Weather forecasts- why are they different?

[Mark T Jones]

The wife and I were just comparing weather forecasts on our phones (you have to make your own entertainment out in the country)

They were very different- which set us wondering

Are they using fundamentally different sources, or are they just interpreting data differently?

Any ideas?

 

[DazRave]

I've asked the same question (this could have changed since I last found out)...

iOS and Android get it from the Met Office and as far as I'm aware, the Met Office has one of the most powerful computers in the world and is usually very accurate because of this. However, iOS and Android cache the data they pull down (they don't just grab the area you are in as you enter it and instead periodically pull it down to share out eventually) which is why there is often a mishmash of data across devices as they all get the latest update at different times.

I use the Met Office app on my phone because of this! It's very accurate when it comes to checking the next few hours.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I've asked the same question (this could have changed since I last found out)...

iOS and Android get it from the Met Office and as far as I'm aware, the Met Office has one of the most powerful computers in the world and is usually very accurate because of this. However, iOS and Android cache the data they pull down (they don't just grab the area you are in as you enter it and instead periodically pull it down to share out eventually) which is why there is often a mishmash of data across devices as they all get the latest update at different times.

I use the Met Office app on my phone because of this! It's very accurate when it comes to checking the next few hours.

That makes sense!