How Do I Map Current Weather Warnings?

Last Updated: June 9, 2025

You can import, map, and analyze The National Weather Service’s (NWS) GIS weather warnings using mapping software. The NHC provides vital GIS (Geographic Information System) data that is essential for tracking various weather events and severe weather warnings. For professionals and enthusiasts alike, leveraging this data in Maptitude, a leading GIS software platform, can unlock powerful insights for planning, analysis, and decision-making. In this guide, we will explore how to effectively use NWS GIS data with Maptitude to visualize current weather warnings.

Table of Contents

1. Download and Install Software
2. Accessing NWS GIS Data
3. Importing NWS GIS Data into Maptitude
4. Analyzing NWS Data in Maptitude

Step 1: Download and Install Software

• Download and install a free trial of Maptitude mapping software, or use your own license of desktop Maptitude.

Step 2: Accessing NWS GIS Data

The first step in utilizing the NWS data with Maptitude is accessing the GIS resources available on their website.

• Visit the NHC GIS page: Navigate to the NWS GIS page where you can find different data packages ranging from current weather information such as “Current Weather Warnings” to forecasts such as “Significant River Flood Outlook”.
• Select the appropriate data: Choose the data layers that are most relevant to your analysis. In our case, the package of interest is the “Current Weather Warnings”. 
• Download and extract the data: Once you’ve selected the necessary package, download them to your computer and, after it is downloaded, unzip the folders to extract the data. 

Step 3: Importing NWS GIS Data into Maptitude

Once you’ve obtained the NWS GIS data, the next step is to import it into Maptitude for further analysis.

1. Open Maptitude: Start by launching Maptitude software.
2. Create a new map: Go to New map of United States > United States > Finish
3. Import the NWS shapefiles:
   • In the top menu, click Map > Layers… > Add Layer 
   • Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the GIS data and select the appropriate file. In this case, it should be called “current_all.shp”. If you cannot see it, make sure you are filtering for .shp files. 
   • Follow the prompts to add the data to your map.
4. Review and adjust the map layers: Once imported, the data will appear as a new map layer. You can adjust the styling, layer order, and labeling to make the information more accessible and visually intuitive.

Step 4: Analyzing NWS Data in Maptitude

Now that your GIS data is imported, you can begin analyzing and visualizing the information. Maptitude’s powerful GIS tools enable you to perform various types of analysis.

1. Add color theme for product type:
   • One great way to analyze the data is to create a color theme on the imported layer based on product type (this is another name for weather warning type). This will help convey what time of weather alert is being reported in an area. To create a color theme, first right click the current_all layer and select Make Working Layer. Then, click Map > Thematic Mapping > Color… Make sure the field is set to PROD_TYPE. 
   • To ensure the theme is clear, double click the Theme dropdown under the current_all layer in the display manager and then click the tab Styles. Uncheck the Use Border Styles checkbox. Click Ok.
2. Overlay Weather Data with Other Layers:
   • • You can overlay the various weather warnings with other layers, such as population density, critical infrastructure, or transportation routes.
     • This helps to assess the potential impact of severe weather on communities and essential services.
3. Create Buffers and Zones of Potential Impact:
   • • Use Maptitude’s buffer tool to create zones around areas with major weather warnings such as “Flood Watch” or “Severe Thunderstorm Watch”. This can help in estimating the areas most likely to experience severe weather conditions, allowing for better preparedness planning.
4. Run Proximity Analyses:
   • • Determine how close key infrastructure or populated areas are to predicted areas of impact using proximity analysis tools in Maptitude. This information can be vital for emergency management and evacuation planning. Examples of this are locating hospitals or schools in the vicinity. 

Conclusion

Utilizing NWS’s GIS data with Maptitude offers a powerful way to visualize and analyze severe weather patterns and their potential impacts. By integrating current weather warnings, you can enhance your spatial analyses and support better decision-making in weather forecasting, emergency management, and risk assessment.