Make It Rain

20090204131104_create_forecasts.rb

# db/migrations/20090204131104_create_forecasts.rb

class CreateForecasts < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def self.up
    create_table :forecasts do |t|
      t.string    :f_text, :f_period, :image, :weather, :temp
      t.timestamps
    end
  end

  def self.down
    drop_table :forecasts
  end
end

_weather.html.erb

# in a layout or the front page

<% fc = Forecast.first %>
<% unless fc.nil? %><br/>
  <h3><%= link_to "#{fc.f_period} in Sebring", weather_path %>: <%= fc.weather %> (<%= fc.temp %>&deg;)</h3>
<% end %>

environment.rb

# add to config/environment.rb
config.gem 'httparty'

forecast.rb

# app/models/forecast.rb

require 'httparty'

class Forecast < ActiveRecord::Base
  include HTTParty
  
  ICON_LOCATION = "http://mobile.wrh.noaa.gov/weather/images/fcicons"
  
  class << self
    
    def check_date
      Forecast.reload_forecasts if Forecast.count == 0 || Forecast.find(:first).created_at < 60.minutes.ago
    end
  
    # find your combo of cityname, state, site, etc. using http://forecast.weather.gov/ - use the "Text Only Forecast" link in the bottom right corner of the forecast page and change TextType from 1 to 3 to get the XML feed
    def reload_forecasts
      Forecast.delete_all
      f_path = "http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Sebring&state=FL&site=TBW&textField1=27.49070&textField2=-81.45350&TextType=3"
      Forecast.get(f_path)["Forecast"]["period"].each do |fc|
        Forecast.create!(:f_text => fc["text"], :f_period => fc["valid"], :image => fc["image"], :weather => fc["weather"], :temp => fc["temp"])
      end
    end
    
    def all
      Forecast.find(:all)
    end
    
    def first
      Forecast.find(:first)
    end
    
  end
  
  def icon
    "#{ICON_LOCATION}/#{image}"
  end
  
end

routes.rb

# add to config/routes.rb
map.weather         "/weather",         :controller => 'home',  :action => 'weather'

weather.html.erb

# weather.html.erb

<h1>Weather Forecast for Sebring, FL</h1>

<h5>Last updated: <%= @forecasts.first.created_at.to_s(:short) %></h5>

<% @forecasts.each do |fc| %>
<div class="forecast">
  <h2><%= image_tag fc.icon, :align => "right", :alt => fc.weather %><%= fc.f_period %> (<%= fc.temp %>&deg;)</h2>
  <p><%= fc.f_text %></p>
</div>
<% end %>

<%# list of loops available at http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/Loop/ %>
<%= image_tag "http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/Loop/southeast_loop.gif", :style => "width: 540px; height: 700px;" %>

weather.rake

# lib/tasks/weather.rake

namespace :weather do
  desc "Get latest Forecasts"
  task :forecasts => :environment do
    Forecast.check_date
  end
end

# using 'crontab -e' on the server, add the following line
# 11,41 * * * * cd /sites/site_name_here/current && /usr/bin/rake RAILS_ENV=production weather:forecasts