North Coast Spatial Information Group
Last updated May 14th 2007
Weather update...
Here's current weather
information including a chart of the Southern Oscillation Index (1), a cloud
temperature satellite image (2), a synoptic chart (1), a map of rainfall in
the last 24hrs (1), local weather radar (1) and lightning strikes (5) & (6)
and up-to-date forecasts and observations (1). Forecast information includes
rainfall maps (3), the rainfall outlook for the next three months (1)
and sea surface temperatures and wave heights (4). These come from a range
of sources so...
...please
read the notice at the bottom of the page!
Enjoy!
Maps and Charts (1) - Current conditions...
The following charts and images are reasonably self explanatory. The SOI graph indicates current trends in sea surface air pressure differences between Easter Island/Tahiti and Indonesia/Northern Australia - this balance is an indicator of the likelihood of more or less than average rainfall based upon the El Nino/La Nina phenomenon. The more positive the figure shown, the greater the likelihood of above average rainfall over Australia. To view another predictor of likely developments in the El Nino/La Nina phenomenon follow this link to COLA/IGES. The false colour satellite image below is cloud temperature (indicating height) as a surrogate for rainfall. The synoptic chart and last 24 hrs rainfall and temperature are straightforward. The lightning strike information comes from Energex - and Country Energy after The Weather Co. has recently changed their charging pratices meaning that even non-profit sites such as this, which have promoted their services, have to pay to receive images! Unfortunately the Energex info. that comes from GPATS is of more value to our S.E. Queensland friends, cutting out as it does somewhat north of the most southerly extent of our groups area. For this reason the Country Energy link has been included. Finally the Grafton radar comes from our friends at the Weather Bureau.
For an explanation of the radar imagery follow this link. For a "coming weather" radar view to the west of our area follow this link to Moree radar and another useful tool, also from the BoM, is the Grafton radar loop.
Maps and Charts (2) - Forecast Maps...
Explanatory notes for IGES
images:- These
charts are less common and require some explanation. The first compound image
is forecast rainfall for the next 10 days, broken into two groups of 5 days,
and the final component is the likely variation from normal for the full 10
day period. Details regarding the methodology used can be obtained from
IGES .
The second image (below) shows
forecasts of two important measures of the likelihood of thunderstorms --
the Totals Totals (or tot-tots) Index and Precipitable Water (or PW).
The Totals Totals Index (the shading on the map) is a measure of the instability in the lower atmosphere. It is calculated from temperature and humidity observations and forecasts in the lower 20,000 feet of the atmosphere. Thunderstorms are unlikely to develop when the tot-tots is below 45, likely to develop above 50, and likely to be severe above 55. The scale is given in the top right corner of the map.
The Precipitable Water (iso-lines on the maps) shows how much rain you would theoretically get at any particular point if you could squeeze the whole atmosphere like a sponge. Obviously, you need something to trigger the "squeezing", such as uplift caused by mountains, or instability in the atmosphere. That is why these two measures are overlaid on the map -- the tot-tots to tell you the forecast level of instability, and the PW to indicate how much moisture is available.
(These generally come online about 10pm EST - check images for currency. Acknowledgements to the Australian Weather News and Links page for some of the above explanations...it's a GREAT page!)
Sea surface temps, wave heights and tides...
For the surfers and mariners amongst you...here's sea surface temperatures, wave heights and tides...
Firstly, here's a couple of HOT sites for wave heights and directions...
and here's some more local ones!
"Mouseover"
the sea temps diagram for last 4 days wave height data...(takes a few seconds
to fully load...)
To adjust tides for local destinations please
ADD... 6 mins for Brunswick Heads, 7 mins. for Ballina River entrance, 4 hrs 15 mins for Grafton, 1 hr 10 mins. for Stuarts Is./ Nambucca, 19 mins. for Port Macquarie, 2 hrs 25 mins for Taree, nothing for Yamba, 2 hrs for Maclean, 12 mins for Wooli River entrance and
SUBTRACT... 7 minutes for Coffs Harbour Jetty.
Forecasts, observations and outlook... (mouse over the icons)
Is it flooding? Here's the latest flood information . Or do you need the SES Homepage?
<< IMPORTANT NOTICE >>
This site gratefully acknowledges that the information above is sourced from (1) the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, (2) from James Cook University at Townsville, Cairns and Mackay in Qld. or JCU's ftp site, (3) the Institute of Global Environment and Society (IGES) (4) from the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, (5) The Weather Co. and (6) ENERGEX and Country Energy and their suppliers. The Copyright for these images and associated information belongs to those organisations and to their respective sources. Users wishing to contact these institutions can use the above website links or the Met. Bureau contacts page, JCU's contacts page or the Centre for Ocean, Land, Atmospheric Studies (COLA) or at www@grads.iges.org - which can provide more information.
Please send any comments about this page, what you'd like to see added etc., to the author...
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