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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: Simon on March 29, 2013, 13:17

Title: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2013, 13:17

The Met Office has admitted issuing advice to government that was "not helpful" during last year's remarkable switch in weather patterns.

Between March and April 2012, the UK experienced an extraordinary shift from high pressure and drought to low pressure and downpours.

But the Met Office said the forecast for average rainfall "slightly" favoured drier than average conditions. The three-month forecast is said to be experimental.

It is sent to contingency planners but has been withheld from the public since the Met Office was pilloried for its "barbecue summer" forecast in 2009. Last spring's forecast has been obtained by BBC News under Freedom of Information.

The Met Office three-monthly outlook at the end of March stated: "The forecast for average UK rainfall slightly favours drier than average conditions for April-May-June, and slightly favours April being the driest of the three months."

A soul-searching Met Office analysis later confessed: "Given that April was the wettest since detailed records began in 1910 and the April-May-June quarter was also the wettest, this advice was not helpful."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21967190

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Clive on March 29, 2013, 17:17

 :pmsl:  They can't even forecast today's weather let alone in three months time!   They really are a bunch of incompetents.

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2013, 18:48

That said, the Met Office app on my iPhone has been incredibly accurate when it came to the snowfall, almost to the hour.

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Clive on March 29, 2013, 19:00

Ooooh!   I've bought  brand new phone!  It's a Samsung - are you impressed?   ;D

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2013, 19:16

Is it smart?   :D

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Clive on March 29, 2013, 20:06

Um.....I'm not smart enough to know.  But it has App thingies.  Probably.

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2013, 20:07

 ;D

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: chorleydave on March 29, 2013, 20:28

I reckon that the job of a UK Weather Presenter ought to be the easiest job on the planet. Let's face it, if you are able to look into a camera, smile and announce that it's gonna p1ss down, you'll be right 95% of the time.

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2013, 20:36

;D

Title: Re: Met Office three-month forecast was 'not helpful'
Post by: sam on March 30, 2013, 07:58

Ah I wouldn't want to have to do that job... its a thankless task.