They haven't got a clue

[Simon Keeling]

Thanks Agrarian, I wanted to have a different approach to forecasting. Farmers have been ignored by the 'traditional' forecasting outlets for years and given what you got! I think farmers have one of the deepest knowledge of weather that there is out there, after all you are surrounded by the stuff everyday in the field! So you don;t need me to tell you what has been. What I am trying to do is give you the tools and the insider knowledge to make forecasts work for you, rather than, here is the forecast and do what you like with it. Hope that makes sense. I'm pleased you like what I do.

Bury the Trash, yeah, meteorology is experiencing growth right now and career choices are growing. There are international opportunities too, so plenty to go on. World class degree and MSc courses in this country too, so lots to get stuck into. Let me know if you need any more information.

Simon

 

[bobk]

Oops, the rain has arrived after all

 

[jondear]

Whats really annoying about TV forecasters is when its really dry and they go nice drop of rain for the garden! You can water your garden to make your flowers look nice or grow your onions. Just shows how people perceive our countryside .Without regular rain you wouldn't have this green land .But every days got to be v hot and sunny.

 

[linga]

What really gets me about the TV forecasters is , as someone else mentioned, the amount of time they spend telling us what weather we have had yesterday and today so far.
They then go on to tell us to wrap up warm if it happens to be cold.
I assume some people need telling !

 

[Simon Keeling]

Hi again chaps,

I remember being told that "The weather forecast for the general viewer only. It is only entertainment. It is not for the farmer, sailor, pilot, grower,retailer or anyone else involved with a commercial enterprise on which weather might have an impact."

It's worth bearing in mind!

Simon

 

[franklin]

Yes " they " are the bbc, in fact just seen breakfast weather showing huge swath of rain passing over the uktomorrow

I think that, since the deluges of 2012, that BBC weather has taken a more pessimistic view of the forecast. ie overdoing the amount, and are, covered by rain.

Whereas the weatherweb forecasts tend to be closer to the mark.

In my opinion.

 

[Paddington]

The winter of 2010/11 was unforseen by the Met Office but forecast by Joe B*****di who used to do pretty accurate European forecasts for Accuweather (?). He reckoned that if the MO had been in the States, heads would have rolled, but as they were civil servants here nothing happened.

 

[ukkate]

I had an look on bbc weather for this week, d r y... next week will be heavy showers..... next day weather says heatwave and not an drop of rain

 

[Gong Farmer]

BBC weather site always puts showers after a prolonged dry spell, usually on a Friday, assuming it must break down with thunderstorms or similar. Then as Friday approaches the little rain icons gradually fizzle out. Has happened many times this year, it's getting fun to watch. Almost.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

I find a rain radar as much help as anything, although they're not always 100%

I think you need to look at different sources and bring all that info together and make up your own mind.

Thanks to Simon though, I do use his predictions to form my own opinion.

 

[onthehoof]

Forecast yesterday said rain dying out before it gets here just got done cutting and now it's peeing down now forecast is rain all day - twots

 

[rob1]

and now showers/storms forecast from wednesday, glad I cut some yesterday as it should be fit tues, going to cut some second cut haylage laterfor wed morning

 

[Granite Farmer]

The forecast last night said hot sun all week now its says rain Tuesday night, rain Wednesday morning and rain Friday evening. Good job I only have 10ac of light crop on the ground for hay. Should be ready by tomorrow afternoon.

 

[jondear]

The forecast last night said hot sun all week now its says rain Tuesday night, rain Wednesday morning and rain Friday evening. Good job I only have 10ac of light crop on the ground for hay. Should be ready by tomorrow afternoon.

It does .Desperate for rain in east Devon .I haven't seen a forecast that says much about rain here.But then I suppose your on Dartmoor and always rains there.

 

[DB67]

Getting sick and tired of the weather this 'summer'

Today despite a forecast of overcast it has rained heavily 3 times completely ruining any hope of clipping or cutting silage.

Forecast is to warm up but showery.

Been a dreadful spell of weather apart from about 3 weeks since start of April.

 

[Granite Farmer]

It does .Desperate for rain in east Devon .I haven't seen a forecast that says much about rain here.But then I suppose your on Dartmoor and always rains there.

Well I am in a rain shadow so I get less then the people around me, probably a good 15 to 20 inches less. So I may get it or I may not. However I do not what to risk it as I am away this weekend end I do not want any grass left down.

 

[jondear]

Well I am in a rain shadow so I get less then the people around me, probably a good 15 to 20 inches less. So I may get it or I may not. However I do not what to risk it as I am away this weekend end I do not want any grass left down.

Fair enough .Funny how you get rain shadows.we always think we are in a rain shadow of Haldon .Number of times its raining there then splits either side.Our average is 32 inches .what's yours ?cheers

 

[Breakthru]

The winter of 2010/11 was unforseen by the Met Office but forecast by Joe B*****di who used to do pretty accurate European forecasts for Accuweather (?). He reckoned that if the MO had been in the States, heads would have rolled, but as they were civil servants here nothing happened.

Absolutely! Remember the days when you got the Sunday forecast for the week and it was accurate. They bought a £50mill computer to improve that but filled it full of global warming crap and now its rubbish beyond 36hrs.
Eventually it is acknowledged that lower sun activity is making things colder, however they surprise surprise are sure it will not cancel out global warming effects. When they are skating under Tower Bridge in 2030 that'll larn them.

 

[onthehoof]

Well I am in a rain shadow so I get less then the people around me, probably a good 15 to 20 inches less. So I may get it or I may not. However I do not what to risk it as I am away this weekend end I do not want any grass left down.

Count yourself lucky 15/20 inches is our annual total

 

[Chuckie]

Count yourself lucky 15/20 inches is our annual total

Blimey, in Lancs we have had 20 inches this year so far, and it's probably been drier than it usually is