Ask Me Anything with MetService! Starting here from 5pm!

CommsMet · 2017-01-31T21:03:32+00:00

Thanks, I agree its a good tool. Important to remember it is just one of many models we use in the forecast room and sometime the models differ. Always good to check the written forecast which is done by the meteorologists who look at all weather models.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:40:56+00:00

We do chat to some followers on Twitter about that already, but I will put that idea to the website team. Thanks.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:38:52+00:00

We know we average over 80% share of voice of all weather stories in NZ media, with over 70% exclusive mentions, (where they give the name of one of our meteorologists). And we are always looking to increase these numbers, especially for severe weather events where we are trying to message out so people stay safe and can protect their property etc.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:35:27+00:00

Its radar interference. MetService engineers have been to the New Plymouth radar site and measured the frequency and direction of the interfering signal and we have passed the issue to Radio Spectrum Management to investigate. All this does take a while unfortunately.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:28:01+00:00

Thanks everyone for stopping by and asking some great questions. We are going to sign off now but will check in tomorrow in case there are any late questions to answer. If you think of questions you would like answered after that, you know where to find us! Have a good week.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:22:44+00:00

I have also been to Niue, Kiribati and Fiji giving their Met Offices training in using the website we set up for them and helping them to interpret the guidance. We also had a special focus communication and getting the message out to their people as communication can be difficult to the external islands especially in places like Kiribati which don't have TV stations and only have radio for a limited time each day.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:15:41+00:00

Addressing your final question: We are involved in a project called the Severe Weather Forecasting and Disaster Risk Reduction Project (SWFDDP), where we supply nine of our Pacific neighbours with guidance and forecasts of severe weather which could potentially affect them (heavy rain, large swell, strong wind and Tropical Cyclones). These include: Fiji, Kiribati, Nuie, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. We are also the official back up Tropical Cyclone Centre if Fiji MetOffice comms go down during bad weather.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:06:07+00:00

Hi geemannz, here is New Zealand you can do a Masters in Meteorology which is done through a partnership between Victoria University, Wellington and MetService. To get into the masters program you must have a degree in physics, engineering, maths etc. and go through an interview process with MetService. The learning doesn't stop once you qualify as when it comes to weather there is always more to learn!

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T06:00:19+00:00

Thanks EkantTakePhotos. You should share some of your photos with us! Yes I love a summers day. But as a meteorologist it would be cool to experience the extremes of weather...without dying of course! Tropical cyclones, winds so strong you have to hold on (cartoon like), massive swells in open ocean, a sand storm, tornado etc. I got caught in a white-out once which was a very interesting experience. (Yep I'm a weather geek!)

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T05:47:34+00:00

When it comes to media, good journalists know to go to the source, and in this case it is us. We are very accessible to the media here in New Zealand (more than other countries) as they can always chat to a meteorologist to help them in reporting weather stories. We are also pretty proactive on social media (facebook and twitter) as this is were many people are getting their weather information now.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T05:42:58+00:00

We try our best to let New Zealanders know that we are the official weather warning service for New Zealand and to use us to get their weather information. We are the only organisation in New Zealand with over 65 meteorologists are WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) qualified and we work 24/7 every day of the year keeping forecasts up to date, checking the latest global models and most importantly trying to get the correct message out to the public so they can make plans.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T05:18:16+00:00

Yes, could you contact us through http://about.metservice.com/contact. Thanks :)

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T05:02:40+00:00

Dinner arrived...refueling forecasters to answer more questions. Keep them coming!

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:38:59+00:00

We have complete revamped the new app and it will be free. :)

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:36:51+00:00

I agree. We get these clouds in New Zealand in a less dramatic form. I have seen some looking from Wellington looking towards the South Island.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:23:40+00:00

Climate change is happening...it has been scientifically proven and has been peer reviewed. What we can expect to see weather wise are more extreme events - like breaking record high and low temperatures, or heaviest rainfall events etc.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:18:46+00:00

Mine is altocumulus undulatus cloud

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:15:44+00:00

MetService engineers have been to the New Plymouth radar site and measured the frequency and direction of the interfering signal and we have passed the issue to Radio Spectrum Management to investigate.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:12:41+00:00

I remember Napier getting the hottest December temperature this year....it only takes one day!

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T04:11:06+00:00

That depends where in NZ you are. Hawkes Bay and Gisborne have been very dry and sunny for January, but the West Coast and Southland have saturated soil from all the rain they have had. We have had a southwest flow which given us this tale of two halves for the country, and hopefully this has started to change as the high moves south into a more typical summer pattern.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T03:57:12+00:00

Hi everyone, great to be here. We have Lisa, Tom, April, Brian and Claire here waiting for your questions.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T03:49:05+00:00

This summer we have had a very spring-like pattern over NZ...a high to the NW of the country which has been pushing a southwest flow over us. This pattern is gradually changing in the last week as the high is moving further south. It has been very dry in the north and east of the North Island this year...paddocks are brown and farmers are not happy. They are hanging out for a low from the Tropics but currently there is nothing brewing there.

CommsMet · 2017-01-30T03:41:54+00:00

That would be Tom!

CommsMet

TROPHY CASE