Information
Sources
Where does our weather information come from?
Weatherzone utilises weather information from a variety of quality sources, including our own market-leading Opticast forecast system and advanced total lightning network. Additional information is also included from trustworthy sources such as the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.
Weatherzone’s Opticast forecast system utilises realtime observations from the Bureau of Meteorology, our client’s weather stations, Weatherzone’s own weather station network and from weather agencies across the globe for both improvements in accuracy and realtime adjustments of forecast in rapidly changing situations.
Weatherzone meteorologists also provide tailored forecasting services, television scripts, news stories and videos to meet your every need.
Lifestyle information for surf is sources from Australia’s most popular surf site Swellnet.com, whilst snow reports are sourced from the major Australian ski resorts.
This dedication to in-house innovation, combined with existing quality information sources, ensured that you can get the most accurate information available in any service you take from Weatherzone.
Weather content provided by Weatherzone is based on content sourced from the following organisations:
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
- Swellnet
- Customweather
- European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
- US National Weather Service (NWS)
- Metservice (NZ)
- Department of Natural Resources
- Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
- The Royal Navy
- Profarmer
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Manly Hydraulics Laboratory
- UV information supplied by KNMI/ESA
Observations, current conditions and climatological information
This information is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology, Metservice NZ, the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Weather Service. Weatherzone also has its own forecast model known as Opticast and its own Australia-wide lightning network. In some cases, Weatherzone applies formulae to the data in order to create additional fields for specific purposes. Examples of these are “wind chill”, “heat stress”, “growing degree days” and so on.
Weather observations are provided to clients with limited quality control.
Weather forecasts
Australian weather forecasts supplied by Weatherzone are sourced from Bureau of Meteorology forecasts or created by in-house models. Additional forecasts are provided by overseas providers including Metservice NZ, Customweather and the WMO.
The Bureau of Meteorology also provides marine forecasts, weather warnings and aviation forecasts.
Increasingly, Weatherzone is replacing Bureau of Meteorology forecasts with independent forecasts produced by in-house modelling and meteorologists.
Major city forecasts are here: Melbourne weather, Sydney weather, Brisbane weather, Perth weather, Adelaide weather
Long Range weather forecasts – 14 days to 12 months
These forecasts are produced by Weatherzone meteorologists using raw information provided by international weather agencies.
These forecasts are produced using a combination of techniques, some in the public domain and others developed by Weatherzone. The result is a suite of long range forecasts that are considered to be the most accurate available for the Australian region.
More information on long range forecasts and 14 day forecasts
River heights and dam levels
These readings are provided variously by the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Natural Resources in New South Wales, Sydney Catchment Authority, Melbourne Water and other local water agencies.
Air quality readings and forecasts and beach quality reports
This information for Melbourne and Sydney are provided by the respective Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in each state.
Satellite imagery
All satellite imagery originates from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Weatherzone receives this information via the Bureau of Meteorology.
Weatherzone produces custom weather satellite images for clients.
Weather radar
All weather radar images provided by Weatherzone originate from the Bureau of Meteorology’s radar network. Raw radar information is delivered to Weatherzone where custom software generates images for web and TV clients.
Sunrise and sunset
Sunrise and sunset times are computed by Weatherzone using formulae that are in the public domain.
Tide times
Tidal times are computed by Weatherzone using hydrographical data originally sourced from the BOM.
Surf reports and forecasts
Surf forecasts and reports are sourced from Swellnet.
Snow reports
All ski and snow reports provided by Weatherzone are sourced from ski.com.au.
Snow forecasts
Forecasts of snow and alpine conditions and related commentaries are produced by Weatherzone meteorological department. These forecasts are based on information from various sources including the Bureau of Meteorology.
Weather maps and computer generated forecast charts
Weatherzone provides a large range of weather forecast guidance heavily based on computer models. These computer models are run by ECMWF, US National Weather Service and the Bureau of Meteorology. In addition, Weatherzone runs computer models in-house to generate additional forecast guidance for specific applications.
In most cases these computer generated forecast charts are provided with little or no quality control and should only be used in conjunction with other meteorological guidance.
Regardless of the organisation running the model, all computer forecast models for the Australian region are run using source files collected by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Agricultural commodity information
Information and News relating to agricultural commodities is sourced from ProFarmer.
Weather News stories
Stories relating to breaking weather events are produced internally and also sourced from the ABC.
Summary
More information regarding weather packages for television broadcasters.
More information regarding weather content and services for internet sites.
We also provide basic internet weather services free of charge.