Posted by Ken Henke on November 10, 2014 at 8:03 PM
Other than hiring out Stan, is there an app or web site that you feel predicts local cloud cover reasonably well? I typically have used Clear Dark Sky, but that has failed me too many times.
Might as well ask if any weather app or site is also somewhat accurate. Seems whatever I have used lately has failed me miserably. Maybe just a sign of the times.
Posted by Glenn Randall on November 11, 2014 at 12:11 AM
Posted by Roger Clark on November 11, 2014 at 12:13 AM
This is an astronomical web site with data based on a Canadian weather service satellite and Canadian analysis. It predicts clouds, winds and other things up to 48 hours in advance:
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/
Choose a state, then choose an "observatory" near the location you re interested in. The click on the timeline and get the predict images. I have found the predicts impressively accurate and I have been using the site for many years, for all kinds of activities, ranging from hiking, camping, photography, astronomy, and professionally planning out field work as well as NASA science overflights with research aircraft. You can register your own location. The images for each location are the same, just the location indicator changes so you can tell where you are in relation to the clouds (great for going to predicted bets location for sunrise).
Being a Canadian model, the predict accuracy if better to the north; I have still found it impressively accurate in Colorado and region. It is a little less accurate in the SE were weather is more tropical. I also find that is sometimes does not predict very thin cirrus (with will mess up my night photography).
Roger
Posted by Erik Stensland on November 11, 2014 at 11:18 AM
There is just such an app in the development stages. I'm beta testing it at the moment. http://www.skyfireapp.com/
Posted by Ken Henke on November 11, 2014 at 11:50 AM
Appreciate the great suggestions. Roger, I have used ClearDarkSky as I mentioned, but recently it has been less than accurate for RMNP and some other mountainous areas in Colorado. To be fair, it has been spot on for Utah for me. Of course, I do realize mountainous areas can create their own localized weather and I suspect that is issue I have been having.
As far as general weather forecasts, I use the weather underground app, which I suspect uses the NWS for their predictions? It has generally been quite accurate.
Erik, thanks for the info on sky fire! That is the one I had heard a lot about but couldn't find their website. Will be real interested on how well it does for mountainous areas. RMNP will obviously be a great test. Another alternative is providing your cell phone number and so I can call you 24/7 Ok, just kidding. It never ceases to amaze me the difference in cloud cover from my place in Wellington to RMNP.
I suspect another useful bit of information is purchasing Stan Rose's ebook on reading weather. I suppose I should engage the gray matter and actually be able to read weather maps!
Posted by Stan Rose on November 13, 2014 at 7:47 AM
App shmapp, I charge a mere $500 an hr.
Good advice above--incidentally I just heard from the sky fire dude, im gonna talk to him next week...to make a long story short, forecasting clouds and sky conditions is probably the last bastion of forecasting, The more info the better for sure, there's no magic bullet.
Discussion
5 repliesMight as well ask if any weather app or site is also somewhat accurate. Seems whatever I have used lately has failed me miserably. Maybe just a sign of the times.
http://www.glennrandall.com/the-best-weather-site-for-landscape-photographers.html
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/
Choose a state, then choose an "observatory" near the location you re interested in. The click on the timeline and get the predict images. I have found the predicts impressively accurate and I have been using the site for many years, for all kinds of activities, ranging from hiking, camping, photography, astronomy, and professionally planning out field work as well as NASA science overflights with research aircraft. You can register your own location. The images for each location are the same, just the location indicator changes so you can tell where you are in relation to the clouds (great for going to predicted bets location for sunrise).
Being a Canadian model, the predict accuracy if better to the north; I have still found it impressively accurate in Colorado and region. It is a little less accurate in the SE were weather is more tropical. I also find that is sometimes does not predict very thin cirrus (with will mess up my night photography).
Roger
As far as general weather forecasts, I use the weather underground app, which I suspect uses the NWS for their predictions? It has generally been quite accurate.
Erik, thanks for the info on sky fire! That is the one I had heard a lot about but couldn't find their website. Will be real interested on how well it does for mountainous areas. RMNP will obviously be a great test. Another alternative is providing your cell phone number and so I can call you 24/7
I suspect another useful bit of information is purchasing Stan Rose's ebook on reading weather. I suppose I should engage the gray matter and actually be able to read weather maps!
Good advice above--incidentally I just heard from the sky fire dude, im gonna talk to him next week...to make a long story short, forecasting clouds and sky conditions is probably the last bastion of forecasting, The more info the better for sure, there's no magic bullet.