It’s one of those things we are never satisfied with, whatever the weather, we want it different.
However, we all depend on it from time to time to plan parties, outings or even just a family get
together. Yet, in recent years there has been a major focus on the sa weather and how its changes are
affecting how we live and the changes we need to make to ensure a sustainable future.
The Website Under Analysis
This document is dedicated to the official website of the South African Weather Service,
www.weathersa.co.za. It is very easy to find on Google, it is the first result you will find for
“weather service South Africa” under a global search. The search result is also split into sections
for the various regions of the country which makes it perfect for travellers and business people
who just need a quick update before they head out.
The Target Market
This SA weather website is the one-stop shop for anyone needing information about the weather, regardless
of whether you are in Johannesburg or a rural town. It is also an excellent source of information
for people who are interested in meteorology as well as for scholars or students that need more
information about the weird and wonderful nature of weather.
Overview of the Website
When looking at this website design it is clear that you are on the pages of an organisation
dedicated to the weather, there are loads of temperature readings, interesting graphics and the
colours of the website resembles a weather report. This website structure is great to navigate and
with its informative articles will provide hours of fun for anyone who likes to learn more.
The home page is quite short and the layout is clean and airy. On the left hand side of the page
you can get a detailed breakdown of the weather for your province for the next two days. If you need
a weather report for a period longer than two days, but the website structure does allow you to
register on the site for free and get forecasts for seven days.
Registering on the website is very quick and easy, you don’t even have to wait for confirmation
e-mails, you simply enter your details and once completed you’re ready to go. The only problem with
the registration process is that they request postal details and telephone numbers. It might be that
too many unsolicited junk has landed in my post box or just plain paranoia, but I am never quite
happy to enter such details on an unsecure site.
Website structure
As mentioned before, the SA weather website is laid out in a very simplistic and easy to understand manner.
What this site has managed to do is have the same click through buttons on the top tool bar as they
do on the one at the bottom of the page. Too many times one will find a website with seemingly little
information, but once you look at the bottom buttons there is actually an abundance of information.
They have incredible information available for students and scholars, but it should have been
marked more clearly. Apart from the toolbar button on the homepage, there is no reference to it. It
is also marked “Reference” which can be misinterpreted by some. The language they use in some of the
their reference documents are quite complex and primary school scholars, who would greatly benefit
from the information, will need the assistance of parents of teachers to really understand it. One
problem with the link to satellite images is that it takes you to the radar images. There is no clear
website SEO copy with most of the documents being of an academic nature.
Conclusion
The South African Weather Service has done a great job in putting relevant and interesting
information on their SA weather website that is of great use to the novice and the experienced. Apart from a
misdirected link there is little to change on this website.
If you want the same analysis on your company's web site feel free to contact us today!
Email: info@etraffic.co.za for more details.
