diff --git a/bak/.gitignore b/bak/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6b7ef3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bak/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+*
+!.gitignore
diff --git a/update_webpanel.sh b/update_webpanel.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4de31c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update_webpanel.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+### Run as a normal user
+if [ $EUID -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "This script shouldn't be run as root."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+## import common lib
+. "$HOME/.noaa.conf"
+. "$NOAA_HOME/common.sh"
+
+WEB_DIR=/var/www/wx
+STEPS=3
+
+echo "
+      This script is used to sync webpanel updates and provide an easy
+      way for users to keep their webpanel up to date with new features
+      that are released - note that the first time you use this to migrate
+      to the new webpanel contents, your Config.php file (containing locale
+      settings) will be backed up to the $NOAA_HOME/bak/ directory and a
+      replacement config.php put in its place. You can reference values you
+      might have configured in the backup file to update $WEB_DIR/config.php
+      to your liking.
+
+      If you have made significant changes to any of the contents in the webpanel
+      deployment, they likely WILL be destroyed by running this script as all
+      files in $WEB_DIR are replaced with the exception of the following, which are
+      left alone to preserve the captures:
+
+        * audio/
+        * images/
+        * meteor/
+"
+
+read -rp "Are you sure you wish to proceed? (y/N) "
+if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Nn]$ ]]; then
+  log "Aborting webpanel sync" "ERROR"
+  exit 0
+elif [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
+  log "Webpanel sync proceeding!" "INFO"
+else
+  log "Aborting webpanel sync - unknown option '$REPLY'" "ERROR"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+log "1/$STEPS: Backing up PHP config file..." "INFO"
+if [ -f "$WEB_DIR/config.php" ]; then
+    log "  Found newer-style config file - backing up." "INFO"
+    cp $WEB_DIR/config.php $NOAA_HOME/bak/config.php.backup
+elif [ -f "$WEB_DIR/Config.php" ]; then
+    log "  Found older-style config file - backing up." "INFO"
+    cp $WEB_DIR/Config.php $NOAA_HOME/bak/Config.php.backup
+else
+    log "  Did not find any existing config file - proceeding." "INFO"
+fi
+log "1/$STEPS: Done backing up PHP config file" "INFO"
+
+log "2/$STEPS: Removing old PHP files (excluding images/audio)..." "INFO"
+find $WEB_DIR/ -mindepth 1 -type d -name "images" -prune -o -type d -name "audio" -prune -o -type d -name "meteor" -prune -o -print | xargs rm -rf
+log "2/$STEPS: Old PHP files removed" "INFO"
+
+log "3/$STEPS: Copying new PHP files..." "INFO"
+sudo cp -rp $NOAA_HOME/templates/webpanel/* $WEB_DIR/
+log "3/$STEPS: Done copying new PHP files" "INFO"
+
+log "Your old PHP config file has been copied to the bak/ directory" "INFO"
+log "Please update any settings you wish to preserve in $WEB_DIR/config.php" "INFO"
+log "  including 'lang' and 'timezone' settings for display" "INFO"