Cloud Forecasts for Australian Astronomers

[Phil Hart]

hi folks

I've put up a page on my website describing availability of cloud forecasts from the weather model used by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. These new 'Access' models, together with Skippy Sky, are as good as it gets for forecasting cloud - no need to look anywhere else now!

Full story here: Cloud Forecasts for Australian Astronomers

cheers
Phil

[Paddy (Patrick)]

Thanks Phil, this looks very useful indeed.

[h0ughy (David)]

looks a great tool - Thanks Phil

[higginsdj]

The new models that 7Timer uses are not very reliable so this is an excellent alternative

[multiweb (Marc)]

Wow! Looks like you went to town on it. Great stuff. Will have to read carefully and digest all the info. Thanks for posting.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

great!
I had given up on 7timer and hadn't heard of skippy sky
Thanks for the heads up
Narayan

[RobF (Rob)]

Top work Phil - wonderful presented - thanks for taking the time to alert us to these great new developments!

[higginsdj]

Based on what I can see in the plots I don't think I'm going to get a cloudless night for a month....

[bartman (Bart)]

Thanks Phil,
Most appreciated!
Bartman

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Excellent! Thanks Phil

But I find it intriguing how the cloud on Tasmania's west coast never moves.

System Glitch maybe, or is it really permanently cloudy there?
http://www.cawcr.gov.au/staff/ljr/pr...cs/ani_vt.html click 'start' to run it and see what I mean.

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Excellent! Thanks Phil

But I find it intriguing how the cloud on Tasmania's west coast never moves.

System Glitch maybe, or is it really permanently cloudy there?
http://www.cawcr.gov.au/staff/ljr/pr...cs/ani_vt.html click 'start' to run it and see what I mean.

Tasmania's western areas are infact permanently cloudy.

Example: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averag...w_097053.shtml
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20...0.201006.shtml

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

Tasmania's western areas are infact permanently cloudy.

Example: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averag...w_097053.shtml
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20...0.201006.shtml

Mean number of cloudy days (annual) 211.6

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Mean number of cloudy days (annual) 211.6

That ontop of 2500mm of annual rainfall spread out over 208 days and Scottish-like temps, you end up with what is probably the worst climate in Australia. Although Cloudbourne is not far behind, with 179 cloudy days