The BBC TV weather forecasts.
Posted by: Tony Lockhart on 22 January 2011
These have been going in their current format for a few years now, but still, even with the best of intentions, I just can't concentrate all the way through. When I used to explain the inner workings of Tornado flying control components to a tired Saudi trainee, he managed to at least politely show some interest. I can't put my finger on it, but I lose interest in the Beeb's effort in less than a minute, which is inevitably before my area is mentioned!
Thankfully, the weather app on my iPhone is more than good enough.
Posted on: 22 January 2011 by JamieL_v2
When they used to show the whole country throughout the forecast, if they started to concentrate on an area away from you, you could look a the graphic and get the information you wanted.
Now with the 3D you have to spend half the forecast looking at an area you have no interest in.
It also seems a lot less technical now, and I used to like seeing more of the pressure and weather front charts.
As I used to cycle around 40 miles a day in my youth, I followed the forecast quite closely in those days.
I tend to use the Met Office website far more now.
Posted on: 22 January 2011 by Mike-B
IMO they try to cover an area that's just too big for local details, but they try get into local & that's the boring bit.
If I need to know (if) I watch the main forecast for the big picture & the local forecast for detail as its very common that 100 miles north-south in central south gets different weather.
The difficulty with UK - apart from the size - is when you do try to go local detail the maritime weather system - which is what UK is classified as - is too variable over small areas & short periods
Last nights main BBC 10pm forecast said we get to -2'c & becoming cloudy thru the night
The local area forecast said the same
We got drizzle at dawn that froze on the ground including the roads
Looking at the various local professional & amateur weather stations that iGoogle show .....
30 miles to the west was clear & with a low of -4.7'c
10 miles east had a dusting of snow & -0.7'c
----------------
Saudi story: I was running a "train the trainers" project at a Riyadh technical college.
1st real work day after the 2 days of the usual protocol & sorting out prayer time breaks etc, & the finish time agreed was at appropriate point according to subject at aprx 5pm.
I was deep into the details of a temperature controllers guarded access sub-menu programming feature when the clock stuck 5.
Clatter bang all stand up & go home.
Wadda !! where dey gone ??
I soon learnt to end the training proper at 4:30, summarise the days achievements, check to see what bits had not stuck & do it again.
Then at 5, bibi Mr Mike all-go-home.
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by Steve O
I looked at the forecast on the website earlier. The 5 day forecast with the weather symbols was different to the 5 day forecast on the regional map. How do they come to that conclusion?
