I've just checked in debug mode and entering "48 12N" and "16 22E" does convert correctly to +48.2 and +16.37. Entering "16 22W" converts to -16.37 so it is calculating the correct sign.

It appears that the website (http://www.blitzortung.de) that provides the raw data (rather than the images) is down at the moment, so the widget cannot perform any alerting. I will add a status message to the next release that will warn you when this happens.

Mark

I think i figured out whats maybe the Problem. At this Moment the map shows flashes 23 km (google earth measure) from Vienna. The alert means the next flash is about 83km away.

Maybe the position i have entered is not correct . For Example :48 12N 16 22E (st. Stephens Cathedral. At startup there are North and West coordinates. If you enter the exact Google position like 48°12'30.26"N 16°22'21.33"E it opened a warning window with N/W coordinates. I dunno have "W" i have East. So what exactly to enter?

I think i figured out whats maybe the Problem. At this Moment the map shows flashes 23 km (google earth measure) from Vienna. The alert means the next flash is about 83km away.

Maybe the position i have entered is not correct . For Example :48 12N 16 22E (st. Stephens Cathedral. At startup there are North and West coordinates. If you enter the exact Google position like 48°12'30.26"N 16°22'21.33"E it opened a warning window with N/W coordinates. I dunno have "W" i have East. So what exactly to enter?

"(almost) real time lightning maps for most of western Europe" ...
This is the result:
Today (21.06.)there was a very big Thunderstorm over whole Austria, which started at 5 Pm over Vienna.

5:30 Pm: the map shows 3 flashes near Vienna - in reality there where flashes every seconds from 5:15 pm to 6:30.
No Zone is shown before the storm comes.
As recorded on "Aldis" and after shown in TV there where nearly 18.000 flashes over whole Austria.

There where NO warning over t…he whole time . Settings are Location Vienna, distance 20 Km.

After this event, I cant say its useful. No warning, No effective Display of flashes.
The map had to be fully Red with zones and flashes, and lit up warning
While this very big thunderstorm with 18000 flashes and a Storm with120 km/h over the whole Country!!!
But nothing. If you looked on the map while this you mean you have a nice summer day with a few flashes far away. Dont worry.......... More

I'm sorry it did not work very well for you. I have looked at the archive data for 21.06.07 and there does not seem to be much activity - certainly not as much as 20.06.07 - over Austria.

I only have two suggestions, first ask the question of the man who runs the web site where I get my data (Egon Wanke - www.blitzortung.de). He may have some ideas about why the detection systems did not pick up this storm.
Secondly I think 20km radius may be a little too small? I set mine to about 100km to give plenty of warning (more time and more likely to catch strikes).

Regards
Mark