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2009-04-03 8:50 AM

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Subject: accuweather vs weather.com
What are your thoughts on accuweather.com vs weather.com?

I always get different weather reports from both for future forecasts. For example for tomorrow in my area, weather.com says light rain and wind. Accuweather says partly cloudy and wind. Either way its going to be an ok day tomorrow, but I have always wondered which is more accurate (if you can even say that about a weather report) and how they get their weather data. Sometimes the weather reports are drastically different from both sites.

Your thoughts? Any other online weather sites that you use?


2009-04-03 8:52 AM
in reply to: #2060160

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
I try not to obsess over things I can't control. ;-)
2009-04-03 8:53 AM
in reply to: #2060160

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

hi bloggy buddy

I use accuweather but only out of habit ..

I just wanted to say that I LOVE your avatar .. flexing in a wetsuit and flip flops. awesome.

2009-04-03 9:01 AM
in reply to: #2060160

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
Weather "experts" use a few different models, so each model could have a different forecast. All models are only as good as the data that is loaded and apparently a lot of the data is a guess! So I usually compare the forecasts. If they are close, good bet the forecast might occur. Here is another site I use that is pretty good. http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi.

Also, always look at the radar. That will tell you whats' coming.

Baiscally, SE winds will bring warm weather after long rain. (Think summer showers). This is usaully followed by SW winds will bring cooler weather after brief rain. (Think fast moving showers which could inculde hail.) NW is cooler weather after the SW winds and hangs around for a while. Then the cycle repeats when another low pressure system moves in. A high pressure system passes quicker with unsettled air with with winds from N. (Hope I got all that right). The above is for weather in the northern hemisphere only.
2009-04-03 9:06 AM
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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

randym - 2009-04-03 9:01 AM Weather "experts" use a few different models, so each model could have a different forecast. All models are only as good as the data that is loaded and apparently a lot of the data is a guess! So I usually compare the forecasts. If they are close, good bet the forecast might occur. Here is another site I use that is pretty good. http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi. Also, always look at the radar. That will tell you whats' coming. Baiscally, SE winds will bring warm weather after long rain. (Think summer showers). This is usaully followed by SW winds will bring cooler weather after brief rain. (Think fast moving showers which could inculde hail.) NW is cooler weather after the SW winds and hangs around for a while. Then the cycle repeats when another low pressure system moves in. A high pressure system passes quicker with unsettled air with with winds from N. (Hope I got all that right). The above is for weather in the northern hemisphere only.

right on.  i'm a http://www.wunderground.com/ user

2009-04-03 9:13 AM
in reply to: #2060160

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
NOAA. It's good enough for long range weather briefs to fly, it's good enough for me to use for tomorrow's workout.

Always look at the radar too. After a while you won't need the actual forecast near as much.


2009-04-03 9:17 AM
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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

intellicast.com is a good one.  Also, weatherunderground is chock full of good stuff.

But they all are about the same when it comes to the forecast.  It changes about every 4 to 6 hours. 

I always say, the weather guys couldn't forecast the weather if they were looking out the window.

2009-04-03 9:28 AM
in reply to: #2060210

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

x2 on wunderground, mainly for the hourly and marine weather

intellicast's radar summary is nice, gives the vectors and numbers for the nasty stuff

if you really want some in depth weather predictions, wx models  and discussions go here:

http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?act=home

 

 

 

2009-04-03 9:29 AM
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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

I will echo DanielG's endorsement of NOAA for forecasts.  Accuweather is horrible in their predictions from my experience.  Not only that, but it takes too damn long to load the page because of all of the ads.  NOAA has no ads because it is a government run site.

Here is a link to the NOAA site with the forecast for White Plains, NY.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=White+Plains&state=NY&site=OKX&textField1=41.0209&textField2=-73.7574&e=0

The best feature of this site is a link towards the bottom of the page under 'Additional Forecasts and Information'.  Click on the link labeled 'Hourly Weather Graph' and you will go to a number of graphical depictions of the weather for the next 48 hours, hour by hour.  You can move the 48 hour period displayed by clicking the window at the top and selecting a different start time for the forecast.  The reason I like this depiciton is because it provides an indication of the weather conditions for different times of the day instead of just saying the the high for the day will be 60 degrees.  If I want to do an early morning ride, it doesn't do me much good to know the high of the day will be 60 degrees, I want to know about what the temp is going to be at 7-8AM and you can get that from this site.  It also shows what the wind speed and direction is forecast to be and that's handy to know if you are going for a ride.

BTW, looks like the weather for White Plains really sucks for Saturday but Sunday will be great!

Hope you find the site as useful as I have.

Greg

2009-04-03 9:35 AM
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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
thanks everyone! I will check out NOAA
2009-04-03 9:36 AM
in reply to: #2060322

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
vrljc - 2009-04-03 10:35 AM

thanks everyone! I will check out NOAA


If you want the opinion of people anal about weather forecasting, ask pilots, we live by weather briefs


2009-04-03 9:39 AM
in reply to: #2060328

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

"If you want the opinion of people anal about weather forecasting, ask pilots, we live by weather briefs "

Haha!  X2 to that!

Greg

2009-04-03 10:01 AM
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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

Accuweather for the most part, but if I want detail on Sun, Wind and Temp...

http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?Submit=Go&sta=KEVV&state=IN

People who fly ultralights and hang gliders are REALLY concerned about the weather. I fly RC planes too so it's very helpful.

They have other maps that one might find useful too.  Go to www.usairnet.com and put in your zip code.

2009-04-03 10:06 AM
in reply to: #2060342

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
trinewby - 2009-04-03 9:39 AM

"If you want the opinion of people anal about weather forecasting, ask pilots, we live by weather briefs "

Haha!  X2 to that!

Greg

For real. My Dad is a pilot, I know what you're talkin about! He has taken extensive classes on weather and meterology... I should ask him when I'm worried about my next race! heehee...

 

2009-04-03 11:26 AM
in reply to: #2060196

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com
randym - 2009-04-03 8:01 AM
The above is for weather in the northern hemisphere only.

Every area of the country has different patterns.
2009-04-03 12:11 PM
in reply to: #2060328

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

DanielG - 2009-04-03 8:36 AM  If you want the opinion of people anal about weather forecasting, ask pilots, we live by weather briefs

Ha! True!  Mostly rely on weather channel because that is what we get in the flight deck. Yes we get TV on our airplanes in the cockpit (and you thought we were busy flying the airplane). 



2009-04-03 12:37 PM
in reply to: #2060160

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Subject: RE: accuweather vs weather.com

it's so funny you asked this b/c I loathe weather . com.  The adverts are overwhelmingly annoying.

noaa is a good alternative but I find I backslide to typing www . weather . com and hate myself. 

i forgot about wunderground and intellicast. 

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