The Coronavirus scare is having an impact on some weather infographics and maps at WeatherWatch.co.nz.

WeatherWatch.co.nz not only utilises extensive data from across NZ but also receives extra weather graphics to enhance some of the daily weather stories from a range of offshore providers.

'Unfortunately due to the coronavirus scare some of the regular InfoGraphics we source from Japan, via The Weather Company, will be impacted in our free news services due their offices suddenly being closed in Tokyo,” says WeatherWatch.co.nz Head Forecaster Philip Duncan.

'The Weather Company in the UK and US will both step up to share responsibility, replacing and creating some InfoGraphics for the New Zealand and Australia areas.

'It's unclear if any public Japanese Government satellite imagery, widely used by public and private forecasters around the world, will also be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.”

Himawari satellite imagery and the Japanese Meteorological Agency - JMO are key public forecasters for the Pacific region.

The situation with The Weather Company - TWC office in Japan will be reassessed mid this week.

WeatherWatch.co.nz has access to many other resources, including additional IBM maps and graphics, so their services in New Zealand will not be impacted, but some of the regular daily weather graphics that the public are used to seeing may be replaced with different ones.

"While some of our infographics may not accompany our free public news stories, TWC is providing us with extra forecast content to help in other areas, specifically focusing on rainfall as parts of NZ continue to struggle through drought" says Philip.

"We speak daily to the meteorological team in Japan, they passionately love putting together these maps for New Zealand, so we wish them all the very best as they deal with the coronavirus situation in their nation.”

Philip says that the Japan issues do not affect any of the forecast data at WeatherWatch.co.nz and RuralWeather.co.nz, or any of WeatherWatch.co.nz's commercial services.