where? post your links here. Lets see what we come up with and which is the most up to date at the time you need it. I went to weather board once and it said we had a thunder head over us and look for cover and it was 2 hrs long gone and sunny.
where do you get your weather from
- Thread starter scuba01
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Forecasts
I get my forecasts from www.intellicast.com and from www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/index.php?model=gfs. The last one takes a little knowledge of weather maps, but it workds for me.
I get my forecasts from www.intellicast.com and from www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/index.php?model=gfs. The last one takes a little knowledge of weather maps, but it workds for me.
Look UP
I generally look out the window, usually more recent than anything on TV, radio or elsewhere. Stu PS noaa is very good here in the sF Bay area
I generally look out the window, usually more recent than anything on TV, radio or elsewhere. Stu PS noaa is very good here in the sF Bay area
Don't look now...
Interesting to see that most of the responses so far suggest using NOAA (The National Weather Service). Senator Rick Santorum, of Pennsylvania, is sponsoring a bill (S 786, I believe), that would restrict the NWS from providing reports on the weather unless (to paraphrase) "...property damage or injury were likely to result...". It would appear that Accuweather, based in Pennsylvania, finds the NOAA and NWS reports unfair competition for their commercial weather forcasting services. If you find the NWS and NOAA reports useful, you might want to let both your U.S. Senators (you have two of them!) know what you think they should do with Senator Santorum's bill.
Interesting to see that most of the responses so far suggest using NOAA (The National Weather Service). Senator Rick Santorum, of Pennsylvania, is sponsoring a bill (S 786, I believe), that would restrict the NWS from providing reports on the weather unless (to paraphrase) "...property damage or injury were likely to result...". It would appear that Accuweather, based in Pennsylvania, finds the NOAA and NWS reports unfair competition for their commercial weather forcasting services. If you find the NWS and NOAA reports useful, you might want to let both your U.S. Senators (you have two of them!) know what you think they should do with Senator Santorum's bill.
weather sites
Likewise I use NOAA, & Intellicast. Also, Wunderground.com. check out the NOAA site below. Although still experimental, the graphics are an effective way to understand the weather forecast... It uses however the same weather models and appears to have the same uncertainty as other forecasts.
Likewise I use NOAA, & Intellicast. Also, Wunderground.com. check out the NOAA site below. Although still experimental, the graphics are an effective way to understand the weather forecast... It uses however the same weather models and appears to have the same uncertainty as other forecasts.
NWS Services Under Attack !
Link to Text of Bill S.786: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bil...d?bill=s109-786 Including paragraph(b): “ COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR. -The National Weather Service shall not provide, or assist other entities in providing, a service or product [other than a service or product described in subsection (a)(1)(A)] that is or could be provided by the private sector unless ... “ For more info’ goto: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1779
Link to Text of Bill S.786: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bil...d?bill=s109-786 Including paragraph(b): “ COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR. -The National Weather Service shall not provide, or assist other entities in providing, a service or product [other than a service or product described in subsection (a)(1)(A)] that is or could be provided by the private sector unless ... “ For more info’ goto: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1779
VHF weather iffy
The weather forcast for offshore to 20 miles is usually St Marks to Destin. Thats a long way!!!! Last trip was an example. The wind was supposed to be out of the NE 10-20 on Friday. We we got outside the jetties at Panama City and the wind was about dead. After about an hour it came up 10-15 out of the SW!!!! This was good for us as we were going SE to Port Saint Joe. When we arrived at Port Saint Joe we didn't know if we should anchor for the SW winds or the NE winds. This was about 5 PM and then the wind died for a few minutes and came back out of the NE at 15-20 kts. A time line would be great for such a large area. The VHF weather spends a huge amount of time on what the weather will be for the next week!!! If they focused on the next 36-72 hours it would be much more helpful. I generally don't believe a weather forcast projecting more than about 72 hours and have my doubts on anything more than 24 hours. More detail on the next 24 hours would be infinitely better than iffy weather for next week. Tom
The weather forcast for offshore to 20 miles is usually St Marks to Destin. Thats a long way!!!! Last trip was an example. The wind was supposed to be out of the NE 10-20 on Friday. We we got outside the jetties at Panama City and the wind was about dead. After about an hour it came up 10-15 out of the SW!!!! This was good for us as we were going SE to Port Saint Joe. When we arrived at Port Saint Joe we didn't know if we should anchor for the SW winds or the NE winds. This was about 5 PM and then the wind died for a few minutes and came back out of the NE at 15-20 kts. A time line would be great for such a large area. The VHF weather spends a huge amount of time on what the weather will be for the next week!!! If they focused on the next 36-72 hours it would be much more helpful. I generally don't believe a weather forcast projecting more than about 72 hours and have my doubts on anything more than 24 hours. More detail on the next 24 hours would be infinitely better than iffy weather for next week. Tom
Accuweather
I've been using this site for several years now. It's a combination of radar and satellite all across the nation. Your local radar station can be accessed and it's deadly accurate. They have recently changed their site and I'm still trying to learn to navigate through it. Satellite and radar images are updated every 15 minutes. They even have a deal that you can subscribe to that will transmit current weather conditions to your cell phone.
I've been using this site for several years now. It's a combination of radar and satellite all across the nation. Your local radar station can be accessed and it's deadly accurate. They have recently changed their site and I'm still trying to learn to navigate through it. Satellite and radar images are updated every 15 minutes. They even have a deal that you can subscribe to that will transmit current weather conditions to your cell phone.
Best system by far ...
I use NOAA, too. I also use the Weather Channel for an overview and a local weather dude for his take on what the weather channel is reporting. This summer while cruising Chesapeake I stumbled onto a great system. Using my cell phone, I called my wife at work. She called up NOAA's website and accessed the radar. She then proceeded to relay to me what the radar was showing in real time. I avoided a thunder squall.
I use NOAA, too. I also use the Weather Channel for an overview and a local weather dude for his take on what the weather channel is reporting. This summer while cruising Chesapeake I stumbled onto a great system. Using my cell phone, I called my wife at work. She called up NOAA's website and accessed the radar. She then proceeded to relay to me what the radar was showing in real time. I avoided a thunder squall.
No to Accuweather
Might be a good system but I resent them buying a politican to do away with free NWS weather. It really sucks that we pay for the collection of all the weather data that everyone uses and then they want to charge us to see the data that we've already paid for once. Taxpayers already pay enough for weather satelites and earth stations. We should get some benefits from our tax dollars!!!!! 20% odf our tax dollars go to paying interest on the national debt. Looks like they could give us some services on the remaining 80%. It sometimes seems that Tax payers have to pay expenses and chosen few reap the rewards. My uncle made several thousand dollars selling the timber on his land. But you know that the US government loses money every time it sells the timber in our national forests??? Somebody is making money while the taxpayers pay the bills..who??? Who is watching out for the average taxpayer???
Might be a good system but I resent them buying a politican to do away with free NWS weather. It really sucks that we pay for the collection of all the weather data that everyone uses and then they want to charge us to see the data that we've already paid for once. Taxpayers already pay enough for weather satelites and earth stations. We should get some benefits from our tax dollars!!!!! 20% odf our tax dollars go to paying interest on the national debt. Looks like they could give us some services on the remaining 80%. It sometimes seems that Tax payers have to pay expenses and chosen few reap the rewards. My uncle made several thousand dollars selling the timber on his land. But you know that the US government loses money every time it sells the timber in our national forests??? Somebody is making money while the taxpayers pay the bills..who??? Who is watching out for the average taxpayer???
p323ms
I think you might have misunderstood something. There is no charge to the accessable information on the internet from Accuweather. There are services that can be subscribed to at a cost, such as having the data sent through your cell phone, but subscription is not necessary for internet use. It's there, it's free, and it has good information.
I think you might have misunderstood something. There is no charge to the accessable information on the internet from Accuweather. There are services that can be subscribed to at a cost, such as having the data sent through your cell phone, but subscription is not necessary for internet use. It's there, it's free, and it has good information.
Who pays
Of course Accuweather doesn't charge now. It is trying to compete with the NWS. When it gets the NWS out of the picture, how much will it charge then? Maybe it will only charge if the weather's going to be bad. Maybe it will charge by making you wait through five minutes of pop-ups before providing the report you want. Maybe you'll have to provide your email address so they can send you "additional information later" -- you ASKED for it! Like the timber industry situation outlined below, the government has the stuff we want, and is currently making it available to anyone with a computer, for free. (We, the taxpayers, paid for it once already.) By restricting the NWS, this bill allows only commercial interests to benefit from the NWS information, and allows them to mark it up when they provide it to the rest of us. (Is there some commission or law, by the way, that limits what Accuweather or other firms charge? Of course they wouldn't collude with other weather firms, like ENRON did with electricity prices to boost prices. THAT would be unfair!!!!) This bill also requires the NWS to document how they are complying with the it -- adding to federal bureaucracy, paperwork, and costs. It does not sound like a good idea.
Of course Accuweather doesn't charge now. It is trying to compete with the NWS. When it gets the NWS out of the picture, how much will it charge then? Maybe it will only charge if the weather's going to be bad. Maybe it will charge by making you wait through five minutes of pop-ups before providing the report you want. Maybe you'll have to provide your email address so they can send you "additional information later" -- you ASKED for it! Like the timber industry situation outlined below, the government has the stuff we want, and is currently making it available to anyone with a computer, for free. (We, the taxpayers, paid for it once already.) By restricting the NWS, this bill allows only commercial interests to benefit from the NWS information, and allows them to mark it up when they provide it to the rest of us. (Is there some commission or law, by the way, that limits what Accuweather or other firms charge? Of course they wouldn't collude with other weather firms, like ENRON did with electricity prices to boost prices. THAT would be unfair!!!!) This bill also requires the NWS to document how they are complying with the it -- adding to federal bureaucracy, paperwork, and costs. It does not sound like a good idea.
Gee Paul K.
The original post inquired as to where people got their weather from, and I gave him another option that is currently available. There are others as mentioned in other posts that I also use occasionally, but they had already been mentioned. You ever heard of switching channels if there is something you don't like on the radio or tv? IF the time ever comes that Accuweather starts charging for computer time, I'll change channels. IF they ever manage to put other weather services out of business, I'll continue sailing just as I did before computers and readily available information for the weather was around. IF they ever insist on my address or other private information, they won't get it. I'm in the later years of my life and I have other things to do to enjoy myself besides working myself into a frenzy worrying about conspiracy theories, politics, or the what if's. Use Accuweather or not, makes no difference to me. For the time being, it's still a world of choices. By the way, before I get the "head in the sand" rebuttal, I'm aware of the information in Gord's post and have already voiced my concerns to the local politicos. I'm done.
The original post inquired as to where people got their weather from, and I gave him another option that is currently available. There are others as mentioned in other posts that I also use occasionally, but they had already been mentioned. You ever heard of switching channels if there is something you don't like on the radio or tv? IF the time ever comes that Accuweather starts charging for computer time, I'll change channels. IF they ever manage to put other weather services out of business, I'll continue sailing just as I did before computers and readily available information for the weather was around. IF they ever insist on my address or other private information, they won't get it. I'm in the later years of my life and I have other things to do to enjoy myself besides working myself into a frenzy worrying about conspiracy theories, politics, or the what if's. Use Accuweather or not, makes no difference to me. For the time being, it's still a world of choices. By the way, before I get the "head in the sand" rebuttal, I'm aware of the information in Gord's post and have already voiced my concerns to the local politicos. I'm done.
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