Great websites for climate and weather data

Good weather can be the difference between a fantastic vacation and one that’s memorable for all the wrong reasons. Now, however, there are several online resources that can take the guesswork out of what the weather will be like on your trip.

• Weather.com has a trip-planning tool including climate comparison data, updated forecasts for hundreds of destinations, and weather maps. If you’re undecided on where to go, check out the site’s top 10 lists or seasonal recommendations.
• Weather Underground’s trip planner focuses on historical data, taking the past several years into account. Enter your destination and the dates you plan to visit, and you’ll be redirected to a page showing the temperature, cloud cover, wind, humidity, and daily observations from recent years. You’ll also see predictions about whether it will rain, snow, or be unseasonably warm.
• Weatherbase also focuses on historical data, with more than 16,000 cities represented. While this site isn’t as comprehensive as Weather Underground, it still provides averages so you’ll get a sense of what to expect.
• Intellicast provides current weather data for the whole world—literally. Search current and extended forecasts, get past observations and seasonal trends, and check active storm tracks.

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