Cloud cover forecasts

[arb]

I have noticed in some of the US-based forums that some of the forum posters have clear-sky clocks in their signature. This looks like a great tool, but it appears to be only for the US/Canada unfortunately. Does anyone know of a similar resource for Australian skies? Or does the Bureau of Meteorology publish "cloud cover" forecasts? It'd be real nice to know that when I head out that the skies won't have clouded over by the time I get to my favourite observing spot. (Which happened the other night - crystal clear skies at home, but within half an hour the whole sky was covered in cloud!)

[DobDobDob (Ron)]

I don't know about the clocks, but this is a nice site which has a beaut tool after you figure out how to drive it: http://www.theweatherchaser.com/maps/index.html

[arb]

Originally Posted by tailwag

I don't know about the clocks, but this is a nice site which has a beaut tool after you figure out how to drive it: http://www.theweatherchaser.com/maps/index.html

Okay... So how do you drive it?

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

there is a link to 3-day cloud forecast maps on the IIS Weather page under Resources. I've found them to be surprisingly reliable (ie the 12 and 24 hour ones).

[DobDobDob (Ron)]

Originally Posted by arb

Okay... So how do you drive it?

On the bottom right hand side of the page there is a square, grab the inner square with your mouse and drag it to your location on the smaller inset map, and the main map will follow suit

[White Rabbit]

Firefox has a weather plug in for your browser that has a 3 day forecast and also a pop up radar image. The radar is only for current cloud cover for the whole of Oz.

[LX200]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

Firefox has a weather plug in for your browser.....

G'day Y'all
Yeah its cool changes every half hour with a pop up image

[psadams]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

there is a link to 3-day cloud forecast maps on the IIS Weather page under Resources. I've found them to be surprisingly reliable (ie the 12 and 24 hour ones).

Only seems to work for VIC, NSW & Tasmania not for the other states.

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by psadams

Only seems to work for VIC, NSW & Tasmania not for the other states.

Didn't work last night for SE Melbourne. I set up before sunset - absolutely clear skies, as predicted. Went out at 9:30pm - Huh? Almost 90% clouded over! It did break up a bit by 10:30, but I never saw Saturn

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

That's strange Eric, I looked at the forecast also and it said it was going to be cloudy over Melbourne. Make sure you look at the date and time over the large image. Don't rely on the +12h, 24h, 36h etc times listed on the overview page.

[erick (Eric)]

Yes, perhaps I misread. I woke up to clear skies this morning!

[matt]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

Firefox has a weather plug in for your browser that has a 3 day forecast and also a pop up radar image. The radar is only for current cloud cover for the whole of Oz.

So where do you get the plug-in?

[erick (Eric)]

I used this one:-

http://forecastfox.mozdev.org/

Go to "installation page".