Long-Range Weather Forecasts. Do You Take Any Notice Of Them?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
September 21, 2011 6:25pm CST
We don't have an "official" long-range weather forecast anymore because the Met Office tend to get them wrong, which upsets important people like farmers, so the ones we DO hear about tend to be from abroad, usually the US.
Anyway, I was mortified to discover that one of these forecasts is full of doom and gloom for the UK's upcoming winter, even going so far as to predict we may get snow as early as OCTOBER!
OH, NO, NOT AGAIN!
How I hate the snow. I only hope the forecast is actually wrong and we get back to the mild, damp conditions we have grown to love over the years.
If this prediction is true it will be the 3rd year on the trot we get a colder than normal winter, and that's after a cooler than normal summer.
Work that one out!
So, how are your forecasts? Are they accurate or don't you take much notice of them?
How I hate the snow. I only hope the forecast is actually wrong and we get back to the mild, damp conditions we have grown to love over the years.
If this prediction is true it will be the 3rd year on the trot we get a colder than normal winter, and that's after a cooler than normal summer.
Work that one out!
So, how are your forecasts? Are they accurate or don't you take much notice of them?10 responses
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
22 Sep 11
Prior to about 1970 our winters were colder and definitely snowier. I think that we are slowly heading towards another period of extreme cold which had occurred around every 150 years or so. I don't think that it had much to do with global warming though. As a boy I remember ponds freezing enough to skate on, "proper" snow and my Dad grumbling because the car wouldn't start as an annual event. This is in the South of England. Both my parents come from Derbyshire where the weather was usually worse and just took it in their stride. On the bright side perhaps we'll have a white Christmas!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Sep 11
Haha! Well, I hope the long-range forecast is actually wrong but the American one hasn't been for the last few years so I'm not hopeful, to be honest.
Mum remembers the mega winter of 1963!
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
28 Sep 11
Honestly I hardly ever watch the weather forecast. I have been hearing mixed reviews about long term weather, some say it will be a very cold winter and others say it won't be that bad. I don't think they know what they're talking about.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Sep 11
Haha, I think you maybe right there. Our "island" is very small and the forecasters can't even predict what's going to happen tomorrow, never mind 3 months from now..and they have all this technology at their disposal too. Not like the stickers Jack Frost (yes, that was his real name) used to use on the map in the 70s!
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
22 Sep 11
they are NEVER accurate here.and they even have the overpriced machines that go ping.
long range is totally worthless,and i get a better idea by looking out the window,looking at the tides,and the amount of pain in my leg that particular day.
having said that..i think this winter's gonna be BAD.it's already chilly and the trees are dropping early.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Sep 11
John is the same with his knees. They can predict when it's going to rain, oddly enough.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
24 Sep 11
I used to have the weather channel open every morning as I get ready for work. I would look at the short term and long term forcasts as it literally changes per hour here. Even more the long term forecasts.
So, I don't look long term anymore. If the weather holds up for the rest of the day as I pick what kind of clothing I choose in the morning, then I'm a happy camper!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Sep 11
Mum switches the television on before going to work so she can see the very latest weather on the news. Then she can decide what clothing to pick from for her bike-ride!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
22 Sep 11
We do get a full 7 days forecast for us to view for the week and they do predict the full season as well. Are they accurate, not always but sadly when they say it is going to be a brutal winter it is far worse. So we can at least expect it to be worse then what it is most of the time.
Ours is saying lot of snow and brutal frigid temperatures and this is usually expected, each year here.
@godarna (223)
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22 Sep 11
Long range weather forecasts one can still find on the internet. But I'm not really interested to know, how the weather will look like in say 14 days. More important is today's forecast, and I must say that most of the time the are quite accurate here. Not really that difficult as we only have two seasons here and the weather conditions are quite stable.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Sep 11
We can have all four seasons in one day, it's so diverse. Bring your winter woolies if you ever visit..even in the summer!
@godarna (223)
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22 Sep 11
No thanks, I rather prefer the warm climate here. Although I know what you mean as I was born in a place with four seasons per year and sometimes two seasons per day. It's not for nothing I left the place, but honostly the weather conditions were not the real reason.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
22 Sep 11
Our weather forecasts are pretty accurate. I do listen to our weathermen. They are usually right on track.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
22 Sep 11
They don't usually give the forecast for more then 7 days here. Sometimes they will make a brief mention of the weather trends for later in the month or longer but they make sure to mention that it could change all on how weather patterns go. Even giving the 7 day forecast by the time you get to the 5th day or so it has changed 3 times.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Sep 11
Haha!
I know what you mean. Our local weather forecaster will give the weather for the next few days and by the time he's finished I've forgotten what he's said! It's the same with the national weather. I tend to look at the radar patterns as he moves the hours along on his little gadget..just to see if it's gonna rain. All his words are a blur and NEVER any good, such as, sun for the whole week..never gonna happen I'm afraid!
I know what you mean. Our local weather forecaster will give the weather for the next few days and by the time he's finished I've forgotten what he's said! It's the same with the national weather. I tend to look at the radar patterns as he moves the hours along on his little gadget..just to see if it's gonna rain. All his words are a blur and NEVER any good, such as, sun for the whole week..never gonna happen I'm afraid!
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
22 Sep 11
Yes, indeed, weather forecasts are not easy at all, especially for long range. I do check the forecasts regionally when I have to travel. Traveling in the winter time in the heavy and stormy snow is never easy, and very dangerous. So, I have to be aware of the forecasts. We often get the first snow in October, here in Canada.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Sep 11
I can understand early snow in October in Canada but not here in the UK..but nothing surprises me anymore.
@petersum (4522)
• United States
22 Sep 11
Doesn't snow mean it is warmer than usual? Normally the British winter is too cold for snow to form. Of course where you are on the west coast does mean that the Gulf Stream has a warming effect. The central and eastern areas get most of the cold spells.
I haven't been in Britain for a very long time but I doubt if the climate has changed that much. I don't believe the forecasts anyway.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Sep 11
Well, I have kept diaries since I was 11 years old (I'm now..er..older than that lol) and I can tell you now, the weather IS changing..especially since 2000 in my opinion. I cannot remember the last time we had a drought and the last really hot spell was way back in 2003. Granted, it doesn't rain much down South anyway but, even there, it's way cooler than it should be.
Instead of it warming up here it's getting colder. Summer was a non-event.
