Predicting rain?

[Alan Ambrose]

I called off activity on site today based on yesterday's forecasts - the Met Office said rain all day and Netweather said the same and 10mm total. (I figure a couple of mm we can deal with). My main helper hates working in the rain.

 

Turns out we've had a couple of showers today so far.

 

Seems to me that watching the weather is a key skill especially before watertight stage. Anyone found the best forecasts? 

[jack]

Depends on the type of rain. It's just about impossible to predict localised patchy rain. You can only really rely on the forecasts that say 90% chance of rain for at least a couple of hours.

For short term predictions (minutes to an hour or two), looking at the weather radar can help.

[ProDave]

When you find out how to accurately predict rain, wind speed and direction, please let me know  (speaking with my boating hat on)

[saveasteading]

4 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Anyone found the best forecasts? 

As @jack says.

Watch the 10.30 forecast or equivalent. esp. the pressure chart. Compare the forecast, which is very general,  to your own circumstances.

You may have influences from hillls etc that give you an island of better or worse rain than even 5 miles away.

You will become good at it.

The jet stream will become a subject of note.

On balance the weather is likely to be much the same as today.

 

Suffolk. My forecast. The winter will be cold and damp.... Dutch weather.

[SteamyTea]

Air pressure, sky temperature and cloud water density.

You will need an aeroplane.

 

Or just get some decent clothing.

[G and J]

4 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

5 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

called off activity on site today based on yesterday's forecasts

 

Snap..we should know better really oftennscuds on by us here in East Anglia!

[G and J]

39 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

Suffolk. My forecast. The winter will be cold and damp.... Dutch weather

Thank you for that !

 

24 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Or just get some decent clothing.

Presuambly for us and the house .......

[Kelvin]

We live on the North side of a valley. We can see the rain work its way across the valley towards us. Typically it takes 30-40 minutes from seeing the rain way off in the distance to it hitting the house. It was great when we were building as it gave you time to get stuff packed up. One advantage of timber kits is you can get to ‘weathertight’ pretty quickly. 

[Beau]

I work outside a lot and always have a keen eye on the weather. 

 

Different weather services can give quite different takes even at short range as there are several weather models and they dont all use the same one. When things look iffy I resort to the rainfall radar from Netweather to see if I have an hour two's dry weather ahead but no help if you are planning a day ahead. https://www.netweather.tv/live-weather/radar

 

 Over time you get to see some patterns that help with localised conditions more than the forecast. For us a few showers from the SW often ends up with train of showers for much of the day. On the other hand when we get forecast rain/snow from the east I can be pretty sure it wont amount to much as the moors blocks it but the forecast doesn't allow for that. 

[Iceverge]

I use the Meteoblue app.

 

You can step ten weather radar forward and get an idea if you'll get a bath. 

Edited Saturday at 08:37 by Iceverge

[ToughButterCup]

I love Windy. Especially the weather radar. Its a big help

windy.com

 

 

[SteamyTea]

I have just had a look outside.

 

 

Wish it had been this bright earlier, would have had a quieter day at work.