By Sara Fitzpatrick, Western Suburbs Weekly
A SUBIACO business that forecasts the weather up to 12 months ahead believes it has the key to helping brides, holidaymakers and event organisers escape the fury of the elements.
The team from on-line business Event Weather collect data from 150 years worth of climate records.
They then identify a trend and determine a likelihood of what the weather will be on a particular day.
Manager Darren Mottolini said the company was particularly popular with tourism event organisers for large-scale events because weather could affect such things as ticket sales.
Mr Mottolini said the service also catered for people planning something as simple as a family picnic.
Earlier this month, the company won the 2010 iAwards – Australian technology innovation awards – which came as a shock to the team, according to Mr Mottolini.
“We believe in what we’re doing, absolutely, but it’s not an easy sell,” he said.
“People are untrusting of weather forecasters… we’re not forecasting, we give the typical weather conditions on the day so people can gain an idea to help them plan their event.”
The team claims its readings are 75 to 80 per cent accurate; as Mr Mottolini says, “you can’t get these things 100 per cent”.
To register, customers visit www.eventweather.com.au then choose their location and dates of interest. Payment works on a credit system where each date costs one credit.
“There’s a lot of science behind it,” Mr Mottolini said.
Reports are based on nine factors, including rainfall, humidity and wind speed, and cover 14 locations – Australian capital cities and places of interest such as Margaret River and Broome. In coming months, the team will offer forecasts for specific suburbs.
Originally operating from home, the business moved to its Subiaco office about a year ago. Earlier this month, it secured a deal with a telecommunications company, China Mobile, to provide the service to people in key Chinese cities and provinces.