| I use the Internet to find just about every type | | | | software downloads that display key data right on |
| of information. Even the weather. | | | | your desktop, and even provide a text summary |
| Sure, I could just stick my head out the window | | | | one click away. |
| and call out, "Hello. What's the weather forecast | | | | Weather forecasts on the desktop are probably |
| today?" But if the response is "hurricanes, hail and | | | | the fastest way to get local weather information, |
| meteor storms", I don't want my head to be on | | | | and the data is updated every five minutes. The |
| the wrong side of the window when the answer | | | | display can be set up for local weather, but a |
| comes down. | | | | couple clicks allows for a quick check of conditions |
| Plus, that won't help me fine-tune my last minute | | | | form almost every weather monitoring station in |
| travel plans. | | | | the world — ideal for making last minute |
| So I turn to the Internet. There are three really | | | | travel plans |
| easy ways to get a good weather forecast over | | | | Weather forecasts by Google: |
| the Internet: | | | | A third way to access the weather forecast is |
| Weather forecast websites: | | | | through Google. Yes, the find-everything search |
| There are some good weather forecast websites. | | | | engine has added weather to its repertoire. For |
| The one I use most often, because I am in | | | | instance, search Google for "weather Orlando", |
| Canada, is The Weather Network, and I also like | | | | without the quotation marks, and see what you |
| CNN. | | | | get. |
| CNN gives current conditions and a five day | | | | At the time of writing, this service is available only |
| forecast. The Weather Network provides more | | | | to cities in the USA (I presume Americans get |
| detail, with a short term forecast ( this evening, | | | | more weather than other people.). However, it will |
| tonight, tomorrow morning, etc.) and a longer | | | | hopefully be available everywhere by the time |
| term forecast over the next six days. The | | | | you read this article. |
| Weather Network provides the most detail of all | | | | Google's is the least precise weather forecast of |
| the options, but it takes longer to download than | | | | the options, but fairly quick and simple to reach if |
| the progress of climate change (so don't do it on | | | | you are looking for information on a city in the |
| a 26K modem!) Both offer forecasts for cities | | | | USA. |
| worldwide. | | | | All three options are worthwhile, whether |
| Weather forecast software: | | | | preparing for the daily commute or making travel |
| A second way, which does not even require going | | | | and vacation plans. So pull in your head, close that |
| to a website, is to get current conditions right on | | | | window and log on. Why stick your neck out |
| your desktop. There are free weather forecast | | | | when there is weather on your computer. |