Wandering Star
Well-known member
I’m sure this has been discussed before but which weather App is the easiest to use? Need one to cover the UK South Coast & Channel Islands & have a reasonable record for accuracy.
Weather Apps
- Thread starter Wandering Star
- Start date
Stingo
Well-known member
I use a few different apps:
Windfinder Pro
Windy
PredictWind
Windfinder Pro
Windy
PredictWind
DipperToo
Active member
Ventusky
Problem is the different forecast methods - GFS vs ECMWF vs ICON vs GEM etc and knowing which one is best. These forums suggested that anything over 3 days out ECMWF was a bit more reliable?
Interesting how the different models can vary so much even just 4 days out.
It also has wave forecast with swell and wind waves.
Problem is the different forecast methods - GFS vs ECMWF vs ICON vs GEM etc and knowing which one is best. These forums suggested that anything over 3 days out ECMWF was a bit more reliable?
Interesting how the different models can vary so much even just 4 days out.
It also has wave forecast with swell and wind waves.
michael_w
Well-known member
I like the graphics on Windy, plus the fact you can swap between the various models easily, UKV seems to be almost as accurate as AROME for short term. Though AROME seems better on gusts.
ChromeDome
Well-known member
I just look out the window. 100% free, won't track me or collect anything to profile my life.
Absolutely accurate, even if the phone is out of power or Internet coverage.
[Irony intended]
Absolutely accurate, even if the phone is out of power or Internet coverage.
[Irony intended]
finestgreen
Active member
steve yates
Well-known member
I use boatie and windy.
Juan Twothree
Well-known member
I've found XC Weather to be very accurate
FWB
N/A
YouTube Met Office Deep Dive and Ten day Trend.
And..
UK Met Office Fax Charts - UKMOMSLP Analysis and Prognosis
Realtime satellite and rain over UK and Ireland. Sun, clouds, lightning and radar combined in one image.
Jetstream Forecast - Jetstream Map Updated Four Times Daily - Netweather.tv
Weather Europe, Satellite Weather Europe, Weather Forecast, Rainfall, Clouds, Sun in Europe - SAT24.com
Meteorological Charts Analysis Forecast North Atlantic Europe
And..
UK Met Office Fax Charts - UKMOMSLP Analysis and Prognosis
Realtime satellite and rain over UK and Ireland. Sun, clouds, lightning and radar combined in one image.
Jetstream Forecast - Jetstream Map Updated Four Times Daily - Netweather.tv
Weather Europe, Satellite Weather Europe, Weather Forecast, Rainfall, Clouds, Sun in Europe - SAT24.com
Meteorological Charts Analysis Forecast North Atlantic Europe
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Sandy
Well-known member
I find the MeteoFrance Marine pretty accurate. There have been posts in the last year saying it is now charging, but I have not see a request for payment.
RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
PredictWind.
The table feature is good. You switch off the models you don’t want.
To get a handle on accuracy of a model, note the predictions a week out at a certain time, then each day check the prediction until the actual day and time a week later. I have not done this, it’s on my to do list.
I also like the Wind Map as the visual indication of wind change is a good reinforcement of the table data. On my laptop I put ECMF and UKMO side by side. On my phone, it only shows one at a time.
ECMF and UKMO are the two models I use. UKMO is more accurate further out, based on my memory, but I will test that over this year (that’s the plan anyway).
Predict wind also has a tide feature, showing the tide height in a graph, with heights per hour, and moon phase, when using the table option.
It just works for me. I don’t want multiple Apps, preferring to stick with one and learn how to use it.
The PredictWind App has a good explanation of the models.
The table feature is good. You switch off the models you don’t want.
To get a handle on accuracy of a model, note the predictions a week out at a certain time, then each day check the prediction until the actual day and time a week later. I have not done this, it’s on my to do list.
I also like the Wind Map as the visual indication of wind change is a good reinforcement of the table data. On my laptop I put ECMF and UKMO side by side. On my phone, it only shows one at a time.
ECMF and UKMO are the two models I use. UKMO is more accurate further out, based on my memory, but I will test that over this year (that’s the plan anyway).
Predict wind also has a tide feature, showing the tide height in a graph, with heights per hour, and moon phase, when using the table option.
It just works for me. I don’t want multiple Apps, preferring to stick with one and learn how to use it.
The PredictWind App has a good explanation of the models.
John_Silver
Well-known member
It’s my favourite, Meteo Consult Marine (the ‘other’ French meteo app), which switched to subscription last summer. Most accurate app, both sides of the Channel, that I’ve found.
Sandy
Well-known member
It might be the same one, my phone is not to hand.
I had a long chat with the Chief Met Office Shipping Forecasting chap a few years back about the difference between the Met Office forecast and the French one, as the French has a far more this is what I am getting feel about it. The Met Office chap said they give the maximums for an area, be that sea area or inshore. Made sense and allows me to put a different slant on the Met Office's forecast.
franksingleton
Well-known member
I have only just stumbled on this thread. Simonjk has got it right.
All models use the same data and the same physical equations. Also, there is much interchange of ideas between nations through WMO. For the first few days there is little consistent difference between the leading models, ECMWF, UK UM, GFS, ICON. Use whichever model and presentation you wish. Do nit try to use a consensus. Rather, look if they are broadly consistent. If one is an outlier, then trust none.
All the forecasts thah you get from reputable sources are going to from GFS, ICON, ECMWF. You may see NAVGEM and GEM but neither will be any better than the others. Forget this silliness about XCWwather, Windy, Ventusky etc being more accurate than others. Such statements are based on one or two occasions and will not stand scrutiny.
ECMWH should be the best for longer term forecasts say 5 - 10 days. For shorter periods it is less useful being issued considerably later than the rest an only updated twice daily.
All models use the same data and the same physical equations. Also, there is much interchange of ideas between nations through WMO. For the first few days there is little consistent difference between the leading models, ECMWF, UK UM, GFS, ICON. Use whichever model and presentation you wish. Do nit try to use a consensus. Rather, look if they are broadly consistent. If one is an outlier, then trust none.
All the forecasts thah you get from reputable sources are going to from GFS, ICON, ECMWF. You may see NAVGEM and GEM but neither will be any better than the others. Forget this silliness about XCWwather, Windy, Ventusky etc being more accurate than others. Such statements are based on one or two occasions and will not stand scrutiny.
ECMWH should be the best for longer term forecasts say 5 - 10 days. For shorter periods it is less useful being issued considerably later than the rest an only updated twice daily.
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finestgreen
Active member
No use for AROME?
blush2
Active member
When we were on our long trip a Swedish sailor recommended YR.NO which is the Norwegian equivalent of the Met Office. Seemed to be pretty accurate and I still use it pretty much on a daily basis.
We created total confusion when we arrived in Graciosa in the Canaries. Only internet access was at the local internet café, most people had come off boats, one being Norwegian. We were all comparing weather forecasts and discovered that the Norwegian wasn't aware of YR.
We created total confusion when we arrived in Graciosa in the Canaries. Only internet access was at the local internet café, most people had come off boats, one being Norwegian. We were all comparing weather forecasts and discovered that the Norwegian wasn't aware of YR.
franksingleton
Well-known member
AROME, like the UKV and HARMONIE is a high resolution limited area model. These depend heavily on the global and regional models on which they are based. With any significant mobility, you very quickly get weather moving into the area from an area where the analysis is on a coarser grid. The main purpose of these models is for very short term prediction of severe weather such as the Boscastle storm. We sailors are mostly concerned with weather over large areas over longer periods than a few hours. Also, do not be fooled by people who claim that the predictions give you a 1.3 or whatever resolution. First, all models are smoothed so that effective resolution is about 5 grid lengths, say about 7 km for AROME. A feature of that size, smaller than a shower cloud, will have a short life span, less than 6 hours.
So, basically, these high res models have little to add to global models for our sailing purposes.
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franksingleton
Well-known member
The Norwegian Met service is Weather and Climate. Yr,no is, I believe a news organisation which seems to carry a great deal of Met.no info. For example, see https://hjelp.yr.no/hc/en-us/articles/360009342993-GRIB-weather-data. This is a yr.no page but has Met.no NWP models.
met.no is part of the HIRLAM group of smaller `European countries which have, jointly, worked to develop models on a National scale. These start with ECMWF from which they run a regional model, HIRLAM. That is a basis for finer scale models of which HARMONIE is probably the best known.
I was not quite correct about yr.no. See Information about yr.no
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