A simple, basic, online weather forecast ?

[electrosys]

For many years I got my forecasts from the 'BBC Weather' website, and very happy I was too.

Then they changed the forecast content and appearance - injecting far too much detail into it (in lieu of accuracy) and I became grumpy, but nevertheless stayed with it.

Now they've changed their website again - apparently it's now compulsory to have 'a complete weather experience' - and so I've decided to abandon that particular ship ...

All I want is to see, on one page, is a 3 to 5 day local forecast which gives: anticipated wind direction and speed; temperature; and sunny/ overcast/ rain, or what have you. That's all.

Does anyone know of such a site ? Text alone would be ok, basic graphics not objected to. But as simple as possible please ....

 

[prv]

I go to http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/southampton_forecast_weather.html for general non-specialist weather (elsewhere for wind forecasts) and it seems straightforward enough to me.

Pete

 

[Dipper]

I use XC Weather. Hover your cursor over the nearest location to you and click for more information. I leave it set to 'Wind' but there are other options. It's not always accurate but then neither are other sites.

 

[Hoolie]

... ... All I want is to see, on one page, is a 3 to 5 day local forecast which gives: anticipated wind direction and speed; temperature; and sunny/ overcast/ rain, or what have you. That's all.

Does anyone know of such a site ? Text alone would be ok, basic graphics not objected to. But as simple as possible please ....

Try xcweather for local forecasts. Lots of info and seems to know about all sorts of obscure places throughout Europe!

Not typing fast enough again !!

 

[electrosys]

Thanks Pete - appreciated. That 5-day forecast table is pretty close to what I've been looking for.

Thanks Dipper - a tad more info than I want - but still much better than the Beeb !

"Not typing fast enough again !!" - me too !

 

[MontyMariner]

http://www.windguru.cz
Sign up and set your default area

 

[VicS]

I go to http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/southampton_forecast_weather.html for general non-specialist weather (elsewhere for wind forecasts) and it seems straightforward enough to me.

Pete

+1 but start from http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html then access the area forecasts from the map.
I seldom go to the specific location forecasts.

But have you looked at the beta version of the new site?


Another vote also for XC weather.
I like the relatively new location forecasts.

 

[NormanS]

I find "windfinder" to be useful. It's primarily for surfers, but gives an easy to read display for the next week.

 

[markdj]

I have a weather portal site which you may find useful. It has some good links like magicseaweed, windguru, passageweather.

http://www.stronge.org.uk/marine/

Weather Spark is rather nice for comparing the longer range forecasts though it uses a heavy flash website to do so.

I tend to use Meteoblue and the Norwegian Met. the most for general and wind forecasts but you do have to take account of land mass friction.

Enjoy

 

[Talbot]

I was talking to a met guy the other day who is also a sailor, and he uses http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/sail.htm Looks pretty good to me!

 

[snowleopard]

So what is easy to use on a small screen e.g. Android mobile?

 

[franksingleton]

XCWeather is simply the US GFS interpolated from a 50 km grid to specific locations. The locations are those sites that provide actual weather information under the WMO World weather watch scheme. It is a good source of current weather data.

Windguru starts with the GFS. What you get depends on whether you pay or not. I am pretty sure that their free service is, again, a simple interpolation from the 50 km grid.

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/sail.htm gives output from the GFS. Usefully, they also give forecast charts from a number of other sources, including the Japanese met service.

All these are automatically generated, ie there is no human input. The GFS calculates on what is, effectively, a 25 km grid. That means that they cannot represent detail smaller than about 100 t0 130 km.

For your requirements, the Met Office will be your best bet. If you want more localised detail, especially over the next couple of days, then Simon Keeling is your man – obviously not a free service, he has to pay the rent.

 

[Conachair]

One or two to choose from here..

http://www.weathercharts.org/

 

[Allan]

So what is easy to use on a small screen e.g. Android mobile?

I use Windguru on the browser of my Sony Ericsson. Just bookmark the one that is local to were I am. I also have Weatheronline bookmarked.
Allan

 

[markdj]

My website has a mobile optimised version that loads on all touchscreen phones with a webapp type experience. Try it on your mobile, it should work.

 

[lustyd]

+1 for windguru. seems accurate enough, gives predictions for ages into the future which can be helpful as a rough guide, and has mobile apps for most platforms. And it's all free

 

[franksingleton]

It really all comes down to which service is most convenient for you to access. As I said above amd on other threads, there is and can be no difference in the accuracy of forecasts from XCWeater, Windgurus (free) service, Weatheronline. There are GRIB apps - http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Grib-Files-Apps that give you the same information conveniently. There are similar services from zyGrib and Ugrib for use on a laptop, There is www.pPassageweather.com and the “expert charts” on www.weatheronline.co.uk - "expert maps".

For texts of forecasts, there are many links at http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Weather-Forecasts-On-The-Internet where I have tried to give text only versions where available to minimise heavy downloads. I try to keep these up to date.

 

[NealB]

Somtething like this....from the BBC, maybe?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2654270

 

[ms.lau]

i rate windguru.

laura

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

I noticed from visiting the BBC's site that it is no longer possible to get a forecast for Rothesay, Isle of Bute.

Largs - yes, Brodick - yes, Greenock - yes and some place inland from Loch Fyne called Bridgend. Possibly the most visited resort in the estuary no longer merits a forecast of its own!!

Jings crivvens .........