Just curious as to which online weather site you guys think is the most accurate? I've been looking at a few but there's always conflicting reports. Is there one out there that is simply more accurate than the rest?

Most accurate - look out the window
But seriously, i tend to use 3 or 4 forecast sites and try and decypher from the information.
BOM.gov would have to be one of the better equipped sites to use.
There is always going to be an element of chance, the further out you predict.
Generally the Southern Ocean Barometric forecast can provide you with a reliable outlook, as long as you can understand the high and low pressure movements and the particular effects each one produces.
Thats what i use anyway.
Hope that helps.

drivetotheheadlandhavealook.com.au

PhilSWR said...

Just curious as to which online weather site you guys think is the most accurate? I've been looking at a few but there's always conflicting reports. Is there one out there that is simply more accurate than the rest?

seabreeze

It really depends on where you live, and the time of the year -> in the Melbourne area, I find it not accurate enough, while windguru is a little better.

Nothing is all that useful for predictions, as Melbourne heads into the doldrums (April / May).

As an example the Seabreeze arrows are showing 25kn easterly Saturday arvo, for Melbourne - I wouldn't rely on that forecast for sailing at the top of the Bay. But it is likely to blow 25kn at Sandy Point (2.5hrs away) and maybe 15-20 at Inverloch (2hrs away).

Generally speaking, the BOM isn't useful as they use too many generalisations, but the "wind and wave" forecasts for Port Philip Bay, are somewhat useful for predicting a few hours ahead.

marine wind forecast
www.bom.gov.au/marine/wind.shtml

Usually the most accurate predictor for the Perth area as it shows the windstrengths for different areas of the coast and river (which are usually quite different) whereas the forecasts are just an average.

gday,i generally use three or four sites but as the other replies you have had,my advice would be to watch for two very important cylces,this is off the coast of fremantle anyway and they are any troughs pushing down from the north and our typical high approaching from the west keep an eye on there movement and the weather sites at the same time,and when it all starts to look good,and stays where it should and the previous recorded days weather did what it said it should,get ready to ring the boss and tell him you wont be in,cheers seadog67

For observations, whatever station is nearest is best.

Many yacht clubs have weather stations and cams linked to their web sites. A bit of browsing on maps and the net will find them.

At my local spot we have a BOM weather station 6km offshore, and an airport about 10km away. I find that splitting the difference between the two works well.

For short term forecasts the BOM is best. I look at the local waters forecasts.

BOM has a simulation that predicts the winds and presents the results graphically. It's been surprisingly accurate in my area (Melbourne).

http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/localwaters.shtml?type=WindMag

I like W1llyweather for long range forecasts. It's not accurate but you can get all the interesting stuff on a single page (tides, wind, temp, rain etc)

The Windfinder and Windguru graphic predictions are pretty good for a quick, rough forecast up to a week ahead. They are able to be customized to specific locations and with Windguru you can add modifications based on local knowledge.
The disadvantage of those predictions is that they are based on a single computer model. (GFS)
The advantage of them is that they are free.
Predictwind, a NZ based company, shows a bit more detail with one hour forecasts and high resolution maps.
Another advantage of Predictwind is that they show both the GFS and CMC models. If they both agree closely you can have more confidence. If they don't, its anyone's guess.
To get the Predictwind forecasts more than a day ahead you have to pay a subscription.
For when it really matters (isn't that always?) I subscribe to Weatherzone (pro) for $5 a month. This gives me access to some amazing information from six separate computer models!
There I can study the state sized predicted maps and much more up to 16 days ahead, although anything more than 4 or 5 days is ahead is not usually all that reliable. What does help a lot is comparing the models. Again, if they all tend to agree closely you have probably hit the jackpot. If they don't, well, as I said before, it can be anyone's guess.
I highly recommend weatherzone pro, especially if you learned to read a weather map in school.

really a nice information shared thanks for sharing

Thanks heaps for the replies. Now I have 34 weather sites saved in my Favourites...lol