Rain radar updates may have been upgraded for the Bay of Plenty by the MetService as a result of a tweet.

On Tuesday Twitter user @Rosspns wrote “Hey @MetService <http://twitter.com/#!/MetService>  how about free public HD rain radar & and other forecast data 4 BOP region 2 do ur bit 2 assist with activities there?”.  

Two days later and it appears they’ have been listening. The governemnt forecaster also did this following the February earthquake in Christchurch and WeatherWatch.co.nz fully supports the government owned MetService for putting the people of NZ first.

The updates come in 7 and a half minute increments instead of the usual hourly updates which will be of great benefit for those involved in the shipping disaster.

Well done to Rosspns for making it happen!!