Wednesday 26 July 2000

MEDIA RELEASE - VICTORIAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Weather service fires up for Melbourne leg of the Olympic Torch relay

As the Olympic torch makes its way across Victoria, the Bureau of Meteorology will issue two extra forecasts each day, in addition to their standard weather services, to meet the needs of relay organisers, runners and spectators.

Mr Mark Williams, the Bureau's Acting Regional Director, said relay participants would receive regular updates about weather conditions. "A typical torch relay forecast will include the general weather situation, warnings of potentially hazardous conditions, expected weather for the next part of the route, an outlook for the following day and a scheduled time for the next forecast," he said.

Mr Williams said the Bureau was dependent on a vast database of information to compile forecasts. "In addition to technology such as satellites, radar and automatic weather stations the Bureau also has a network of observers along the torch route who provide valuable local information." An army of voluntary storm spotters - there are about 700 in Victoria - will also report on dangerous or interesting phenomena.

Forecasting for the torch relay is just one of a number of weather services to be provided for the Sydney 2000 Olympics under an agreement between the Bureau and the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Two meteorologists from the Bureau's Victorian office have been selected to travel to Sydney to assist with forecasting arrangements set in place for the Games. Senior Forecasters Terry Ryan and Tony Bannister will be based in Sydney from late August to the end of the Games to issue forecasts, briefings and tailored services for outdoor events.

Terry Ryan, Tony Bannister and Mark Williams will be available for media interviews (details below).

Although the Bureau is not predicting any really unusual weather over the next few days, it is important for relay participants to be aware of local factors such as temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind, as these elements have an effect on comfort levels of individual runners.

Climate was one of the criteria taken into account during development of the national torch relay route. The Australian leg of the journey, which covers 27,000 kilometres, will see the flame traverse every climate zone in the country.

Further information:
Terry Ryan, Senior Forecaster, Regional Forecasting Centre, Victoria,
tel work: (03) 9669 4921.

Tony Bannister, Senior Meteorologist, Severe Weather, Victoria,
tel work: (03) 9669 4907, mob: 0407 240 534

Mark Williams, Acting Regional Director, Victoria,
tel work: (03) 9669 4968, mob: 0417 519 795, e-mail: mark.williams@bom.gov.au

Barry Southern, Acting Supervising Meteorologist, Victoria,
tel work: (03) 9669 4902, mob: 0407 878 879, b.southern@bom.gov.au

Bureau of Meteorology Olympic web site:
The Bureau's Olympic web site has been archived and is available from the National Library of Australia http://pandora.nla.gov.au/parchive/2000/S2000-Sep-15/www.olympic.bom.gov.au/olympic/index.htm.