richie3846

And for those that missed it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/34489981

Jeez.it's a bit early for the f word isn't it?!

I've just had a quick glance at the met's figures. Commercial revenue is around £200m or so - this is a massive hole in the balance sheet.

Do any of you guys know how much this contract is worth to the Met Office? Are we talking millions? Or tens of millions?

Quite a shock! I reckon the Met Office data is the best out there. I wonder who the beeb will use now? There is some good news if the BBC forecast goes down the pan though - the Met publish a regular video forecast at the bottom of the homepage. It is far more entertaining than the beeb, as the 'presenters' are clearly chosen on some sort of 'pull the short straw' system, so lack the refinement of the beeb presenters. I watch this forecast daily, for the weather forecast, and for the entertaining presenters too! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34031785

Lack of frost in Aberdeen is likely caused by sea surface temperatures around 2c above average. Very warm nights have been the theme in many coastal spots around the UK during September and early October, especially the south coast and south Wales.

My local weather station (Lyneham) recorded 25mm in a recent thunderstorm so that ended our dry spell! It was intense rain resulting with people stuck in floodwater on a train. With lightening every 10 seconds for hours it was like a mid-summer storm.

When I'm in my car, which has a thermometer reading on the dash (not very scientific I know!), I found it incredible the wide range of variation as I was driving around. On a long, regular commute route, I started to notice trends based on where I was. For example, on a cold night, there was a frost hollow which could knock 6c off the temperature. Also, again on a cold night, the temperature could rise 3c on driving between two lakes. The same lakes knocked 1-2c off on a warm day. I reckon it's easier to think of your garden as a slightly different micro-climate, than think there is something

I've noticed the temperature forecasting anomaly for at least three months now. It tends to be 2-3c higher than forecast, mainly on fine days. I was starting to wonder if the met are trying to 'play it safe' - 2c higher is a pleasing bonus, whilst forecasting on the higher end, and it turning out 2c colder could lead to bad press and complaints.

I live in the Lyneham area, and have to disagree. Statistics don't always reveal the real truth. I think April was pretty good, whilst it was fairly wet overall and lacked an early heatwave, there was an abundance of fine sunny days, which were most pleasant and enjoyable. We had no cold snaps with every day reached at least 11c, and we had no air frost and 2 or 3 ground frosts. Plus we had 12 days in a row with no rain. I looked back at the last decade, and even warm Aprils had some sort of cold snap, so in fact it was a very temperate month indeed, instead of yo-yo-ing temperatures playing h

I believe it to be March 2nd 1977. Exeter Airport 20.2c

When the Met, or BBC forecast 'rather', in English that actually means slightly, or vaguely. I remember back in the '90s, 13c and sunny being described by the BBC as 'rather' warm in sunshine. A hint of warmth. Therefore I would take this forecast to mean a tiny bit chilly, rather than full blown nor'easters!

I've had a thought....the longer we leave the heating off, the more the energy companies will charge us per unit, as they have to pay for the infrastructure, therefore any mild spell puts pressure on their profit margin. So we will end up paying them roughly the same in the long run even if we save in the short term......grrrrr!

I often check the wetterzentrale.de forecast and for once both this forecast from the met, and wetterzentrale agree. Up until yesterday, wetterzentrale were predicting much warmer nights. Now they are predicting cool nights too.

You know you are talking to a born-and-bred Yorkshireman when you hear words like 'outrageously expensive' and 'unneccesary step of putting the heating on'! I personally like to set the thermostat at 19c and timer set for 6am to 10pm. The heating won't be needed just yet though, maybe early October. I don't worry for the cost as it's fairly reasonable at 19c. Bedrooms are probably a bit cooler than that, maybe 17c. Warm enough for comfort and to keep the house dry and healthy.

At my location (Swindon) the hottest day of the year at the local weather station at Lyneham during 2011 was 1st October. 26.5c was recorded, narrowly beating the 26.3c recorded in June. I wouldn't have thought it possible, and I'll be amazed if it happens again in my lifetime.

Errr... I think John meant that there are railways in the Alps........!