Extension for dial- forecast

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 1

Extension for dial- forecast

Because of heavy demand the Weather Office will extend its dial-a-forecast service from tomorrow, July 1. The Weather Office runs one 10-line automatic answering service which carries forecasts for Christchurch, the inland high country, and inshore waters. On a busy day it has more than 5000 calls and at times of peak interest in the weather it is frequently overloaded. Tomorrow a second answering unit will be brought into use so that a total of 21 lines will be available, with the capacity to expand to 30 when the demand warrants it. The forecast now has been split into two parts available on separate numbers. People dialling the existing listed number (Christchurch 582-899) will now hear only the Christchurch city forecast. The inland high-country and inshore forecasts will be on a new number, 581199. Anyone who dials the existing number will be given the new number for

the high-country and inshore forecasts. The forecasts on the new number will be preceded by a description of the weather situation to enable people to use their own local knowledge to refine the forecasts for their area. The inland high-country forecast covers the area from the Lewis Pass to the Rangitata River and from the Main Divide to the inland boundary of the Canterbury Plains. The inshore forecast covers the small area up to 10km offshore from the Waimakariri River mouth to, and including, Lyttelton Harbour. People wanting marine forecasts for a larger area should listen to the coastal weather forecast broadcast by local commercial radio stations. They cover an area up to 50km off the coast. The forecasts are recorded about 12.30 a.m., 4 a.m., 7 a.m., 11.30 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. They are continually monitored and can be changed at any time if the need arises.