAR code and make a weather theme out of it (non-3d weather only). I have released an initial version of this mod on my website.

https://alpenfreight.wordpress.com/port ... r-decoder/

Basic overview is the ability to input an origin and destination METAR code as well as a transition length. The spreadsheet should convert the METAR into Railworks weather XML format and allow you to sim in reasonably realistic conditions. I have tried over 100 weather codes during testing and all produce great conditions.

I hope some people enjoy this mod. Please let me know if there are any errors and I will correct them!

[xguerra]

Looks awesome! I will certainly give it a try!

[secludedsfx]

Definitely a cool tool and one I've been waiting for for a while.

Noticed that it only reads US METAR reports correctly though, with European ones it doesn't understand visibility being in digits like 9999 or anything to do with thunderstorms.

[alpenman]

Definitely a cool tool and one I've been waiting for for a while.

Noticed that it only reads US METAR reports correctly though, with European ones it doesn't understand visibility being in digits like 9999 or anything to do with thunderstorms.

It actually does read euro visibility correctly, you will see it picks up the 4 digit visibility code. You can ignore one of the calculated fields that will show an error, that isnt used.

Can you explain more the Thunderstorm issue? Is there a difference in how European Reports show Thunderstorms? Right now it ahould pick up lightening in some scenarios although I could probably make that more robust.

[smarty2]

I would like to ask (in ignorance) a question, can these conversions be uploaded to the file library for us non tech types to use or does it not work like that?

[alpenman]

I would like to ask (in ignorance) a question, can these conversions be uploaded to the file library for us non tech types to use or does it not work like that?

It would be easy to upload single themes, but the tool allows you to create real weather as frequently as it changes. So things aren't static anymore.

[smarty2]

A tutorial for numbskull's like me on how to use it then?

[alpenman]

A tutorial for numbskull's like me on how to use it then?

Absolutely, it's on the download page here:

https://alpenfreight.wordpress.com/port ... r-decoder/

[rlmathers]

Hi Alpenman

Tried weather locations East Midlands EGNX, Leeds/Bradford EGNM
Data entered into spreadsheet .xml and .bin files created.
Using Assets\Kuju\RailSimulatorCore\Weather\weather1.bin in North Lincolnshire route.
Weather displayed OK
This routine definitely works for UK locations, if not a tad laborious for daily weather patterns.
Thank you for creating the Live Weather (METAR Decoder) Mod.

Kindest regards
Ray

[alpenman]

Great to hear it works well. I actually have a new update here which addresses a couple small issues:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... ItX10/copy

[alpenman]

New Update today

https://alpenfreight.wordpress.com/port ... r-decoder/

v1.5
- Added a few exceptions to stop rain from occurring on non-raining days
- Added an option to set a max viewable distance (Defaults to 10 miles). This can be used to set where the blue fog appears on a clear day. I believe 10 miles looks accurate due to the short render distance in Railworks to begin with. If you have a route with good textured mountains then this can perhaps be set further.
- Added a field to rename the weather pattern.

[alpenman]

New Update today,

https://alpenfreight.wordpress.com/port ... r-decoder/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 5otp8/copy

V1.6
- Fixed some incorrect viewing distances at low visibility
- Made some calculations more efficient