Frequently asked questions.

NWWS-OI is the NOAA Weather Wire Service Open Interface. It is a login-protected XMPP feed run by the National Weather Service that carries NWS text products as they are published. TV stations, emergency managers and alert companies use it. It pushes products to connected clients instead of making them ask for updates.

No. Central Feed has worked without credentials since v0.0.4. If you would rather have a fully private connection, you can ask the NWS for your own account by emailing [email protected]. It is free but usually takes 10 to 30 days.

No account and no key. The download page has a short free form (your name, email and how you plan to use the app) that unlocks the download on your browser. I plan to remove the form in a later release.

Central Feed uses my own NWWS-OI account. My server keeps a connection to NWWS-OI open, takes the raw alert text and passes it on to your app, which parses it on your PC. Your credentials are never involved, because you do not have any. The relay adds a short delay, usually too small to notice, and it runs on a dedicated server built for 24/7 uptime.

Yes. There is no subscription and nothing to pay for. It is a solo project.

No. It is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to NOAA, the NWS or any government agency.

A Windows 10 or 11 PC with an internet connection that allows outbound port 5222. That is the port NWWS-OI uses.

New or small apps often trigger SmartScreen or antivirus prompts. Check that you downloaded the file from the download page on this site. If you are still unsure, email [email protected] before running it.

Close the app and run the installer again. If it fails again, email [email protected] with your log file and a short note on where it stopped.

Since v0.0.60 the app updates itself. When a new version is out, a banner appears in the app and you update from there. If you installed something older than v0.0.60, download the installer once more, and after that you are covered. Versions older than v0.0.51 can no longer connect to Central Feed.

Open the connection settings, choose the Private Feed tab and enter your username and password. They are saved on your PC and are not sent to me. One thing to know: NWS credentials cannot be used on more than one machine at a time.

Not yet. It is Windows only. Mac and Linux support is on the roadmap as something I am researching, with no date.

Work through these in order. First, check the connection light in the app. If you use Central Feed, check the status in the page footer and the maintenance page. If you use a Private Feed, check your username and password. Make sure a firewall is not blocking outbound port 5222. Finally, remember that the NWS switches servers now and then, and the app has to reconnect afterwards. It is also normal to see nothing when there are no active alerts.

NWWS-OI usually delivers a product within about 100 milliseconds of it being issued. Central Feed adds a short relay hop on top. The public NWS API, which most apps use, commonly takes 60 to 120 seconds to show the same warning. These are rough figures, and your own internet connection matters too.

You can run it from anywhere, but the alerts come from the National Weather Service, so they cover the United States and its territories. There are no alerts for other countries.

Yes. Use the state filter and the search box in the alert toolbar. Out of the box you see everything the NWS issues.

Since v0.0.60, alerts that are still active show up when you open the app, even if they went out while it was closed.

Yes. Any default tone can be replaced with your own audio file, and you can turn notifications on or off for each alert type.

Yes. Add a Discord webhook in the settings and choose which alert types to forward.

It is a score from 1 to 115 that StormSync uses to sort alerts and pick sounds. Tornado Emergency is 115. It is my own scale and has no official meaning with the NWS.

No. It is provided as-is, with no warranty, and it is not a substitute for official warning systems. Please do not rely on it alone when your safety is involved.

Yes, and it is free, including on monetized streams. Credit is appreciated but not required. The streamers page has the details.

Pick an element in the app's stream tools and add it to OBS as a source. The Full Stream Overlay puts a complete layout in a single source. If you get stuck, email [email protected] and I will help.

Inside the app, yes. You can start from the default template and add, remove and arrange elements, sources, cameras and your facecam. What is not allowed is taking an element out of the app, copying it and editing it elsewhere without my permission. The terms spell this out, and if you want something special, ask.

Yes. The app can inject test alerts. They are never saved, and they are cleared from your stream when you log out. There is an option to choose whether a test alert moves your stream map.

Anything simple works, for example "Alerts by StormSync VT/OI" in your stream description or a panel, with a link to stormsyncapp.com. It helps a lot, but nobody will chase you for it.

Your alert history is saved in a local database on your PC. The website stores what you put in the access form, plus the IP address it came from. The app also talks to a few outside services to work, such as the Central Feed relay, map and radar providers, and Discord if you set up a webhook. The privacy policy lists all of it.

Email [email protected] from the address you used and ask. I will delete your record.