Weather forecasts

[SS MAYFLOAT]

How much do you rely on forecasts for weekend & vacation plans? I don't know if it is my imigination, but I feel like the forecasts are more off than they were 10 years ago.

Example, this past week the forecast called for heavy showers all day saturday and some today. Saturday, yeah it did rain just enough to get the ground wet and a few towns in the area maybe got a good soaking, but it didn't last all day (maybe an hour). Right now it is sunny but chilly.

Every time I go by what the forecasts on the weather channel predicts and made decesions on, they have been wrong. Anymore I rely on the local channel forecast and watch the radar using my own judgement on plans.

I just wonder how many peoples plans have been put off due to bum forecasts that make it sound worse than what it really turns out to be. I feel that these kinds of forecasts is hurting the recreational business somewhat.

I still ask myself "If they cannot predict the weather in a 48 hour period accurately, how can they predict what the earth is going to do on a global scale?"

 

[ziggy]

Re: Weather forecasts

I rely on the local channel forecast and watch the radar using my own judgement on plans.

that's where i'm at too. though i use noaa loop radar + loop satalite images to make my predictions. i've gone boating many days that it looked like rain only to get to the launch site and have the sun come out. and i'm the only one at the ramp, everyone else stayed home because of the rain.......
oh, and yep, i've made a bad desission on going too. got to the ramp and got downpoured on too...... oh well..... ya can't win all the time....

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Weather forecasts

http://www.weather.gov/ <<<< NOAA

It's the one I us and seems to be the most accurate. No advertising, no hype..... just the weather.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Weather forecasts

^^^^ yep, that's the one ^^^^^

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Weather forecasts

http://www.weather.gov/ <<<< NOAA

It's the one I us and seems to be the most accurate. No advertising, no hype..... just the weather.

Thanks Bob, The forecast for this area next Friday is 70's with a 30% chance of showers/thnderstorms. That is going to be my launch day. Just a few more things to check out (possibly replace) and the boat will be ready. I'll see how true the forecast is by then.
Monday nights forecast is possible snow,,,,,,,,doesn't surprise me one bit

 

[ziggy]

Re: Weather forecasts

sorry ss, didn't know ya wanted a link. that one bob linked to is my homepage even.... here's the other one i like. ya can get daily history or even find a weather station very near you. my closest is 11 blocks away....
http://www.wunderground.com/US/NE/Lincoln.html

change the zip to yers and ya should be hip....
this site has ads, sorry. i just don't look at em......

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Weather forecasts

since the weather is forcasted by all computers now. you get 5 different models and the so called weather guy licks his finger and picks one. it was supposed to be partly sunny today in the mid 60's its 47 now and cloudy. If I turn the the radio dial to 6 different stations you will hear 4 diffent forcasts.


Our local tv station has a contest with its viewers to see if the right forcast was picked if you win and most do you get a umbrella.
Denny

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Weather forecasts

Last night most of the forecasts in this area was calling for 34* and tongiht to drop 29*. Outside temp this morning is 40*. Then I have seen it go the other way too. Trying to decided if I should or shouldn't drain my block and manifolds for tonight. My luck, it will swing the other way by getting colder than the prediction. I just hate it when the temps swing when you need to worry about freeze damage.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Weather forecasts

I can't do much for temps but for rain I look at the moon,little ring around it means little chance of rain thick ring around moon means a lot of rain,that is good for a 48 hour time period.

 

[Jerico]

Re: Weather forecasts

Around here the common joke is if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour. Biggest problem with the forecasters is they keep forgetting to look out the window. Here's where I usually check. Put in you're own zip to get your local info.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...GF&textField1=37.1962&textField2=-93.2861&e=0

An important side note. If you look close to the bottom right there is a button titled forecast discussion. This is where the meterologists leave each other notes. Very handy information.

I check NOAA myself for a couple days to a week before planned outings and keep a weather radio handy in the van and boat.

 

[JCF350]

Re: Weather forecasts

Sometimes the weather seems to have a mind of it's own. We were supposed to get rain here for the weekend or Monday. Well the rain came but the the only problem was that the rain bands split and went to the North and South of here.

Still got fertilizer out from from almost 6 weeks ago that hasn't had the chance to get soaked in yet!

 

[QC]

Re: Weather forecasts

I use wunderground too. I like the historical features and the radar thing is easy to use. I can zoom in and see when rain is within 10 minutes of hitting the house. That's not great for planning, but still kinda cool. They are definitely off though on grand scale and get worse if you are a week out as opposed to 2 days. I kinda take it all in and then guess . . .

 

[i386]

Re: Weather forecasts

I use satellite loops in Forecast Fox Enhanced plugin in Firefox. I also have weather.com bookmarked with my zip code. I will add the weather.gov to my bookmarks. I can usually tell if a system is going to move into my area and also how long it's going to stick around.

In the summer time, thunderstorm season things can get tricker. We tend to think of weather systems generally moving from West to East so we look west to see what's coming. T-Storms throw a monkey wrench into that because they can form right on top of you. I guess they have to start somewhere.

I guess those that live on the coast know all too well how quickly a squall can come up out of nowhere.

 

[JB]

Re: Weather forecasts

Three of my local (DFW) HD channels have weather-only channels with RADAR and satellite feeds. Two have voice forecasts periodically.

I find the combination spot on for local weather as much as 5 days in advance.

Of course, I don't get bent if they forecast storms and the storms pass a few miles north or south of me. I also figure in that any weather forecast for DFW will get to Whitt several hours earlier.

 

[heycods]

Re: Weather forecasts

I make my plans around the weather forcast, but I always seem to change them at the last minute, as they are usually wrong.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Weather forecasts

I am usually addicted to the weather forcasts... with all the veggie gardening I do... I like to see exactly when and how much rain will fall, that way I can water in time to save some stuff.