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Weather Belt Documentation

Weather Belt Guide

A practical guide to Weather Belt's weather context, preparedness tools, and official-alert playbooks.

Getting startedAlerts and mapReadiness CenterEvent PlaybooksWeather RadioTool BeltPersonal data connectionsPrivacy and limitsBack to Weather Belt

Getting started

Allow location access if you want Weather Belt to center the map, identify nearby weather-radio information, and keep local official alerts relevant. You can change that access in iPhone Settings at any time.

  • Open Home for local conditions and the current alert picture.
  • Open Map for radar and available public-source layers.
  • Open More -> Tool Belt for readiness tools and field references.
  • Use Settings to review source information and personal connections.

Official alerts and the map

Weather Belt presents official NWS watches, warnings, advisories, and their instructions. Map layers provide timely context around those official products.

  • Use the radar timeline to review available NOAA MRMS radar frames.
  • Turn available layers on and off from the Layers control. Source credits are available in the app.
  • Available public-source context can include SPC outlooks, tropical systems, lightning density, USGS seismic activity and river observations, FAA METAR, NDBC marine buoys, and NASA FIRMS wildfire hotspots.
  • Always follow official NWS and local emergency-management instructions first.

Readiness Center

The Readiness Center keeps a personal readiness plan on your device. It helps you prepare before an event and puts the important pieces first when an official local alert is active.

  • Add emergency contacts, a meeting place, weather-radio information, a go-bag, backup-power plans, and medication needs.
  • Check items off as you prepare. Your readiness score reflects only the information you choose to enter.
  • Add a private recovery note for later reference.
  • Use Emergency Handoff to share an update through your device's share sheet. It can include current official status, readiness progress, and your recovery note.

Readiness Center records are kept on your device.

Event Playbooks

Event Playbooks are preparation guides that appear only when Weather Belt has an active official NWS alert to anchor them. Find them in More -> Tool Belt.

  • Choose the active alert to see its official title and instruction.
  • Read the separate Weather Belt Preparation steps for tornado, flood, heat, winter, or general weather events.
  • Use the checklist to prepare your household, then return to the official alert for updates.

Playbooks do not issue warnings, predict emergencies, or provide evacuation orders.

Weather Radio

Weather Belt helps you find and use your local NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) transmitter. It supports a dedicated weather radio and responsible external listening choices.

  • Review the local station's name, frequency, SAME code, and transmitter status.
  • Use the displayed frequency and SAME code to program a compatible weather radio.
  • Select Listen in Broadcastify to open Broadcastify externally. Its account, licensing, and playback terms apply there.
  • A personal authorized stream is only for a URL you own or have explicit rights to use. Weather Belt does not suggest, catalog, test, proxy, or automatically switch third-party streams.

Tool Belt

Open More -> Tool Belt for practical utility screens that support planning and field awareness.

  • Compass and Coordinates help you orient yourself and share a location.
  • Thermal Calculator and Lightning Distance run focused weather calculations using the values you enter.
  • River Gauges and Go-Bag provide water-level context and a practical packing reference.
  • Shelter in Place and Triage Templates provide clear preparation guidance and structured messages.
  • Incident Journal keeps private notes for personal records and recovery planning.

Personal data connections

Some people already have permission to use a specialized data service. The Personal Data Connection area lets you save an authorized HTTPS endpoint locally for your own reference.

  • Only add an endpoint you own or are authorized to use.
  • Weather Belt does not store provider secrets, validate the service, activate a feed, proxy requests, or provide a data catalog.
  • Check the provider's terms and documentation before using it.

Privacy, sources, and important limits

Weather Belt is a situational-awareness and preparedness tool. It uses public and institutional sources where available, including NOAA/NWS, USGS, FAA, NDBC, NASA FIRMS, and OpenStreetMap-based map data.

  • Your readiness items, notes, and personal connection information are stored locally on your device.
  • Live map and alert data require a network connection to refresh.
  • Weather Belt cannot replace official alerts, local emergency management, a dedicated weather radio, or emergency services.
  • For immediate danger, follow official instructions and call emergency services when appropriate.