Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
I can't be doing with bloated, java-script heavy weather websites and apps so created a simple text-only forecast. Loads in a few seconds on a 2g connection even in very poor reception areas and has mountain forecasts too.
http://www.tourbybike.co.uk/text-forecast/
http://www.tourbybike.co.uk/text-forecast/
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
That's very useful. Does the data you're getting include predicted wind directions/speeds? That's the main thing missing compared to my usual graphics-heavy www.timeanddate.com forecasts.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
You don't say where you are getting your forecasts from (e.g. Met Office, GFS, etc.).
Your forecast pages don't say when the forecast was issued (so if things stopped working as expected you could be using a somewhat out of date forecast).
Ian
Your forecast pages don't say when the forecast was issued (so if things stopped working as expected you could be using a somewhat out of date forecast).
Ian
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Thanks for posting, I have bookmarked your site
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Thanks for the feedback. The forecasts come from the Met Office and are updated daily. Showing the last-update date/time is a good idea and I think that info is supplied but not in a very friendly format.
The text forecasts warn of strong winds but unfortunately the direction is often missing. I would need to load in a different dataset for that which would add a fair amount of complexity but would certainly be worthwhile.
The text forecasts warn of strong winds but unfortunately the direction is often missing. I would need to load in a different dataset for that which would add a fair amount of complexity but would certainly be worthwhile.
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Just some (small) text at the bottom of the page e.g. "Issued by UK Met Office at 11:07".
Ian
Ian
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Psamathe wrote:Just some (small) text at the bottom of the page e.g. "Issued by UK Met Office at 11:07".
Ian
Nice one, thanks. I think I left the time out as it was given in a weird format that was hard to parse but I'll have another look at it.
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Could just post whatever they give you, as long as it's not epoch seconds or something awful. Humans are fairly good parsers.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Well done - but why are you effectively restricting yourself to touring bikes? 'tis a very small audience in the Big World. A site called say "text forecast" might attract a much wider audience.
As other have said things like wind and direction would really add to the value of the site.
As other have said things like wind and direction would really add to the value of the site.
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Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Excellent - thanks!
+ 1 for wind / direction.
Have popped that in my Faves, next to cycle.travel
+ 1 for wind / direction.
Have popped that in my Faves, next to cycle.travel
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
I think because, looking at my own area, it is so general covering such a large area it becomes useless. As I write this it is raining where I am. It is dry and cloudy 30mls away and what it's like 90mls to the east I haven't a clue. But wouldn't surprise me it was dry and sunny.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life
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https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
Paulatic wrote:I think because, looking at my own area, it is so general covering such a large area it becomes useless. As I write this it is raining where I am. It is dry and cloudy 30mls away and what it's like 90mls to the east I haven't a clue. But wouldn't surprise me it was dry and sunny.
For myself a broader area is more useful for cycle touring. 30 miles isn't that many hours cycling.
Going for more precise areas means a total (and much more complicated) rebuild since the text forecasts the met supplies are only for regions. It will also make the site navigation much more complicated and probably require some sort of search facility, or else lots of hyperlinks.
I'll have a look at adding wind direction and speed and possibly when I'm doing it a way will present itself to add more precise locations.
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
I often find the rainfall radar more useful that a forecast for today. So after breakfast think about a cycle and check the Met Office forecast and they are saying e.g. heavy showers. So I check the rainfall radar and it is blindingly clear there are no heavy showers so I ignore the Met Office and go. Similarly if Met Office forecast e.g. cloudy but sky looks "ominous", so check rainfall radar, see the rain on it's way and stay home and watch the rain and wonder why the Met Office don't look at their own radar data !
Of course it is only any use for "today" - so not really a replacement for forecasting.
Ian
Of course it is only any use for "today" - so not really a replacement for forecasting.
Ian
Re: Text Only UK Weather Forecasts
The mobile site at YR.no is pretty lightweight, perhaps worth a look. It loads quickly on my old Nokia candy bar phone (using Opera Mini). It shows wind direction and speed as well as temperature and precipitation.
For example the forecast for Scunthorpe
For example the forecast for Scunthorpe
So long and thanks for all the fish...