Online Weather Forecasts

[BiK3RChiK]

I use this http://metservice.co.nz/default/inde...ndobservations and I also have bookmarked my local hometown for the long-range forecast. As Moki said above though, our local topography affects the weather to a great extent which isn't often accounted for in the forecast, so they often get it wrong. It's a good general indicator though...

[sels1]

This one's pretty good.

Met Service 7 day rain forecast

I tend to use the 3 day one as obviously the longer the timespan the more variables there are. Found it pretty good.

Of course if you want the best possible forecast tailored to your area you have to do what the airlines do.....buy it

[CookMySock]

II'm generally trying to get a feel for the weather 3-4 days out so I can fit a couple of day escape into normal work/family stuff.

Generally if a front has just cleared and if the situation maps show nothing horrific following it, then you should be ok to head off. A mistake is to let a couple of days of fine weather go past after a wet spell.

Great to hear from those with a met qualification.


DB

[Grub]

I noticed that nobody has listed the Met Service Rural Forecasts, these are what we plan all of our trips on and have never found them wanting.
- It's free
- It gives a 10 day outlook - perfect for planning trips
- If you check back each day you'll see how the accuracy grows
- It's ideal for riding as typically you will traverse two or more of these areas in one ride

Even though as pilots we sit met exams, I prefer not to play meteoroligist. I don't try to analyse satellite images or rain maps ... that's what they do. They computer model them and then put the result in plain language for mortals like us to understand.

Here's an example. Zukins funeral is on Monday and we are going to ride to the bay on Sunday and come home Tuesday. Rural site says ...
Sun 6 Brief early showers, snow likely on high level roads, with a change to cold southwesterlies.

Mon 7 Mainly fine with cold southwesterlies, but late southerlies and showers.

Tue 8 Fine. Dry. Westerlies.

Wed 9 Fine. Dry with southwesterlies.

Now that will be pretty reliable but that weather might shift a day earlier/later. The weather will be as predicted just the exact timing might vary.