Custom Real-Time Jet Stream & Wind Map using FlightAware Data (Python + Folium)

[SHIRAKAMI]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a small project I’ve been working on to visualize upper-level winds and jet stream cores in real-time using telemetry data.

How it works:

• Data Source: I’m logging wind telemetry (wind_log.csv) including timestamps, callsigns, altitude, lat/lon, wind direction, and wind speed.

• Real-Time Filtering: The script automatically filters a rolling 30-minute window based on the latest timestamp to keep the map operationally relevant and avoid historical clutter.

• Visualization: Built with Python and Folium using Esri WorldStreetMap tiles.

• Smart Vectors: Wind directions are corrected (adding 180°) so the arrows show the actual flow direction (from West to East), and arrow sizes dynamically scale based on wind speed (kt). High-altitude cruise levels (≥35,000 ft) showing jet stream cores are highlighted in red, while lower altitudes are in blue.

• UX: Added an automated legend with timeframes for quick situational awareness. I even set up a desktop shortcut so I can pull up the live weather map with a single double-click!

Attached is a screenshot of the map showing active jet stream conditions over northern Japan.

I’d love to hear if anyone else is doing similar custom visualizations or weather tracking with flight data! Any feedback or ideas are welcome.

Best regards, SHIRAKAMI

[SHIRAKAMI]

Quick update on this: After running it for a while, I tweaked the time filter from 30 minutes down to 10 minutes. This avoids overlapping arrows and gives an even clearer look at the current wind dynamics.

[SHIRAKAMI]

Hi everyone,

Following up on my previous updates, I’ve made another refinement to clean up the visual clutter while keeping detailed data instantly accessible.

Previously, displaying wind speed text alongside every arrow made the high-density jet stream areas look a bit crowded. To solve this cleanly, I’ve transitioned to a hover-activated tooltip system using customized CSS styling.

What’s New:

• Clutter-Free Map: Removed constant text labels to let the directional SVG arrows stand out clearly.
• Sleek Hover Tooltips: Moving the cursor over any arrow now instantly displays a clean, dark-themed tooltip showing the Callsign, Wind Speed, and Altitude.
• Global CSS Integration: Styled via a global Leaflet tooltip injection to ensure crisp typography and a modern look without messy individual HTML hacks.

Attached is a screenshot showing how clean the map looks now with the new hover tooltips in action over northern Japan.

As always, would love to hear your thoughts or feedback!

Best regards,
SHIRAKAMI