Cloud Free Night - not updating ?

Startrek (Martin) · #1 04-01-2025, 11:35 AM

Cloud Free Night on my mobile hasn’t updated since Thursday evening 2nd January
Yesterday and last night was clouded out until the early hours , however CFN reported clear skies from 3pm yesterday arvo onwards until today

Does Rob still operate this app ??

Cheers
Martin

bluesilver (Peter) · #2 04-01-2025, 11:44 AM

I am not sure with the Cloud Free Night Program,
But if it is of any help, i use Astronomy.tools cloud forecast and appears o far to be fairly accurate.
https://clearoutside.com/forecast/50.7/-3.52
Just put in your town or postcode up there on the top left hand corner and it should give you a good idea.

bojan · #3 04-01-2025, 02:13 PM

I am using this one.
It is very good for 2-3 days in advance, less accurate for more than that.
BTW, I think most of those websites use the same data (as available to weather forecast agencies) to create their forecasts...

Startrek (Martin) · #4 04-01-2025, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bojan

I am using this one.
It is very good for 2-3 days in advance, less accurate for more than that.
BTW, I think most of those websites use the same data (as available to weather forecast agencies) to create their forecasts...

CFN uses Access model direct from the BOM and generally is updated every 3 hours or so
CFN is also good for 2 to 3 days in advance
I use CFN in conjunction with Weatherzone ( site specific) and is pretty accurate when comparing both every 3 hours from mid afternoon ….,
It’s been great and reliable since being transitioned to another operator.
The live satellite map is working fine but the Access G model forecast is stuck ( no update
Maybe BOM hasn’t released data to CFN ??

rdahni (Robert) · #5 04-01-2025, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Startrek

CFN uses Access model direct from the BOM and generally is updated every 3 hours or so
CFN is also good for 2 to 3 days in advance
I use CFN in conjunction with Weatherzone ( site specific) and is pretty accurate when comparing both every 3 hours from mid afternoon ….,
It’s been great and reliable since being transitioned to another operator.
The live satellite map is working fine but the Access G model forecast is stuck ( no update
Maybe BOM hasn’t released data to CFN ??

The Cloud Free Night service is still operating. The Bureau delivers near real-time ACCESS-G model data to the NCI, from where CFN freely downloads this model data. The NCI server is currently not responding hence ACCESS-G model forecasts are not updating in CFN. Real-time model data direct from the BoM is only available at a significant cost. Recommend Weatherwatch MetCentre for real-time ACCESS-G and ACCESS-C model forecasts (subscription required).

Startrek (Martin) · #6 04-01-2025, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdahni

The Cloud Free Night service is still operating. The Bureau delivers near real-time ACCESS-G model data to the NCI, from where CFN freely downloads this model data. The NCI server is currently not responding hence ACCESS-G model forecasts are not updating in CFN. Real-time model data direct from the BoM is only available at a significant cost. Recommend Weatherwatch MetCentre for real-time ACCESS-G and ACCESS-C model forecasts (subscription required).

Thanks Robert,
You now jogged my memory regarding BOM and subscriptions
I guess we can wait for the server to respond in due course
Cheers
Martin

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #7 05-01-2025, 10:01 PM

i use 7Timer

see working here https://weather.byrnes.website

use "7Timer Home" Page link

geoff

Startrek (Martin) · #8 08-01-2025, 08:52 AM

CFN is back on line today
Just in time for 2 weeks of cloudy and intermittent wet weather
If find the CFN Access model layout with all the weather parameters more useful than a lot of the other weather / astro Apps that show coloured block charts or just numerical data etc…

strongmanmike (Michael) · #9 08-01-2025, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Startrek

If find the CFN Access model layout with all the weather parameters more useful than a lot of the other weather / astro Apps that show coloured block charts or just numerical data etc…

I agree, it has proven quite accurate for Tinderry.

Unfortunately the ACCESS G model going down recently did stuff me up when the most recent prediction, at the time it had frozen, had it as totally clear... I was waiting for the update to make my final decision buuut meah, I gambled and went up the mountain anyway..aaaand DOH! it clouded over and even rained

... very annoying. Made a nice Puttanesca Pasta though and watched the cricket, then a movie...

Glad it is back up

Mike

OzEclipse (Joe Cali) · #10 08-01-2025, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I agree, it has proven quite accurate for Tinderry.

Unfortunately the ACCESS G model going down recently did stuff me up when the most recent prediction, at the time it had frozen, had it as totally clear... I was waiting for the update to make my final decision buuut meah, I gambled and went up the mountain anyway..aaaand DOH! it clouded over and even rained

... very annoying. Made a nice Puttanesca Pasta though and watched the cricket, then a movie...

Glad it is back up

Mike

Hi Mike,

It seems from other posts that it was the transmission of the model data, not the model itself. ACCESS G is available in the free versions of both Windy and Meteologix. One of these may get their model publication directly from BOM thus avoiding the routing block you experienced.

Joe

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 09-01-2025, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzEclipse

Hi Mike,

It seems from other posts that it was the transmission of the model data, not the model itself. ACCESS G is available in the free versions of both Windy and Meteologix. One of these may get their model publication directly from BOM thus avoiding the routing block you experienced.

Joe

Thanks mate, yeah I gathered it was just the link to the BOM model that was down.

That Windy site looks pretty comprehensive, thanks

Mike

rdahni (Robert) · #12 09-01-2025, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Thanks mate, yeah I gathered it was just the link to the BOM model that was down.

That Windy site looks pretty comprehensive, thanks

Mike

Windy now has hourly (Premium) and 3-hourly (free) ACCESS-C model forecasts!!!

Startrek (Martin) · #13 09-01-2025, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdahni

Windy now has hourly (Premium) and 3-hourly (free) ACCESS-C model forecasts!!!

Hi Robert,
Can you provide a link to Windy ?
Windy.com seems just for outdoor daytime sports etc.. and not for Astro stargazing and imaging ??
Also it mentions only for Android and I use an Apple iPhone

Thanks
Martin

rdahni (Robert) · #14 09-01-2025, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Startrek

Hi Robert,
Can you provide a link to Windy ?
Windy.com seems just for outdoor daytime sports etc.. and not for Astro stargazing and imaging ??
Also it mentions only for Android and I use an Apple iPhone

Thanks
Martin

Have Windy installed on Samsung phone, but prefer Windy.com on the desktop or laptop. Just login (free), select a favorite location and Clouds and you have a forecast map and meteogram, but not as well presented as Cloud Free Night.

Geochron (Jon) · #15 09-01-2025, 03:19 PM

Windy is available on the App Store for iPhone. Just make sure that you download the Windy.com one as there is another one just called Windy.app which is less useful.

Windy is great - not only showing predicted cloud through the next 3 days at hourly resolution but also a host of other 'layers'. For example you can use layers such as 'PM2.5' (particulate matter in the atmosphere) to predict seeing and layers such as 'Dew point' to indicate when you might need to worry about dew. All these are available in a map format so that you can see changes approaching your site.

Another thing that may not be well known is that if you download the BOM app then you can set this up for your exact location and it will show predicted cloudy/clear conditions on an hourly basis for the next 3 days. I can't find anywhere on the main BOM site that provides this degree of granularity in both time and space - it is more concerned with regional trends.

Startrek (Martin) · #16 09-01-2025, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdahni

Have Windy installed on Samsung phone, but prefer Windy.com on the desktop or laptop. Just login (free), select a favorite location and Clouds and you have a forecast map and meteogram, but not as well presented as Cloud Free Night.

Thanks Robert

Startrek (Martin) · #17 09-01-2025, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geochron

Windy is available on the App Store for iPhone. Just make sure that you download the Windy.com one as there is another one just called Windy.app which is less useful.

Windy is great - not only showing predicted cloud through the next 3 days at hourly resolution but also a host of other 'layers'. For example you can use layers such as 'PM2.5' (particulate matter in the atmosphere) to predict seeing and layers such as 'Dew point' to indicate when you might need to worry about dew. All these are available in a map format so that you can see changes approaching your site.

Another thing that may not be well known is that if you download the BOM app then you can set this up for your exact location and it will show predicted cloudy/clear conditions on an hourly basis for the next 3 days. I can't find anywhere on the main BOM site that provides this degree of granularity in both time and space - it is more concerned with regional trends.

Thanks Jon