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About this app

This tool visualizes weather data from the German Weather Service (DWD) for VFR pilots. The core value proposition is resolution (2.1km grid, ~150,000 cells covering Germany) and recency (updates within minutes of new model runs).

The viewers

• Ceiling – Cloud base height, colored like GAFOR categories
• Radar – Simulated radar from model data with significant weather symbols (nowcasting)
• Visibility – Horizontal visibility in meters
• Precipitation – Rain/snow/graupel intensity
• Convection – CAPE index for thunderstorm potential
• Meteograms – Time series for any German airfield with 20 cloud layers
• Route – Cross-section along your flight route with wind optimization

Two data sources, one timeline

This app combines two DWD models to give you the best of both worlds:

The RUC excels at short-term accuracy: it assimilates the latest observations hourly, making it excellent for "what's happening right now" decisions. The Radar viewer uses RUC data exclusively for the first 14 hours, showing simulated reflectivity and significant weather symbols (rain, snow, freezing rain, thunderstorms).

Meteograms

Meteograms use conventional D2 data only, because RUC lacks the detailed vertical cloud structure (RUC has only "low/mid/high", while D2 provides 20 altitude levels up to 10,000ft).

Bandwidth note

The map viewers load high-resolution pre-rendered images. A fast internet connection (ideally WiFi or wired) is recommended. Using mobile data may consume significant bandwidth and could be expensive.

Disclaimer

This tool is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for official weather briefings. Always use authorized sources (DWD, Flugwetter.de, AIS) for flight planning. The author assumes no liability for decisions made based on this data. Model forecasts can be wrong – always have a Plan B.

Built by Jan Schaffner • Feedback welcome