Weatherzone and Cloud Free Night

[Startrek]

I use both Weatherzone and Cloud Free Night for my forecasts
Lately I’ve had issues opening Weatherzone and Cloud Free Night is still stuck on last week’s forecast
I sent an email yesterday to CFN but no reply ?
There is a note on the CFN main page dated back to July saying forecasts could be delayed sometimes , but it’s been ok since last week.
Anyone else experiencing the same issues with these 2 apps / sites

Cheers
Martin

[joshman]

It looks to be mainly the ACCESS forecasts that aren't working. the synoptic charts, Satellite images and the GFS forecast all seem to be up to date.

[N1]

ACCESS appears to be working fine on windy.com along with the other models.

[Startrek]

I just received a reply from Robert Dahni , BOM are not providing Access data as of 21st September 2023 until further notice.
That’s disappointing as Access data was fairly reliable
At least satellite video is still available

[Rainmaker]

I use YR.NO , works for me !!!

[OzEclipse]

The model is everything. yr.no quoted by Matt uses the ECMWF model and it predicts cloud with high accuracy over much of the Central West NSW. I have used it with great success over a wide area from Yass out through Young Cowra, Bathurst, West Wyalong, Parkes and Dubbo. It works with remarkable accuracy over the southwest slopes and plains. I have found ACCESS provides better predictions from Canberra east and south through the ranges.

You need to find the right model for your region.

Joe

[rdahni]

ACCESS model forecast updates have ceased in Cloud Free Night since Thursday 21 September 2023. The data publisher (BoM) has stopped publishing further data into the data collection used by CFN to freely download ACCESS model data, due to storage limitations. It is unknown when (or if) the data flow will resume.


Real-time ACCESS-G (only registration required) and ACCESS-C (subscription $$$ required) model forecast maps are available in Weatherwatch Metcentre.

[Camelopardalis]

Sure is a shame BOM has stopped publishing, given it’s a publicly-funded agency and all.

Maybe we can crowd fund a new hard disk for them :lol:

[rdahni]

ACCESS-G model forecast updates have returned in Cloud Free Night. ACCESS-C forecasts are still currently unavailable.

[EpickCrom]

Hi Martin.

I use the Weatherzone app on my android mobile for my forecasts. I'm not experiencing any issues with it and find it's cloud cover forecasts to be startlingly accurate! I hope you get your issue sorted.

Clear Skies
Joe

[Startrek]

Hi Joe,
Robert from Cloud Free Night has advised ( see above ) that Access G model forecasts have been re instated which is great news
Access C modelling is what we all want but G model is a good cross reference to Weatherzone so at least it’s close to what we had before.
Cheers
Martin

[EpickCrom]

Hi Martin, glad to hear that it's working well for you now. Weatherzone has been invaluable for me for planning my observing sessions :thumbsup:

Cheers
Joe

[joshman]

Glad to hear we're getting some of the more detailed modelling back. I'm using a suite of forecasts to check and cross-check. especially considering how little imaging time i seem to be getting at the moment. Weatherzone, Metcheck, ClearOutside and CloudFreeNight.

[rdahni]

Added Metcheck to the Meteogram page on Cloud Free Night. Now you can easily compare, for a specific location, ACCESS/GFS model meteogram forecasts in CFN with Oz Forecast, Yr, Clear Outside, Meteoblue, Metcheck and 7Timer! forecasts.