NOAA Weather Plus discussions

what is the string that should be used to trigger rain count:
Current Condition = "Rain", "rain", "is raining" "mix", ??

tried to figure it out from the images , not really sure.

NOAA Condition+nra.png ==> "nra" ? (strange coincidence) shows a png with rain

Karl

You can find the full list of NOAA weather conditions from this page.

that is complicated ... so i guess

- if device NOAAPlusXXX CurrentCondition contains "Rain"
should cover any rainy condition.

could do more sophisticated:
- contains "Rain" : increment by 1
- contains "Heavy": increment by 1 (through 2. scheduled action with same interval) , count Heavy Rain twice


thanks

Karl

Yea, they have lots of weather conditions.

I use "Rain", "Showers", and "Thunderstorm" for my 3 conditions to check if there's precipitation. As you suggest, one could attribute some kind of scale to each if they wanted to gage severity or intensity for rainfall amounts.

just checked it once more..
we are missing is Drizzle, Light Drizzle and Heavy Drizzle .. actually don't know the difference between heavy drizzle and rain

I guess the scale might be:

Light Drizzle
Drizzle
Heavy Drizzle
Light Rain
Rain
Heavy Rain

its getting really complicated ..


so a scale could be in integers assuming linear increases between the levels
( or if it is eg a factor of 4 between each level one would need to eg quadruple the numbers for each consecutive level .. 1 4 16 64 256 102 )
Light Drizzle =1 ( or 1 if quadruple)
Drizzle = 2 (or 4 if quadruple
Heavy Drizzle = 3 ( or 16 if quadruple)
Light Rain = 4 (or 64 if quadruple)
Rain = 5 or (256 if quadruple)
Heavy Rain = 6 (or 1024 if quadruple)

counting every 15 minutes

in the morning before sprinkler runs check
- for total count > 12 = 16 minutes of heavy rain or ... or 3 hours of light drizzle. (linear scale)
- for total count of > 1024 = 15 minutes of heavy rain or 256 hours of light drizzle (quadruple scale)


Karl

definition of intensity from Wkipedia: (it seems to be a factor of 4 between levels)
Precipitation is measured using a rain gauge. When classified according to the rate of precipitation, rain can be divided into categories. Very light rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of less than 0.25 millimetres (0.0098 in) per hour. Light rain describes rainfall which falls at a rate of between 0.25 millimetres (0.0098 in) and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) per hour. Moderate rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of between 1 millimetre (0.039 in) and 4 millimetres (0.16 in) per hour. Heavy rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of between 4 millimetres (0.16 in) and 16 millimetres (0.63 in) per hour. Very heavy rain terminology can be used when the precipitation rate is between 16 millimetres (0.63 in) and 50 millimetres (2.0 in) per hour. Extreme rain can describe rainfall with precipitation rates exceeding 50 millimetres (2.0 in) per hour.[11]

looks like in Texas we either have no or very heavy rain

I think your scale would work quite well. I don't think we get enough rain in this part of California to warrant that level of precision. But it certainly could be helpful in areas that receive rain more frequently and at widely varying intensities.

Ha, yea. Texas doesn't do anything half-assed.

This apple script should deliver actual rain of the last 20 hours to enable indigo to decide at 2 am if sprinkler should run.
All directions are in the code.

Code: Select all

(* estimate current rain from NOAA information
convert NOA information to actual rain per hour and accumulated rain over a day to be used e.g. as accumulated rain  in sprinkler schedule

Author Karl Wachs
date 8/24/2013
Version  0.11 fixed constants

please use as you see fit and post changes.



First:
create variable    ===>  "rainCount"
create variable  ==> "NoaaCondition"


A)
This script must be called every 15 minutes in a scheduled action eg "NoaaRainCount"
Create scheduled Action NoaaRainCount and copy this applescript into the script action

-  first action:  copy device state current condition of YOUR NOAA device into variable NoaaCondition
-  second  action:  execute this script


B)
create scheduled action resetRainCount
1. schedule at 6am once every day
2. action: Modify variable  rainCount, set to 0



C)
some minutes before sprinkler run (eg 2 am)  check variable rainCount.  Its value gives the rain estimate of the last 20 hours in inches
eg    if rainCount > 0.5  dont run sprinkler today



definitions:

Rain intensity from Wkipedia: (it seems to be a factor of 4 between levels)
Precipitation is measured using a rain gauge. When classified according to the rate of precipitation, rain can be divided into categories. Very light rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of less than 0.25 millimetres (0.0098 in) per hour. Light rain describes rainfall which falls at a rate of between 0.25 millimetres (0.0098 in) and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) per hour. Moderate rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of between 1 millimetre (0.039 in) and 4 millimetres (0.16 in) per hour. Heavy rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of between 4 millimetres (0.16 in) and 16 millimetres (0.63 in) per hour. Very heavy rain terminology can be used when the precipitation rate is between 16 millimetres (0.63 in) and 50 millimetres (2.0 in) per hour. Extreme rain can describe rainfall with precipitation rates exceeding 50 millimetres (2.0 in) per hour.[11]



We use NOAA terms. These "words" are in the device state "Current Condition" :
assuming that "moderate rain" from wikipedia is equivalent to "Rain" in NOAA we define:

Light Drizzle = 1
Drizzle =4
Heavy Drizzle = 16
Light Rain = 64
Rain = 256
Heavy Rain = 1024

multiplier light / regular / heavy :  1 / 4 / 16

so regular rain gives
multiplier(4) * Rain = 4*64 = 256
regular rain = (4 mm+1mm  ) /2  = 3mm = 0.118 inches per hour

so a value of 256 is equivalent to 0.118 inches per hour. 
This script is called 4 times per hour

example:
NOAA  "Current Condition" of

- "Rain" will add 0.118/4 = 0.029 inches to rainCount  (that would be 0.118 inches in 1 hour)
- "Heavy Rain" will add  0.029*4 = 0.119 inches to rainCount  (that would be 0.47 inches in 1 hour)
...
- "Light Drizzle" will add 0.0285/256 =  0.00014 inches of rain

these numbers need to be verified (difficult in Dallas)
*)

set inchPerRainUnit to = 0.0289 / 256  -- = amount of regular rain in 15 minutes

tell application "IndigoServer"
   set currentCondition to (get value of variable "NoaaCondition") as text
   set rainCount to (get value of variable "rainCount") as text
end tell

set drizzleRain to 0
if currentCondition contains "Drizzle" then set drizzleRain to 1
if currentCondition contains "Rain" then set drizzleRain to 64

if drizzleRain > 0 then -- do something only if there is any precipitation, otherwise end
   set rainMultiplier to 4
   if currentCondition contains "Light" then set rainMultiplier to 1
   if currentCondition contains "Heavy" then set rainMultiplier to 16
   set valueToAdd to rainMultiplier * drizzleRain * inchPerRainUnit
   set rainCount to rainCount + valueToAdd
   tell application "IndigoServer"
      set value of variable "rainCount" to rainCount
   end tell
end if


return true


Using NOAA to calculate rainfall in the last xx hours. Useful for sprinkler settings. Could be used to replace Rain Sensor


This is an updated script with better info on rainfall amounts per category.

Code: Select all


(* estimate current rain from NOAA information
convert NOA information to actual rain per hour and accumulated rain over a day to be used e.g. as accumulated rain  in sprinkler schedule

Author Karl Wachs
date 8/24/2013
Version  0.2

please use as you see fit and post changes.



First:
create variable    ===>  "rainCount"
create variable  ==> "NoaaCondition"


A)
This script must be called every 15 minutes in a scheduled action eg "NoaaRainCount"
Create scheduled Action NoaaRainCount and copy this applescript into the script action

-  first action:  copy device state current condition of YOUR NOAA device into variable NoaaCondition
-  second  action:  execute this script


B)
create scheduled action resetRainCount
1. schedule at 6am once every day
2. action: Modify variable  rainCount, set to 0



C)
some minutes before sprinkler run (eg 2 am)  check variable rainCount.  Its value gives the rain estimate of the last 20 hours in inches
eg    if rainCount > 0.5  dont run sprinkler today



definitions we have two options:

1. Wikipedia
Rain intensity from Wkipedia: (it seems to be a factor of 4 between levels)
Precipitation is measured using a rain gauge. When classified according to the rate of precipitation, rain can be divided into categories. Very light rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of less than 0.25 millimetres (0.0098 in) per hour. Light rain describes rainfall which falls at a rate of between 0.25 millimetres (0.0098 in) and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) per hour. Moderate rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of between 1 millimetre (0.039 in) and 4 millimetres (0.16 in) per hour. Heavy rain describes rainfall with a precipitation rate of between 4 millimetres (0.16 in) and 16 millimetres (0.63 in) per hour. Very heavy rain terminology can be used when the precipitation rate is between 16 millimetres (0.63 in) and 50 millimetres (2.0 in) per hour. Extreme rain can describe rainfall with precipitation rates exceeding 50 millimetres (2.0 in) per hour.[11]



2. from USA today (found similar on NOAA, at least partially)
Light rain: Falls at the rate of 0.10 inch or less an hour. (average 0.05)
Moderate rain: Falls at the rate of 0.11 to 0.30 inch an hour. (average of 0.205)
Heavy rain: Falls at the rate of 0.30 inch an hour or more. average of 0.315
asuming that drizzle follows similar scal below light rain we get:


factor of 3 between each level

scale factors would be 1 3 9


We use NOAA terms. These "words" are in the device state "Current Condition" :

using the following factors for scaling:
Light Drizzle = 1
Drizzle =3
Heavy Drizzle = 9
Light Rain = 27
Rain = 81
Heavy Rain = 243

multiplier light / regular / heavy :  1 / 3 / 9

so regular rain gives
multiplier(3) * Rain = 3*27 = 81
regular rain = 0.205  inches per hour

so a value of 81 is equivalent to 0.205 inches per hour. 
This script is called 4 times per hour

example:
NOAA  "Current Condition" of

- "Rain" will add 0.205/4 = 0.0501 inches to rainCount 
- "Heavy Rain" will add  0.6/4 = 0.15 inches to rainCount  ...



these numbers need to be verified (difficult in Dallas)
*)


set inchPerRainUnit to 6.33E-4 --  = 0.205/4/81 = amount of regular rain in 15 minutes


tell application "IndigoServer"
   set currentCondition to (get value of variable "NoaaCondition") as text
   set rainCount to (get value of variable "rainCount") as text
end tell


set drizzleRain to 0
if currentCondition contains "Drizzle" then set drizzleRain to 1
if currentCondition contains "Rain" then set drizzleRain to 27

if drizzleRain > 0 then -- do something only if there is any precipitation, otherwise end
   
   set rainMultiplier to 3
   if currentCondition contains "Light" then set rainMultiplier to 1
   if currentCondition contains "Heavy" then set rainMultiplier to 9
   
   set valueToAdd to rainMultiplier * drizzleRain * inchPerRainUnit
   set rainCount to rainCount + valueToAdd
   
   tell application "IndigoServer"
      set value of variable "rainCount" to rainCount
   end tell
   
end if


return true


Cool. Thanks for sharing!

You can find the full list of NOAA weather conditions from this page.

This is a script I use to calculate a weather conditions value based on every value from NOAA. It doesn't help with the issue here but could be modified and save having to type all the values in.

Code: Select all

   on WeatherCondValue()
      set WeatherConds to (value of variable "weather_conditons_value")
      set weatherfactor to 0
      if WeatherConds is "Fair" or WeatherConds is "Clear" or WeatherConds is "Fair with Haze" or WeatherConds is "Clear with Haze" or WeatherConds is "Fair and Breezy" or WeatherConds is "Clear and Breezy" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "skc"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0
      else if WeatherConds is "Smoke" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "smoke"
         set weatherfactor to 0
      else if WeatherConds is "Funnel Cloud" or WeatherConds is "Funnel Cloud in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Tornado/Water Spout" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "nsvrtsra"
         set weatherfactor to 0
      else if WeatherConds is "A Few Clouds" or WeatherConds is "A Few Clouds with Haze" or WeatherConds is "A Few Clouds and Breezy" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "few"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0.25
      else if WeatherConds is "Haze" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "mist"
         set weatherfactor to 0.25
      else if WeatherConds is "Dust" or WeatherConds is "Low Drifting Dust" or WeatherConds is "Blowing Dust" or WeatherConds is "Sand" or WeatherConds is "Blowing Sand" or WeatherConds is "Low Drifting Sand" or WeatherConds is "Dust/Sand Whirls" or WeatherConds is "Dust/Sand Whirls in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Dust Storm" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Dust Storm" or WeatherConds is "Dust Storm in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Sand Storm" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Sand Storm" or WeatherConds is "Sand Storm in Vicinity" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "dust"
         set weatherfactor to 0.25
      else if WeatherConds is "Partly Cloudy" or WeatherConds is "Partly Cloudy with Haze" or WeatherConds is "Partly Cloudy and Breezy" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "sct"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0.5
      else if WeatherConds is "Windy" or WeatherConds is "Breezy" or WeatherConds is "Fair and Windy" or WeatherConds is "A Few Clouds and Windy" or WeatherConds is "Partly Cloudy and Windy" or WeatherConds is "Mostly Cloudy and Windy" or WeatherConds is "Overcast and Windy" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "wind"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0.5
      else if WeatherConds is "Mostly Cloudy" or WeatherConds is "Mostly Cloudy with Haze" or WeatherConds is "Mostly Cloudy and Breezy" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "bkn"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0.75
      else if WeatherConds is "Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Fog" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Fog" or WeatherConds is "Shallow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Partial Fog" or WeatherConds is "Patches of Fog" or WeatherConds is "Fog in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Fog in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Shallow Fog in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Partial Fog in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Patches of Fog in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Showers in Vicinity Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Fog" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "fg"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0.75
      else if WeatherConds is "Overcast" or WeatherConds is "Overcast with Haze" or WeatherConds is "Overcast and Breezy" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "ovc"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 0.75
      else if WeatherConds is "Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Rain in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Drizzle in Vicinity" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "fzra"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Light Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Ice Pellets in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Showers Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Ice Crystals" or WeatherConds is "Hail" or WeatherConds is "Small Hail/Snow Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Light Small Hail/Snow Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Heavy small Hail/Snow Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Showers Hail" or WeatherConds is "Hail Showers" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "ip"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Freezing Rain Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Rain Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Rain Snow" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Drizzle Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Drizzle Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Drizzle Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Snow Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Freezing Drizzle" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "mix"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Rain Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Drizzle Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Light Drizzle Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Drizzle Ice Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Ice Pellets Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Ice Pellets Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Ice Pellets Rain" or WeatherConds is "Ice Pellets Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Ice Pellets Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Ice Pellets Drizzle" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "raip"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Rain Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Rain" or WeatherConds is "Drizzle Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Drizzle Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Drizzle Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Drizzle Snow" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "rasn"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Rain Showers" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Showers" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain and Breezy" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Showers" or WeatherConds is "Rain Showers in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Light Showers Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Showers Rain" or WeatherConds is "Showers Rain" or WeatherConds is "Showers Rain in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Rain Showers Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Showers Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Showers Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Rain Showers in Vicinity Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Showers Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Showers Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Showers Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Showers Rain in Vicinity Fog/Mist" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "shra"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Fog and Windy" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Showers in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Haze" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Showers in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Haze in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Hail" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Hail" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Hail" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Rain Hail Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Hail Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Hail Fog/Hail" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Showers in Vicinity Hail" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Hail Haze" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Hail Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Hail Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Hail Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Hail Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Hail" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Hail" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Rain Hail Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Hail Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Hail Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity Hail" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity Hail Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Haze in Vicinity Hail" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Hail Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Hail Haze" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Hail Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Light Rain Hail Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Hail Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Small Hail/Snow Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Rain Small Hail/Snow Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Rain Small Hail/Snow Pellets" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Rain Small Hail/Snow Pellets" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "tsra"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Showers" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Showers" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Showers" or WeatherConds is "Showers Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Showers Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Showers Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Snow Showers Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Showers Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Showers Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Showers Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Showers Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Showers Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Snow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Snow Showers Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Showers Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Showers Fog" or WeatherConds is "Showers Snow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Showers Snow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Showers Snow Fog" or WeatherConds is "Showers in Vicinity Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Showers in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Snow Showers in Vicinity Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Snow Showers in Vicinity Fog" or WeatherConds is "Low Drifting Snow" or WeatherConds is "Blowing Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Low Drifting Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Blowing Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Low Drifting Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Blowing Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Blowing Snow Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Low Drifting Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Blowing Snow" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm Snow" or WeatherConds is "Light Thunderstorm Snow" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Thunderstorm Snow" or WeatherConds is "Snow Grains" or WeatherConds is "Light Snow Grains" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Snow Grains" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Blowing Snow" or WeatherConds is "Blowing Snow in Vicinity" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "sn"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Showers in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Showers in Vicinity Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Showers in Vicinity Fog" or WeatherConds is "Showers in Vicinity Haze" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to ""
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Freezing Rain Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Rain Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Rain Rain" or WeatherConds is "Rain Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Freezing Rain" or WeatherConds is "Freezing Drizzle Rain" or WeatherConds is "Light Freezing Drizzle Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Freezing Drizzle Rain" or WeatherConds is "Rain Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Freezing Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Freezing Drizzle" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "hi_shwrs"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "hi_nshwrs"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity Fog" or WeatherConds is "Thunderstorm in Vicinity Haze" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "hi_tsra"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "hi_ntsra"
      else if WeatherConds is "Light Rain" or WeatherConds is "Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Drizzle" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Drizzle Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Drizzle Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Drizzle Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Light Rain Fog" or WeatherConds is "Drizzle Fog" or WeatherConds is "Light Drizzle Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Drizzle Fog" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "ra1"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      else if WeatherConds is "Rain" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain" or WeatherConds is "Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Fog/Mist" or WeatherConds is "Rain Fog" or WeatherConds is "Heavy Rain Fog" then
         set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "ra"
         if value of variable "isDaylight" is "false" then set value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon" to "n" & value of variable "weather_local_NOAA_Icon"
         set weatherfactor to 1
      end if
      if not (variable "weather_conditons_value" exists) then make new variable with properties {name:"weather_conditons_value", value:""}
      set value of variable "weather_conditons_value" to weatherfactor
      return weatherfactor
   end WeatherCondValue

Following this thread closely because I want to do something related to rain totals and sprinkler schedules as well... I'm just curious, though, do you guys not get very sporadic rain in your areas? Here in Louisiana we can get 3" of rain at our house while a couple of miles away there is none. And this isn't isolated, happens ALL the time. (No exaggeration the forecast for nearly every day of the summer is 20-40% chance of rain, but we can go 3-4 days without it).

I'm starting to think I might be best getting my weather station hooked up to Indigo or the rain sensor. Might be interesting to take your script and compare the results to the rain gauge in the weather station...

Thanks for sharing Greg! That could be very helpful as well.

I'm just curious, though, do you guys not get very sporadic rain in your areas?
...
I'm starting to think I might be best getting my weather station hooked up to Indigo or the rain sensor. Might be interesting to take your script and compare the results to the rain gauge in the weather station...

Correct. Here in central California, showers, when/if they happen, are more wide-spread and tend to cover a fairly large area. Sometimes there are isolated showers, but the majority of any precipitation is likely to cover at least an entire ZIP code. I'd agree. I think a weather station on your property would be the most reliable solution to see if it actually rained at your own house.

I'm starting to think I might be best getting my weather station hooked up to Indigo or the rain sensor. Might be interesting to take your script and compare the results to the rain gauge in the weather station...

Just a thought, but maybe a more conventional rain gage with a leak sensor hacked into it so if the rain hits a certain level, it triggers something for you. Definitely a cheaper route to go than getting a whole weather station tied into indigo if all you are looking for is "has it rained a certain amount in the last few days". Just a thought.

[jay (support)]

WeatherSnoop is a great app for connecting weather station hardware to the Mac and Indigo.

If you don't want to go full weather station then you can just get an RFXrec433 and an Oregon Scientific rain sensor.

I actually have a good weather station (Davis VantagePro 2), but it isn't tied to anything because the cable/software is way too expensive ($200-300 or something). However, I recently found a cheap knockoff cable without software for like $18, so I might give that a try and see how it goes. I had found an open source software package, but I'll checkout WeatherSnoop since it might could save some time/headaches.

My backup option was a rain sensor but those are relatively expensive too so perhaps a leak sensor would be an option. Thanks for that thought!

I do like the extended NOAA information, especially the forecasts, up on my weather control page... but sounds like this is definitely the route to take for more detailed decisions.