How the forecast tools work
OutingCast looks up an approximate ZIP-code center, then requests National Weather Service forecast data for that point. The dashboard displays the current forecast period, the next six hourly periods, up to seven daytime forecasts, and active NWS alerts. Responses are cached for up to five minutes to reduce repeated upstream requests.
Outdoor planner
Choose an activity preset or custom limits for rain probability, temperature, and wind speed. The planner checks hourly NWS periods between 6 AM and 10 PM local time. It can show up to three non-overlapping windows that fit the full selected outing duration, rain chance, temperature, and wind limits. Windows are ranked by lower average precipitation chance, lower peak sustained wind, then earlier start. Periods whose forecast text mentions thunderstorms are skipped. Active NWS alerts for the ZIP-code forecast point appear beside the recommendations, but the planner does not decide whether a trip is safe; check official alert details and local guidance before leaving.
Nearby earthquakes
The dashboard lists returned U.S. Geological Survey events from the past 24 hours within 250 miles of the ZIP center. Distance is approximate.
Sources
- National Weather Service forecast API
- U.S. Geological Survey earthquake feeds
- Zippopotam.us ZIP lookup using GeoNames data
Source responses and coverage can change. Use the linked official pages for the latest details.