The computer forecast weather map and the wind forecast for water-sports pages on the Hong Kong Observatory website have been upgraded, according to local government website on Monday.

The forecast map now provides computer-generated predictions of the evolution of weather patterns over East Asia and the northwestern Pacific.

Predictions have been increased from two to four times a day on weather, temperature, mean sea level pressure, relative humidity and winds.

The new relative humidity information at ground level is particularly useful in cool seasons when under the influence of a dry continental air mass. Hill fires in the countryside can bring extensive and sometimes life-threatening damage.

The observatory's page on wind forecasts has been enhanced and renamed Wind Forecast for Water Sport Activities.

The forecast period has been extended from one to three days so users can plan further ahead. In addition to the daily update before daybreak, another update before noon has also been introduced.

These enhancements are made possible through the operation of a new generation of numerical weather-prediction models at the observatory. The observatory installed a new computer system earlier this year which is 400 times faster.