Why are the English obsessed with the weather? If you were
an Englishman you would think the question was plain stupid, because knowing
what weather to expect is essential for anyone going out of doors – if there’s
any chance of rain, then an umbrella will be a valuable, if not essential
accoutrement. You will know that a sunhat and suncream will not be required.
Our weather can be so changeable. Even within a matter of hours, clouds can bring
rain, hail, sleet or snow.
Short-term and long-term forecasts are equally valuable. I
refer to the BBC TV National Forecast every day. Its large-scale maps showing
the distribution of expected rain, cloud, sunshine, fog etc., along with wind
speed, wind direction and temperature are excellent. Local forecasts are
surprisingly accurate, often predicting where rain will fall and when it will
start and finish; each map covers a period of 3 hours within 48 hours and
thereafter 6 hourly periods for 3 days. This is tremendously helpful when
planning ahead.
If I intend sailing my boat in the near future I start
looking at forecasts, and I study the positions and movements of high and low
pressure areas. For more detailed information I refer to other sources such as
the Met Office Inshore Waters Forecast and XC-Weather Observation Map. (See
links below)
More often than not, the BBC TV forecasts are so good I can
rely upon them entirely.
Matthew 16:2 ‘He
answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather,
for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for
the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face
of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.”’
Links
BBC Weather
Surface Pressure Forecast
Met Office Inshore Waters
Wind Observation Map
Forecast
Weather for a Sail?
Prudence
2 comments:
Bill, I think an obsession with the weather is common to those of us that live on Islands. It's just that being surrounded by water means you just get more weather than those that don't !
Paul,
That is the case. What a contrast there has been between the drought and the persistent rain. I'm hoping for it to ease off for a few fine spells this spring and summer.
Cheers,
Bill.
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