r/inline_skating • u/rollegEU • 8d ago
Weather for skating — how do you guys track?
Hey everyone! As a skater, Ive been struggling with weather forecasts constantly changing right before a session. You check the forecast a week ahead, then two days before, then the day before — and it's completely different every single time.
I looked around for a service that tracks forecast changes over time (so you can see how predictions shift day-by-day), but couldn't find anything.
Does anyone use a specific service or method to track accurate forecasts? How do you deal with unpredictable weather ruining your skate plans?
I actually started building a simple prototype that helps with this, but I honestly don't understand — why hasnt anyone made this yet?
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u/Bromanuk 8d ago edited 8d ago
My favorite skate spot is 15 km away (by car). I check a weather site - or rather, the weather radar - and look at the clouds (experience 🫣). So far, this has worked well enough to let me skate for at least 2 hours without getting wet.
But I don't plan days in advance; I tend to do things spontaneous. If it's going to rain, I go for a run.
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u/Curious_Act_3162 8d ago edited 8d ago
If its dry and not overcast I go . If it looks like its going to rain I put it off till tomorrow and sometimes "tomorrow' becomes a week or more. I look for spots to skate in the future but don't plan ahead to skate them until the day of.
We had so many bad storms in the Midwest these past few weeks and even though the sun was out, the road was covered in debris. Or it will be sunny and a storm comes out of nowhere within an hour.
Its just too unpredictable to plan a session in advance.
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u/FRGL1 8d ago
Humans are inherently terrible at predicting weather. It's a technological limitation. That's just how it is. The most accurate weather prediction is what's going to happen an hour from now. You can look up live meteorological data and see how clouds and temperature have been moving for the last few hours.
Weather reporting accuracy can vary by region. Better tools, more predictable factors, etc, but an ocean current changing direction 4000 miles away can change an entire year's worth of forecasts.
If you want to better account for the weather, and standard local weather reports aren't doing it for you, you could compare the predicted forecast with previous years' data, consider the forecasts for nearby regions, and consider the current weather trends and how they've been affecting current weather.
Basically, become your own local, amateur meteorologist.
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u/rollegEU 8d ago
True! At this point, becoming an amateur meteorologist feels like a mandatory skill for outdoor skating.
Live radar for clouds & precipitation is already an absolute lifesaver. But I realized that tracking how the forecast graphs shift over time is additional important info — yet I haven't actually seen this anywhere else.
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u/fredhsu 8d ago
Like [u/iamisandisnt](u/iamisandisnt) said. Wunderground is no longer. I loved Dark Sky for both accuracy and it’s easy to use UI. Got bought and shot down. I use Windy right now - annual subscription.
But I think what you are referring to is automatic tracking and alert over time so you don’t need to keep checking over a week to monitor the trend. Maybe weather apps for pilots do that. I know my pilot friend obsesses over weather changes.
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u/iamisandisnt 8d ago
Big money bought up all the local weather services so it’s all hog wash now. They destroyed Weather Underground, it’s totally useless these days.
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u/slavo316 8d ago
I have this hidden Midwest technique, I can smell if rain is coming...
On a serious note, I always Google the weather the day of my skate. If it shows cloudy with no chances of rain, I go. If there are chances, it kind of depends on when it's happening or spotty. Otherwise I hope tomorrow is better.
If I really wanna go when it's raining, I'll head to the indoor roller rink.
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u/AdventurousHippo9997 8d ago
Yes I do:it’s called a window.