Accurate weather predictions.

[azz]

Gidday, where do you guys that go offshore get your weather forecasts from? Ive got 3-4 different sites that i look at but they usually contradict each other. Its hard to plan a trip and then get to the seaway entrance and its wind chopped s**t outside.

Thanks, Azza.

[Eug]

a website that Bri recommended to me is coastalwatch, it has live cams and streaming video of various bars. http://www.coastalwatch.com/

[upwindoverdrive]

Have a look at the link below.
/>http://www.marineweather.net.au/models/?lt=wzstate&lc=qld&mt=wrf

I used this site for yacht racing predicting. Gives a few days forward prediction

[daveylad]

I work with 3 sites but I find the BOM wind charts http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/marine/wind/index.jsp

the best and up to now the most reliable others are Seabreeze...find to conservative, Willys...too liberal and BOM

[Bommie]

BOM

[ellicat]

This shows current ACTUAL wave data
/>http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/coast_and_oceans/waves_and_storm_tides/wave_monitoring/

Just click on through to where you are interested and then hit the "plot graph"

It doesn't forecast, but can be used in conjunction to see how the forecasters are going.

Buoyweather is another good one for outside users. For the most comprehensive info you need to subscribe rather than rely on and complain about freebies.

If you spend some time on the BOM site it will teach you enough for you to understand the synoptic charts and you can then decide if you agree or not with the forecasts.

Then it's just experience. You will learn things like what time the bay usually blows up in summer and winter etc. The effects tide and swell will have as they interact with wind direction etc etc

[1800amix]

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/brief/

As well as BOM I use this to get a more complete picture as aviation weather services are updated frequently. I've got aviation apps on my phone also and can get updates while out in the bay.

[tugger]

coastwatch has alot of current info like waverider bouys live info, current wind speed from many stations on the water in the south east, latest bom predictions, synoptic charts, live surf cams etc which is all i need to plan a trip