Worldwide Meteorological Services
Weather & Climate Sources in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand
Discover the national meteorological services available online for Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, providing excellent weather forecasts and climate data.
Australia – Bureau of Meteorology
Providing weather services and climatology data products, the Bureau of Meteorology or BOM is the source of information in Australia. Australians and people across the world can utilize these services to receive up-to-date weather forecasts. Warning services includes those for:
- Tropical cyclones
- Severe thunderstorms
- Bushfires
- Floods
- Tsunamis
Other products include documents and observations made on climate change and climate variability and trends in Australia. BOM research includes extensive work on El Niño - Southern Oscillation.
Users can also learn about meteorology and the weather knowledge of indigenous people. The seasonal calendars used by Aboriginal people were based on plant and animal cycles affected by weather and climate. These indigenous people recognize this connections within the natural world.
Canada – Environment Canada
The national source for meteorological information in Canada is the Weather Office of Environment Canada. The government site displays a useful map of the Canadian provinces and territories, where users can click on a region or location for the latest weather forecast and current conditions. Radar and satellite images can also be accessed. The service offers warnings on severe weather and special weather alerts.
The Canadian website provides a useful link to Historical Weather, including the National Climate Data and Information Archive. Users can read publications on La Niña/ El Niño and climate change, and the historical weather events and disasters, such as the Ice Storm of 1998.
Ireland – Irish National Meteorological Service
Available as part of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, this meteorological service provides current forecasts, warning and alerts for Ireland. Radar images provide rainfall data. The meteorological service obtains data from eight weather observing stations and the Valentia Observatory. Other important reports include Soil Moisture Deficits, crucial for drought conditions, and buoy reports displaying current ocean conditions.
The service provides in-depth data on Ireland’s climate, including data on rainfall, sunshine, wind and temperature. Users can find 30-year averages for specified locations, providing localized averages for
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- Sunshine
- Rainfall
- Wind
- Specific weather conditions such as days with snow, sleet, thunder or fog.
New Zealand – New Zealand’s National Meteorological Service
As part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), New Zealand's National Meteorological Service provides weather and climate services for the country. Pertinent weather condition reports are supplied for mountain, inshore and coastal regions. Users can access forecasts for temperatures, winds and rain. An extended brief forecast, providing 3-day weather predictions is available for the North and South Islands. Rural forecasts, either brief or seasonal outlooks, are provided for both islands.
New Zealand’s meteorological service also provides users with educational topics. By utilizing the Learning Centre, users view articles on weather topics, climate and view weather summaries for past years. The “This Day in History” feature provides weather history facts and statistics.
Further Reading: For more information on worldwide online weather resources, read Guide to Online Weather Websites.
