The Hong Kong Observatory today launched a new website to provide forecast information produced by a computer model.

The Computer Model Forecast Weather Map website aims to help the public understand the trends in weather conditions over a two-to-three-day period in Hong Kong and neighboring areas.

The observatory's high-speed computer generates the information using physical models and mathematical equations to simulate the evolution of weather systems.

The computer simulations are presented as maps showing the surface temperature, surface wind speed and wind direction, mean sea level pressure and the state of the sky at various locations.

Weather maps generated automatically

The content is updated twice daily. The forecast area covers Hong Kong, the South China Sea, East Asia and the Western Pacific region.

Hong Kong Observatory's Assistant Director Dr Wong Ming-chung pointed out the observatory's computer model generates the forecast weather maps directly, without manual adjustment.

The forecast weather conditions described could be different from that of the weather forecasts issued by the observatory, he added.

"For a full assessment of the weather situation, the public should refer to the official forecasts issued by the observatory and/or the respective local meteorological authorities," he said.

Training course will brief users on forecasting

The website has been operating on a trial basis since May 20 and has received good feedback from users.

To enable the public to better understand and interpret computer model forecast weather maps, the observatory will run a training course on the basics of numerical weather prediction on July 24 and 31.