Cloud Forecasts for Australian Astronomers [Archive]

View Full Version here: : Cloud Forecasts for Australian Astronomers

Phil Hart

14-09-2010, 09:38 PM

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 (http://philhart.com/content/cloud-forecasts-australian-astronomers)

cheers
Phil

Paddy

15-09-2010, 11:19 AM

Thanks Phil, this looks very useful indeed.

h0ughy

15-09-2010, 11:46 AM

looks a great tool - Thanks Phil

higginsdj

15-09-2010, 12:31 PM

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

multiweb

15-09-2010, 12:40 PM

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

seeker372011

15-09-2010, 05:47 PM

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

RobF

15-09-2010, 08:39 PM

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

higginsdj

16-09-2010, 10:23 AM

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

16-09-2010, 11:10 AM

Thanks Phil,
Most appreciated!
Bartman

ballaratdragons

16-09-2010, 04:23 PM

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/projects/Forcs/ani_vt.html click 'start' to run it and see what I mean.

pgc hunter

16-09-2010, 05:13 PM

Tasmania's western areas are infact permanently cloudy.

Example: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_097053.shtml
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201006/html/IDCJDW7050.201006.shtml

ballaratdragons

16-09-2010, 05:39 PM

Mean number of cloudy days (annual) 211.6 :eyepop:

pgc hunter

16-09-2010, 06:08 PM

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 :(