New South Wales

Introduction
Weather Information Used To Make Decisions
How Weather Information Is Used
Meeting Information Requirements
Timeliness Of Weather Information Availability
Frequency Of Weather Information Updates
Frequency Of Access Of Weather Information
Timeliness Of Weather Information
Hour Of Day Weather Information Is Accessed
Perception Of Accuracy Of Forecasts
Level Of Forecast Accuracy Over Time
Media Used To Access Weather Information
Overall Satisfaction With Bureau Of Meteorology

Introduction

The information presented here comes from the results of an online user survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (hereafter the 'Bureau') in February 2005. The aim of the survey was to investigate what types of weather information members of the public use to assist them in making weather-dependent decisions, and how they access this information. The survey also examines the Bureau's performance in meeting the weather information requirements of the Australian public, considering aspects such as the accuracy, timeliness and usefulness of weather services.

It is important for the Bureau to have an understanding of how people access and use weather information and services, and to know what they think of the accuracy, timeliness and usefulness of weather services. This information assists the Bureau with future planning of products and services, and is also used in regular reports to the Australian government.

Weather Information Used To Make Decisions

Reference: question 1

In making decisions based on or influenced by the weather, most survey respondents indicated that in the past month they had sought information about thunderstorms, maximum temperature and rain.

Figure 1 shows a comparison of weather elements of interest to New South Wales survey respondents.

Fig 1. Weather information used to make weather-dependent decisions

How Weather Information Is Used

Reference: question 2

Survey respondents were asked if they used weather information for personal use or for work use. Most respondents indicated personal use (93%), however a significant number also indicated that they used weather information for work (29%). Industries in which weather information was used included construction, agriculture, transport and landscaping.

Meeting Information Requirements

Reference: question 3

In New South Wales, 71% of respondents said that their weather information requirements were met regularly and 23% said their requirements were met sometimes. The other 6% of respondents said that their requirements were not met. Refer to Figure 2.

chart_information_meeting_requirements

Fig 2. Does weather information meet requirements

Timeliness Of Weather Information Availability

Reference: question 4

Respondents were asked how far ahead of making a weather dependent decision they would like weather information to be available.

In New South Wales,

16% of respondents indicated that they would like information 12 -24 hours ahead
15% indicated 3 - 4 days ahead
14% indicated 1 - 2 days ahead
14% indicated 1 - 3 hours ahead
13% indicated 3 - 12 hours ahead
12% indicated 5 - 7 days ahead
8% indicated less than 1 hour ahead
4% of respondents indicated that they would like information more than 8 days ahead

Frequency Of Weather Information Updates

Reference: question 5

Respondents were asked how often they would like weather information updated. Responses included:

Daily/every 24 hours/once a day
Twice a day
Hourly
Every few hours/every 3-4 hours
Three times a day
Morning & evening
As frequently as possible
Every 6 hours
Each evening
Happy with current arrangements
More frequently when unusual conditions
Every 2 hours

Frequency Of Access Of Weather Information

Reference: question 6

Respondents were asked how frequently they accessed or received weather information when making a weather dependent decision. In New South Wales, 40% of respondents said that they accessed weather information more than once per day, and 27% said that they accessed information daily when making a weather dependent decision.

Figure 3 shows the responses graphically.

chart_frequency_of_access_information

Fig 3. Frequency of access of weather information

Timeliness Of Weather Information Availability

Reference: question 7

Respondents were asked if the weather information sought was available in time to meet their needs.

In New South Wales,

87% of respondents indicated that weather information was available in time for them to make a decision either always, or most of the time
5% indicated that it was available in time as often as not
2% indicated that it was not available in time often enough
1% indicated that it was never available in time

Hour Of Day Weather Information Is Accessed

Reference: question 8

In New South Wales, the time when weather information was most likely to be accessed was the 8:00 - 11:59am timeslot (15%), however 43% of respondents said that they accessed weather information at "no particular time".

Figure 4 shows the distribution of the time of day that weather information was accessed.

chart_hour_of_day_information_accessed

Fig 4. Hour of the day that weather information is accessed

Perception Of Accuracy Of Forecasts
Reference: questions 9-16 Respondents were asked to indicate their perception of the accuracy of forecasts of five weather elements - rain, maximum and minimum temperatures, cloud/sunshine and wind - as well as for forecasts and warnings overall, 24 hour forecasts and 2-4 day forecasts, for the past month. They were asked to nominate the accuracy for each forecast type on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = always accurate and 5 = always inaccurate. Figure 5 below shows the perception of forecast accuracy for forecasts and warnings overall, 24 hour, 2-4 day, rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, cloud/sunshine and wind forecasts. New South Wales survey respondents indicated that in general they perceived forecasts as accurate, with 24 hour forecasts perceived as the most accurate and rainfall forecasts as less accurate.

		A: Accurate A=I: Accurate as often as Inaccurate UI: Usually Inaccurate AI: Always Inaccurate NA: No Answer

Fig 5. Perception of forecast accuracy for forecasts in general, and for forecasts of various weather elements

Level Of Forecast Accuracy Over Time

Reference: question 17

In New South Wales, 69% of respondents believed that weather forecasts and warnings had become more accurate over the last few years, with 23% believing them no different and 4% believing them to be less accurate.

Media Used To Access Weather Information

Reference: question 18

Respondents were asked which media they had used to receive or access weather information in the past month.

In New South Wales,

The Bureau of Meteorology website was used by 96% of respondents
Free-to-air television was used by 77% of respondents
ABC Radio was used by 40% of respondents
Other radio was used by 38% of respondents
Other websites were used by 34% of respondents
Pay TV was used by 26% of respondents
SMS was used by 7% of respondents
Telephone was used by 6% of respondents
Fax was used by 3% of respondents

Figure 6 below shows the media used to receive or access weather information

chart_media_used

Fig 6. Media used to receive or access weather information

Overall Satisfaction With Bureau Of Meteorology

Reference: question 19

Overall satisfaction with the information received from the Bureau showed that 91% of New South Wales respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they receive (Figure 7).

chart_overall_satisfaction

Fig 7. Overall satisfaction with weather services provided by the Bureau

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