The weather forecast for this weekend is now more important than ever after a generation of nostalgic Pokemon trainers have been forced into the open-air to hunt the digital beasties. Below is a wrap-up of the coming weather and some speculation about its effect on Pokemon appearances. Just briefly for the uninitiated, Pokemon Go is the latest app craze, where players must walk the streets in search of 'Pokemon', virtual creatures that can be grown and used for battle. It uses something known as 'augmented reality' in order to overlay the virtual world over the real one, all on the smartphone screen. Recent media reports from around the world have obviously shown that staring at a screen while walking is dangerous, but the danger of Poke-walks is amplified by any potential for inclement weather. Strong wind gusts can rip branches off trees, possibly injuring the unsuspecting walker, and in some cases heavy rain can cause flash-flooding. We strongly advise that budding Pika-pals download the Weatherzone app so they can be notified about the latest Severe Weather Warnings. This should help to make a well-informed decision about whether to chase that Vaporeon out into the rain (or not). However, weather is not all bad. Reports from sites such as reddit.com have indicated that certain Pokemon are more likely to appear under particular conditions. For instance, water-types (such as Squirtle or Starmie) are more likely to come out in the rain, and storms may even increase the chance of electric-types (eg. Electabuzz, Electrode). Pokemon Go's creators have also informed us that climate is a factor. For instance, Melbourne and Hobart are often cold and windy at this time of year, which has the potential to affect appearances of flying or ice types. In contrast, Darwin remains pretty warm, perhaps the perfect place for Charmander gatherings. So what is the weekend forecast for trying to 'catch em all' in Australia? Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide are set for a sunny weekend, so a safe time for visiting the local Pokemon Gym and hunting, but probably not much change to the regular fare of Pidgeys and Zubats. Perth, on the other hand, is set to see 20-40mm of rain. Much of the Queensland coast will also see high rainfall totals today and into the weekend near a deep trough. Let us know how you go from these wetter places to confirm the weather theories! For the latest in weather and how it affects the precipitation of Pokemon (Poke-rain), check out weatherzone.com.au.