Weather . Geek . NZ

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Weather Geek was created and is maintained as a resource for anyone seeking weather observations, forecasts, news or related information - and is specifically targetted for kiwis featuring a wealth of New Zealand content.

Including a large number of local kiwi-made links, this site also contains many links to overseas websites and organisations that feature useful info or data relevant to NZ and the South Pacific.

Importantly, if you know of a useful site that isn't listed, or want to update a link, please get in touch via the contact form.

Chris Noble

I am a qualified meteorologist, trained and employed by MetService in New Zealand.

After completing a Master of Science in Physics at the University of Canterbury in 1998, with a thesis titled "Forecasting Vortex Filaments", I pursued my atmospheric science interest further and joined MetService as a trainee meteorologist.

Following a one year in-house training course, including a part-time component at Victoria University in Wellington, I started operational forecasting at the end of 1998, and in early 2000 achieved "Meteorologist, WMO Class I" status.

In case you're curious just what a WMO Class I Meteorogogist is, the following is from the WMO publication WMO-No.258 - Guidelines for the education and training of personnel in meteorology and operational hydrology - Vol.1 Meteorology;

"Class I - University trained personnel with adequate education in mathematics and Class I physics, and who have successfully completed a course in meteorology to the standard specified by the syllabi. The period of instruction includes at least 4 years of university education (in prerequisite subjects and meteorology), supplemented by at least six months of on-the-job training. Main duties: operational day-to-day work, such as weather forecasting; consulting, directing and decision-making; also, responsibility for research and development, management.

These personnel must have a thorough grounding in dynamic, synoptic and physical meteorology. They should also have a basic knowledge of climatology, hydrology, oceanography and ocean-atmosphere interaction, meteorological instruments and methods of observation, meteorological data processing, satellite meteorology, and air pollution meteorology."

During my time at MetService I have worked across all disciplins within New Zealand's National Forecast Centre: public, aviation (incl VAAC Wellington), marine, tropical (incl TCWC Wellington), and severe weather - providing products and services for both New Zealand and the South Pacific. Following six years in as an operational forecast manager, I am now MetService's Chief Meteorologist, with oversight of meteorological integrity, training, forecast systems, forensic meteorology, and international affairs.

For information about MetService, including history and employment opportunities, click though to the about MetService section.