There are plenty of apps devoted to marine weather observations and forecasting. Apps are a convenient and popular way to access wind & wave forecasts, marine observations, Doppler Weather Radar, and prepare the most favorable route for your passage. However not all apps are created equal. Several popular weather-related apps such as Squid Sailing Software, Predict Wind, Windy, LuckGrib, GRLevel3, and Radarscope will be reviewed. We will also examine the underlying data sources and discuss the positives and negatives associated with relying on apps for your cruising forecasts.
What you will learn at the presentation:
- How to interpret meteorological timekeeping.
- Where the data comes from.
- How forecast guidance is prepared.
- The meaning of forecast model resolution and why it matters?
- The ups and downs of forecast model performance and how to manage it.
- The features of several popular marine weather apps.
- The advantages of using Grib files.
- A few guidelines on using software-derived weather routing.
- Why you shouldn’t rely solely on apps for your marine forecasts.
- An introduction to several “must visit” weather-related websites.
- What to look for in an app for Doppler Weather radar.
