Map Screen

The Map Screen is where you can view weather information in a graphical format.  This can be extremely useful when looking for certain kinds of weather, planning, and monitoring weather during your flight.

The main map view is shown in the center with the map controls available on the right and below the actual map view.

"Zoom" allows you to zoom in and out.  There is a 5nm minimum and 5000nm maximum zoom range, with most weather graphics having a maximum display range of 3000nm.

The next items are the Pan buttons and allow you to move in any direction.  The center button will center and lock on your current aircraft position (if FSX active).

The "Seek Station" field allows you to type in any valid ICAO code, press Go!, and have that station centered on the map screen.

"Lock to FS position" keeps the map centered and locked on your current aircraft position (if FSX active).

The "Legends" button brings up a helpful legend indicating what each graphical weather icon represents.

"Winds Level" allows you to show the next higher or lower wind altitude level.

Below the map view are the Overlay Toggle Buttons which turn on and off certain visual elements of the map:

• Stations: Shows all weather stations (not airports).  Weather stations are the locations that actually report weather information. The stations are color coded for ease of identifying which stations have reported weather and which are interpolated. The blue stations are showing reported weather data and the purple stations have no actual data and show interpolated weather information.

• Airports: Shows all airports (not stations).  Airports can have weather stations located at or adjacent to airports, but this is not always the case.

• Route: Graphically shows your route based on the flight plan specified (use the Briefing Screen to specify a flight plan).

• Clouds: Shows a graphical indication of cloud coverage.

• Precipitation: Shows precipitation including rain and snow.

• Visibility: This will show areas with less than 9SM visibility.

• Winds: Shows the wind direction via arrow icons for the currently specified Winds Level.

You can see extended information about any station/airport and its weather conditions by simply moving your mouse over the station icon.  The following pop-up window will appear:

You can also click on a station, once to select it, and once to bring up the Report Screen for that station.

Finally, if you click anywhere on the map the map will center on that position.  If "Lock to Aircraft Position" is checked the first click on map will disable Lock, and the second will enable centering.  You can also use your mouse's scroll wheel to zoom in and out when the cursor is over the map screen.

Notes:

• When using X Gauge, control of the Map Screen is limited.  X Gauge's currently-indicated toggles may take precedence.  You can still use the Map Screen, but the last button pressed in X Gauge or the Map Screen will always "take control", causing unsynchronized toggles.  If you notice a discrepancy, simply click a toggle or zoom setting in X Gauge or the Map Screen to restore things appropriately.

• Stations that do not report weather information will not show graphical weather icons.  This is a performance consideration.  The pop-up information and weather depicted will be generated from nearby station data but the graphical weather icons may not be consistent.

• Hurricanes will be shown at any zoom range under 5000nm.  They cannot be toggled.  Hurricanes are depicted from live (or historical) actual data.

• The imagery provided is a basic representation of weather conditions and not exact to the depiction that will be experienced in the simulator.  Boundaries of precipitation zones, for example, may be different.

Map Legends