Issued: 07 December 2011
Media Release - Tasmania Office
Point and click for your local forecast
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its Forecast Explorer weather map viewer for Tasmania today (7 December 2011).
The Bureau's Tasmania Regional Director, Steve Pendlebury said the new Forecast Explorer provides map-based forecasts for land and marine areas with the ability to view a forecast for any location at the click of a mouse.
"People using Forecast Explorer will now see a 7-day weather forecast, which includes maximum and minimum temperatures, the likelihood of rain and rainfall totals for any location across Tasmania," said Mr. Pendlebury. Similarly, mariners can obtain 4-day forecasts of sea state and wind conditions for anywhere within Tasmania's coastal waters.
The Bureau has also introduced a special forecast product for Tasmania's Overland Track, Australia's most spectacular multi-day walking trail. Hikers tackling the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair will now have detailed 7-day weather forecasts for the track route.
"With an essentially maritime climate, weather conditions throughout Tasmania can change very quickly," said Mr. Pendlebury. "When you're on a 6-day hike such as the Overland Track, planning your trip and working out where and when to stop, for instance, is crucial. Forecast Explorer makes that a lot easier now because you can click on any point on the Track and get a 7-day forecast of weather conditions around that point."
In conjunction with the release of Forecast Explorer for Tasmania, a further 32 locations will now get a 7-day forecast, bringing the state total to 68 locations.
"Forecast Explorer is part of a growing suite of Next Generation Forecast and Warning System products being rolled out across Australia," said Mr. Pendlebury.
Once fully implemented nationally the Next Generation and Forecast and Warning System will give visitors to the Bureau's website:
- 7-day forecasts for 650 towns across Australia; and
- 7-day forecasts for any location using Forecast Explorer's point and click technology
For media enquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Danita Matusch, National Media Relations Adviser, (03) 9669 4057
or email : media@bom.gov.au