Predictwind- Tracking Cyclone Lusi as she hits New Zealand

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz on 14 Mar 2014 Tropical Cyclone Lusi is predicted to hit New Zealand, on Friday and is expected to bring strong winds and much needed rain to the top of the North Island.

Sail-World started tracking the storm at 2200hrs on Thursday night - the times of the shots of the storm can be read alongside each image.

The first three Isobar images show the progress and expected track of the low pressure area from the Pacific at 2200hrs on Thursday night, and again 24 hours later on Friday night, and 24 hours later on Saturday.

Predictwind produces two weather predictions based on two independent feeds and then applies various adjustments to take account of a variety of factors including land mass and topography. For a fuller explanation of how PredictWind enhances its feeds to provide a detailed local forecast click here

As we can see in these images, one projection expects the low to split a little as it hits the top of New Zealand, the other expects it to slide, unusually to the west of New Zealand. (Typically such Lows veer off to the east as the hit New Zealand and dissape in the Pacific, this is not expected to happen with Cyclone Lusi)

In this Forecast Table from Predictwind.com we can see the wind strength at two points - Cape Reinga in the far North and Bean Rock in the Waitemata Harbour.

The point of these two graphics is to show the winds predicted for Cape Reinga and then the times these will progress down to Auckland. They also show that the wind strength is predicted to top out at 60kts in Auckland, and that there will not be a lot of difference between Cape Reinga and Auckland.

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The third graphic shows the real time weather observation points around the North Island, these points are used to track the actual wind strength and direction. When Lusia hits Cape Reinga, check the readings at the top of the North Island, compare these with the forecast tables and then check the variance between forecast and what is happening to the north, as that will track south to Auckland and beyond.

The fourth set of graphics shows the advance of the rain, which will be heavy but is not expect to last that long, but will be replaced with strong winds

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Sail-World will update these forecasts and charts as the storm nears and passes over New Zealand reflecting any updates and changes in Predictwind's weather feeds, and the actual data being recorded.

Developed by former Olympian, Jon Bilger (470, 1992), PredictWind application was used by the Swiss team Alinghi to win the 2003 and 2007 America's Cups, and has become the leading wind system used by racing and recreational sailors around the world. It is available on a subscription basis and also with a free forecast option.

A mobile app for Android and iPhone is available and PredictWind is probably the most used app on the Sail-World iPhone.

You can check the weather anywhere in the world, and get a five day forecast, plus a variety of other features and functions of PredictWind. The app is synchronised with your PC, so that your latest set of locations are always available without resetting each time you change a device.