What is Weather Forecast Data? Definition, Sources & Datasets to buy

What are Examples of Weather Forecast Data?

Weather forecast data, a type of weather data, includes various information used to predict future atmospheric conditions. Examples of weather forecast data include:

• Temperature data: Predictions on daily high and low temperatures.
• Humidity levels: Forecasts on moisture content in the air.
• Wind data: Information on future wind conditions.
• Rainfall data: Expected rainfall, snow, or sleet.
• Atmospheric pressure: Data on pressure changes indicating weather shifts.

What are the Attributes of Weather Forecast Data?

Weather forecast data encompasses several critical attributes.

Temperature:

• Current Temperature: The temperature at the present moment.
• High/Low Temperatures: Predicted maximum and minimum temperatures for the day.
• Feels Like Temperature: An adjusted temperature value accounting for wind chill or heat index.

Wind:

• Wind Speed: The speed at which the wind is blowing, usually measured in kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).
• Wind Direction: The direction from which the wind is blowing, often represented in degrees or compass directions (e.g., N, NE, SW).
• Gusts: Short bursts of high-speed wind.

Precipitation:

• Precipitation Amount: The volume of rainfall or snowfall expected, typically measured in millimeters (mm) or inches.
• Precipitation Probability: The likelihood of precipitation occurring, given as a percentage.

Atmospheric Pressure:

• Pressure Values: Typically measured in hectopascals (hPa) or millibars (mb), indicating changes in weather patterns.
• Pressure Trends: Indications of whether the pressure is rising, falling, or steady, which can help predict upcoming weather changes.

Humidity:

• Relative Humidity: The percentage of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature.
• Dew Point: The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and dew forms.

Visibility:

• Visibility Distance: How far one can see, typically measured in kilometers (km) or miles (mi).

Cloud Cover:

• Cloud Cover Percentage: The fraction of the sky covered by clouds, given as a percentage.

Sunrise and Sunset Times:

• Sunrise Time: The time at which the sun rises.
• Sunset Time: The time at which the sun sets.

UV Index:

• UV Index Value: A measure of the strength of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Weather Conditions:

• Descriptions: Qualitative descriptions such as clear, cloudy, rainy, snowy, etc.

How is Weather Forecast Data Collected?

Weather forecast data is collected using various methods and technologies, including:

• Weather stations: Ground-based instruments measuring local atmospheric conditions.
• Satellites: Provide large-scale data on cloud cover, temperature, and moisture.
• Radars: Detect precipitation and storm activity.
• Weather balloons: Collect upper-atmosphere data on temperature, humidity, and pressure.
• Computer models: Combine data from various sources to predict future weather patterns.

What are the Uses of Weather Forecast Data?

Weather forecast data serves numerous purposes across different sectors:

• Agriculture: Helps farmers plan planting, irrigation, and harvesting.
• Transportation: Assists in route planning and ensuring safety.
• Emergency preparedness: Supports disaster response and planning.
• Energy sector: Forecasts demand and manages renewable resources.
• Public safety: Issues warnings and advisories to the public.

How Often are Weather Forecast Data Products Updated?

Weather forecast data products can be updated at various frequencies, ranging from minutely to daily. For instance, some products offer updates every hour, ensuring near real-time data availability for users.

What Formats are Weather Forecast Data Delivered In?

Weather forecast data can be delivered in multiple formats including .json, .xml, .csv, and .xls.
Weather forecast data can be accessed through various delivery methods such as S3 Bucket, SFTP, Email, UI Export, and REST API.

What Geographic Areas Do Weather Forecast Data Cover?

Weather forecast data products provide global coverage, including data for up to 249 countries. Major regions such as North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America are covered. Some datasets include over 85,000 forecast locations, providing detailed and localized weather information.

How Reliable is the Data Quality of Weather Forecast Products?

Weather forecast data products typically ensure high data quality, often reported as 100% accuracy. This high level of accuracy is achieved through robust models and quality checks, sometimes performed by humans for additional reliability.

How are Weather Forecast Data Products Priced?

Pricing for weather forecast data products varies based on factors such as coverage area, frequency of updates, and specific data requirements. Pricing models can include one-off purchases, monthly or yearly licenses, and usage-based pricing.

What Similar Data Types Complement Weather Forecast Data?

Weather forecast data complements several other data types that provide comprehensive environmental insights:

• Historical weather data, which provides data from past weather events for analysis;
• Global weather data, offering worldwide weather data;
• Real-time weather data, offering actual weather conditions.
• Lightning data, which includes data on lightning strikes;
• Climate data, detailing long-term weather patterns;