Custom Weather Forecast: When weather is an important threat, there is often value in obtaining a customized weather forecast. National weather offices assemble thousands of regional and global weather forecasts but they’re often too general to be reliable for specific locales. When severe weather forms or accuracy particularly matters, the additional considerations included in a forecast specially ordered from a meteorologist may be key or even life-saving.
Local variables – such as elevation, nearby bodies of water, local weather patterns, topographical features, vegetation, nearby urban centers and additional evaporation due to the excessive melting of snow and ice – influence weather in ways that aren’t accurately considered by computer models. A trained mind can adjust model predictions and reliably increase their accuracy. Quite often, there is no weather station near where one may desire a quality forecast. The best forecast existent for that time and place is often a custom weather forecast requested from an independent forecaster.
Computerized national forecasts are more
effective for some locations more than others
Computerized national forecasts are more effective for locations like Cincinnati than somewhere deep in the mountains because they do a poor job of resolving their presence. Another example of an additional consideration taken is provided by Cleveland and the effect of Lake Erie, bordering to the north. Incoming northerly, moist air is foisted upward when it approaches Ohio’s shoreline due to friction from walls of trees and other inland obstacles. The resulting uplift may enable the formation of precipitation.
When the Great Lake is much warmer than the wind blowing over it, the temperature contrast enables vast evaporation and may lead to sustained lake-effect precipitation. If weather is approaching from the south, the lack of friction over the lake allows existent winds to accelerate, which counteracts stagnation and uplift near the shoreline. Precipitation totals are thus often much less in Cleveland than just a few dozen miles south and are poorly forecast by computer models.
Written by Meteorologist Geoff Linsley
Here are comments from clients that have used our custom weather forecasts
To Michael Fagin, West Coast Weather
“Thanks for the great custom weather forecast and fast responses to all of my questions. I was planning a wedding that involved a long hike to the top of a major peak in the Washington Cascades and the free public forecasts I saw were confusing and troubling. Troubling for chance of rain on and off over several days and I could have a wedding under those conditions. So with Michael’s forecast and with high certainly of dry weather we hiked up the mountain and had a wonderful wedding ceremony with dry conditions and some wonderful mountain views. Thanks again and I would encourage folks to use your custom forecast services. I might add the cost is great.
Sincerely
Kirsten, Seattle, WA
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To: Michael Fagin
West Coast Weather
Dear Michael;
You nailed it!! My friends and I needed some good weather and great visibility to do our 8th annual late spring Squak Glacier ski on Mt. Baker. This year (2015) we hardy did any winter skiing due to little snowfall, so we really wanted to make this trip successful. Of course skiing on a glacier one has to have good visibility. When you said on Monday late morning there would be an increase in clouds and wind so we decided get up before sunrise to prepare for an early start. We got some great ski turns and enjoyed the stunning views of Mt. Baker and finished at 10 am. Just like you said by about 10:30/11 am clouds started to roll in along with an increase in winds. Timing is certainly everything. In conclusion I will use your services every season and encourage other skiers and others needing precise custom forecasts to use your services.
Sincerely
Scott Harder
Mill Creek Multimedia
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Michael’s uncanny insights into our notoriously unpredictable weather has been a staple of my trip preparation for 20 years now. They were key components into several notable ascents in the Cascades, including the first ascent of the C-K Route on Johannesberg Mountain, the first ascent of the North Face of Mt. Formidable, a very rare ascent of Willis Wall on Mt. Rainier, two solo ascents of the Nisqually Icefall on Rainier, and the completion of a decade-long goal to reach the summit of Rainier in each calendar month. His accurate forecasts allowed me and my partners to safely employ very light and fast tactics without fear of weather moving in on us, or to stay home and sip Scotch by the fireplace.
Loren Campbell
Issaquah , WA
Loren Campbell seeking his 12th summit month, simul-sololing at 13,500’ on the Gibraltar Ledges route on Mt. Rainier. February 2015. Photo by Victor Mesny
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To: Michael Fagin
There was much discussion among the participants of our group if we should pay for weather forecast services. Between the internet and all the local television forecasts there are countless free forecasts out there. Frankly, I find those free forecasts very vague and quite often not accurate. That is why we choose your service. Your accuracy is second to none. Accurate forecasts were critical to us since if we had bad weather data we would have wasted thousands of dollars in running our stormwater tests. Thus, you saved us thousands.
I also want to mention that we appreciate your accurate forecasts that supported our projects in these cities: Omaha, Cleveland, and Hartford
Again, on behalf of Brown and Caldwell we appreciate your forecasts as this information proved to be valuable on the Metro stormwater project that we worked on.
Sincerely,
Henryk Melcer
Brown and Caldwell
Seattle, WA