BOM drops new rain app
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has released a new app.
BOM’s new software simplifies the information users get at BOM’s smartphone-enabled website, responding to the ever-increasing amount of people who want forecast and radar information wherever they are.
The BOM Weather app – available for free on both Apple and Android - uses BOM's three-hourly forecasts to build an hour-by-hour snapshot of coming temperatures and predicted rainfall.
Users can also get BOM-issued weather warnings from the app.
It currently has no advertising, but BOM deputy director Rob Webb has indicated this might change.
The BOM introduced advertising to its website in 2012, which would be a significant money-earner for the site that regularly sits among the top 10 visited sites in Australia.
“One of the keys for us with this app is usability. There is no point putting out an app if it's too cluttered,” Mr Webb said.
“So if there is advertising there in the future, it won't detract from the key weather service.”
Existing Australian weather apps already use BOM data, but the bureau says its app will get that data first.
“This app will have the latest bureau information,” Mr Webb said.
“Our forecasters are typing and issuing warnings that will appear immediately on our app.”
Thee app cost about $200,000.