As another potential flood event approaches New Zealand WeatherWatch.co.nz is again communicating closely with Auckland Civil Defence to provide a serious second opinion, as we’ve done for the past decade almost, around severe weather events.

Government regulation means all Civil Defence departments in New Zealand must use MetService forecasts but may also seek other forecasters for further advice or a second opinion. 

During the early March floods and the more recent threats from ex-cyclone Debbie WeatherWatch.co.nz was closely talking with Auckland Civil Defence (at all hours of the day and night) to ensure Civil Defence was getting as much information as possible – especially around tropical events which have so much uncertainty.

WeatherWatch.co.nz goes beyond just local “Wellington standards”, applying International Standards to the forecasts we use, many of which are prepared by hundreds of meteorologists from Wunderground & Weather.com.

Also we don’t just have one super computer in Wellington, through our Wunderground partnership we have access to dozens of global computer models which better help us understand each system and what may or may not unfold – this is part of the reason why the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) use us during droughts.

Finally, as a CNN International Weather affiliate our small company is in regular talks with meteorologists and journalists at the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta about events like Cyclone Debbie and Cyclone Cook, to ensure we’re broadcasting the best facts and the most reliable opinions to the public.

In New Zealand we have two “official” tax funded Government forecasting agencies now, which is certainly very confusing when they have opposing forecasts (due to their commercial nature), but the forecaster that is significantly funded by the tax payers to provide public warnings is MetService and we encourage everyone to be up to date with their tax funded warnings over the coming week.

WeatherWatch.co.nz also communicates with the Ministry (MCDEM) and other local Civil Defence authorities should they seek our second opinion or advice and we provide this same no charge service to any Ministers or politicians who have concerns for their electorate.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz