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Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

meteosource.com

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Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#11

Post by sosodev »

Luka78 wrote: post #10
sosodev wrote: post #9

I find your website kinda sketchy. Your FAQ claims that the company was founded in 2007 but that's not true. meteocentrum.cz was founded in 2007 but this company didn't appear until 2021. meteosource.com also appears to be a rebrand of forecasts.cloud. Why? The multiple rebrandings and false claims make me hesitant to trust you.

It is originally a European-based company founded in 2007 and started as a website, mobile app, and data provider serving mainly corporate clients. Meteosource as a service (low-cost weather API) started at the end of 2020 and this is just a new service operated by the same company, not rebranded company or anything else... I don't think there is anything sketchy in this.

That's a fine answer. Maybe that should be the answer in the FAQ. The website just felt a bit scam-like to me so I did some more research. Finding out stuff like that, when it isn't clear on the website, only furthers the gut feeling of "this might be a scam".

Your answer ignores why you didn't pursue forecasts.cloud as this new venture instead of meteosource though.

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#12

Post by Luka78 »

sosodev wrote: post #11
Luka78 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is originally a European-based company founded in 2007 and started as a website, mobile app, and data provider serving mainly corporate clients. Meteosource as a service (low-cost weather API) started at the end of 2020 and this is just a new service operated by the same company, not rebranded company or anything else... I don't think there is anything sketchy in this.

That's a fine answer. Maybe that should be the answer in the FAQ. The website just felt a bit scam-like to me so I did some more research. Finding out stuff like that, when it isn't clear on the website, only furthers the gut feeling of "this might be a scam". Your answer ignores why you didn't pursue forecasts.cloud as this new venture instead of meteosource though.

Thank you for your suggestion - is it mainly the FAQ answer which you find a bit puzzling or anything else we should improve on the website?

Regarding forecasts.cloud - this website will focus on our applied modelling (renewable generation etc.) and will serve as an offer of models for specialised industries, not weather API. It is not fully operational yet (the English version will be launched later this year) - I am impressed you have been able to find it :)

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#13

Post by anotheryou »

Luka78 wrote: post #7
anotheryou wrote: post #4

Is there still weather services not using ML? Is it all huge modeling still?

Well, most available weather APIs just download data from NOAA and "repackage" them to JSON format and do not add much value.

And this one differs? Is it better than NOAA?

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#14

Post by Luka78 »

anotheryou wrote: post #13
Luka78 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, most available weather APIs just download data from NOAA and "repackage" them to JSON format and do not add much value.

And this one differs? Is it better than NOAA?

Meteosource learns from historical data and forecasts from many different models (including those from NOAA), compares the data from different places and meteorological situations, and based on this machine learning creates a single output that minimises individual models' biases and local inaccuracies. This is where it should add value.

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#15

Post by anotheryou »

Luka78 wrote: post #14
anotheryou wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this one differs? Is it better than NOAA?

Meteosource learns from historical data and forecasts from many different models (including those from NOAA), compares the data from different places and meteorological situations, and based on this machine learning creates a single output that minimises individual models' biases and local inaccuracies. This is where it should add value.

Interesting the ML corrects and averages the models instead of predicting itself.

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#16

Post by sosodev »

Luka78 wrote: post #12
sosodev wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a fine answer. Maybe that should be the answer in the FAQ. The website just felt a bit scam-like to me so I did some more research. Finding out stuff like that, when it isn't clear on the website, only furthers the gut feeling of "this might be a scam". Your answer ignores why you didn't pursue forecasts.cloud as this new venture instead of meteosource though.

Thank you for your suggestion - is it mainly the FAQ answer which you find a bit puzzling or anything else we should improve on the website? Regarding forecasts.cloud - this website will focus on our applied modelling (renewable generation etc.) and will serve as an offer of models for specialised industries, not weather API. It is not fully operational yet (the English version will be launched later this year) - I a…

I think the red flags are:

* vague testimonials

* scrolling list of companies (with no evidence)

* lack of specificity around payments (who's the processor?)

* the random face shown above the "contact us" button

* the lack of details around how the systems actually work (the "how we create our AI weather forecasts" link in your FAQ is just a 404)

* the lack of evidence that your system actually works better the alternatives

* the nearly-pointless blog spam

* the hand-wavy claims of "nearly 100% API uptime"

It's not that I think your API won't work and that you're just trying to steal my money. Instead it seems like this is a marketing effort to sell a low quality service using the magic buzzword "AI".

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#17

Post by iudqnolq »

Luka78 wrote: post #8
sosodev wrote: post #5

How does the "hyper-local" computation work if all the sources are very generalized? Does that mean when your service says there's an 89% chance of rain at my location that's an actual, local probability?

The machine learning model combines more weather models as mentioned and this feeds proprietary local models that compute the weather exactly for your location. If you request a specific GPS, the chance of rain will be computed for the exact point based on the orography and nearby grid points.

Well wouldn't this only be better if you've come up with something superier to all the folks at NOAA. They combine weather models into the grid product every day with local human expert judgement rather than AI.

Have you published a backtest against NOAA's data? Have you looked into why they don't provide more hyperlocal data themselves? There's some interesting papers on the work they've done to get wildland firefighters appropriately local data.

Re: Show HN: Meteosource Weather API: current, forecast and historical data using ML

#18

Post by Luka78 »

sosodev wrote: post #16
Luka78 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for your suggestion - is it mainly the FAQ answer which you find a bit puzzling or anything else we should improve on the website? Regarding forecasts.cloud - this website will focus on our applied modelling (renewable generation etc.) and will serve as an offer of models for specialised industries, not weather API. It is not fully operational yet (the English version will be launched later this year) - I a…

I think the red flags are: * vague testimonials * scrolling list of companies (with no evidence) * lack of specificity around payments (who's the processor?) * the random face shown above the "contact us" button * the lack of details around how the systems actually work (the "how we create our AI weather forecasts" link in your FAQ is just a 404) * the lack of evidence that your system actually works better the alter…

Thank you for your comments! We will improve some of the points mentioned.
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