What is point of this type of weather forecast?

[Nibby]

2pm on May 4th it will be raining.
I can understand a day or two with that sort of prediction.

 

[safrane]

BBC forecast has dropped in accuracy since they re-tendered the contract.

 

[davy83]

If you think this level of accuracy is optimistic you should try accuweather!!! And what's more surprising is its often correct.

 

[CatmanV2]

If you think this level of accuracy is optimistic you should try accuweather!!! And what's more surprising is its often correct.

Minutecast is pretty great, but I ignore anything more than a couple of days out.

C

 

[MarkMas]

Well you asked the question!

Weather forecasting that far out is VERY imprecise, especially on timing. It the UK it is sometimes possible to meaningfully forecast things like, "It will be dry for a few days and then rainy for a bit." But the way the data analysis works gives a false sense of precision to what is a 'cone of uncertainty' and then their presentation format (hourly, even two weeks out) adds to the pointlessness,

But apparently the rain is now going to hold off until 5-ish.

 

[Scaf]

I have a love hate relationship with the weather forecast and have either not made plans because of the forecast or had plans ruined due to the inaccuracy.

The other day BBC weather was telling me it was raining but the sun was out and I was in a T shirt washing the car.

They do tend to be more accurate on temperatures than they are rain.

AccuWeather it very good, and the radar function “on the day” it’s spot on, quite handy for timing your BBQ between rain showers.

 

[CatmanV2]

Given my father was an RAF navigator it was drummed into us from an early age that long term weather forecasts in the UK were likely to never be any more accurate than @MarkMas observes.
So unlike @Scaf I have simply developed a hate / hate relationship the the utterly crappy weather we get here, for much the same reason.

C

 

[zagatoes30]

You lot need to live in Ireland, 4 seasons in one day is the norm.

A normal forecast is it's raining or it's going to rain

 

[Felonious Crud]

Given my father was an RAF navigator it was drummed into us from an early age that long term weather forecasts in the UK were likely to never be any more accurate than @MarkMas observes.
So unlike @Scaf I have simply developed a hate / hate relationship the the utterly crappy weather we get here, for much the same reason.

C

It's not the weather forecasts that **** me off, it's the weather.

 

[CatmanV2]

It's not the weather forecasts that **** me off, it's the weather.

*Exactly* I mean, KL: You know if you organise a BBQ, for example, it's not going to rain for 3 days solid. 30 minutes, perhaps, but that's fine.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to summer this year. The rain gets warmer.

C

 

[joered]

Never mind all this scientific nonsense, go back to the old ways, hang a bit of seaweed outside if it gets wet then you know its raining!

 

[Nibby]

The cynical in me does think the BBC try to depress us with their doom and gloom.

 

[Nibby]

Not even taxed the car this year yet. Will be taxing it from next Wednesday.
So if the weather picks up next week you can thank me.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

The cynical in me does think the BBC try to depress us with their doom and gloom.

Yes, they make ordinary weather sound like the world is coming to an end. No wonder people get depressed if they listen to the BBC.

 

[MarkMas]

The cynical in me does think the BBC try to depress us with their doom and gloom.

It's a British trait, which the BBC is just embracing.

Years ago, I read that Italy have less deep recessions than the UK, attributed partly because while the UK media love to announce every job loss as the downturn starts (and the UK audience laps that up), the Italian media carries on with good news and froth, reducing the rate of the recessionary spiral.

 

[highlander]

living in the highlands you learn to ignore the bbc broad spectrum forecasts for wide areas, it is all micro climates here. I've seen me leave home in winter sunshine and by the time i get to where needamaser lives, 16 miles away it is snow drifts, go 15 miles the other way to inverness and it is overcast and windy!

 

[Brendan]

Let's face it, if the weather wasn't so sh1te there'd be nothing to moan about.

 

[DLax69]

Let's face it, if the weather wasn't so sh1te there'd be nothing to moan about.

I'm sure you'd find something...

 

[Wack61]

I feel sorry for anyone planning a big event because people make plans based on weather forecast.

I've got a ton of **** to get shot of so was planning on a boot sale today

Friday 50% chance of rain, Saturday 70% so I didn't pack the car

Got up this morning, 10% and it's not rained all day
Last Sunday , 0% 6am - 11am, I got up at 7am and it was raining