The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now. Things have moved on
and the Met Office now issues regular weekly updates at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...t_weather.html also Darren does
a superb daily rundown of all the NWP outputs, and I'm also finding that I'm
putting less effort into it now too for various reasons.

So instead, I shall be concentrating on a local weekly outlook for Devon south
of a line from Exeter to Okehampton to Launceston and east of the Tamar and west
of the Exe, roughly the A30. I know this is somewhat parochial but it is where I
feel that I still have something definite to offer, as opposed to trying to
second guess vastly improved model outputs in recent years.

So here's to times past and a look to the future in 2007!

I will of course continue to comment here on events from time to time.

Will (Chief forecaster Haytor meteorological Office)
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COL BH site in East Dartmoor at Haytor, Devon 310m asl (1017 feet).

mailto:
www: http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm

DISCLAIMER - All views and opinions expressed by myself are personal
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In article ,
Will Hand writes:
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now.

It will be much missed. What with Martin giving up his FAQ as well, it
seems to be the end of an era. I don't think that the other forecasts
that you mention do quite the same thing as yours.
--
John Hall

"Distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes."
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 12:38:03 +0000, Will Hand wrote:

The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking
stock and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end
my national weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now.
Things have moved on and the Met Office now issues regular weekly
updates at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...t_weather.html also
Darren does a superb daily rundown of all the NWP outputs, and I'm also
finding that I'm putting less effort into it now too for various
reasons.




I will miss your weekly forecasts greatly, as I have always found them to
be well thought out, well presented, and above all more accurate than
others I could mention.

Life moves on however, and I fully appreciate that you have good reason to
re-think your priorities.

I'd like to say thanks very much for your work to date though, and to let
you know that it has always been much appreciated here.


--
Jon
____________________________________________
jondotrogersatntlworlddotcom
============================================

A big thankyou anyways Will from a sodden and dark Aberfeldy


"Will Hand" wrote in message
...
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking
stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my
national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now. Things have
moved on
and the Met Office now issues regular weekly updates at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...t_weather.html also
Darren does
a superb daily rundown of all the NWP outputs, and I'm also finding that
I'm
putting less effort into it now too for various reasons.

So instead, I shall be concentrating on a local weekly outlook for Devon
south
of a line from Exeter to Okehampton to Launceston and east of the Tamar
and west
of the Exe, roughly the A30. I know this is somewhat parochial but it is
where I
feel that I still have something definite to offer, as opposed to trying
to
second guess vastly improved model outputs in recent years.

So here's to times past and a look to the future in 2007!

I will of course continue to comment here on events from time to time.

Will (Chief forecaster Haytor meteorological Office)
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COL BH site in East Dartmoor at Haytor, Devon 310m asl (1017 feet).

mailto:
www:
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm

DISCLAIMER - All views and opinions expressed by myself are personal
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will Hand wrote:
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now. Things have moved on
and the Met Office now issues regular weekly updates at

Will,

This is indeed sad news. It seems today that things have to change just
because they have not changed for a while. It was happening in
education, not for the better, and was one of many reasons reasons I am
now a retired headteacher.
If you've made up your mind, so be it, but believe me, the Met O
forecasts certainly do not appear to have been written by an enthusiast
such as yourself. They lack the personal touch through necessity, yours
suit the weather nuts on this ng and often give hope in these GW times.

Thanks for the countless hours you have put in.

Ken
Copley, County Durham

Will Hand wrote:
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now. Things have moved on
and the Met Office now issues regular weekly updates at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...t_weather.html also Darren does
a superb daily rundown of all the NWP outputs, and I'm also finding that I'm
putting less effort into it now too for various reasons.

So instead, I shall be concentrating on a local weekly outlook for Devon south
of a line from Exeter to Okehampton to Launceston and east of the Tamar and west
of the Exe, roughly the A30. I know this is somewhat parochial but it is where I
feel that I still have something definite to offer, as opposed to trying to
second guess vastly improved model outputs in recent years.

I am very sorry to hear this, Will. Darren's model interpretation
complements your weekly forecast and does not compete. Other forecasts
are just not up to the standard you have set. When was the last time
that the Met Office explained what had gone wrong with a past forecast
and when have they expressed the level of confidence in their forecasts?

Anyway, I wish to thank you for all your hard work. Your forecasts will
be sorely missed.

--
Howard Neil

Will Hand wrote:
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now.

Thanks for all your efforts, Will. Your weekly forecast was one of the
highlights of this newsgroup for me. Mrs L will miss it too, no more
cries of "Will says we may get snow next week!"
--
Steve Loft
Sanday, Orkney. 5m ASL
http://sanday.org.uk/weather

Quoting from message

posted on 31 Dec 2006 by Howard Neil
I would like to add:

Will Hand wrote:
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and
taking stock and it is with some sadness that I have taken the
decision to end my national weekly forecast which I have been doing
for many years now.

snip

I am very sorry to hear this, Will. Darren's model interpretation
complements your weekly forecast and does not compete. Other forecasts
are just not up to the standard you have set. When was the last time
that the Met Office explained what had gone wrong with a past forecast
and when have they expressed the level of confidence in their forecasts?

Anyway, I wish to thank you for all your hard work. Your forecasts will
be sorely missed.


I'm echoing Howard (was thinking on same lines and can't come up with
better alternative)

--
..ElaineJ. Briallen Gifts/Cards catalogue at http://www.briallen.co.uk
..Virtual. Corn Dollies, Cards, Coasters, Mousemats, Kids' Tshirts
StrongArm Jones' Pages at http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/ejones
..RISC PC. Corwen, North Wales; Steam Traction;CMMGB&Yukon Volunteers.

"Will Hand" wrote in message
...
The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking
stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my
national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now. Things have
moved on
and the Met Office now issues regular weekly updates at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...t_weather.html also
Darren does
a superb daily rundown of all the NWP outputs, and I'm also finding that
I'm
putting less effort into it now too for various reasons.

So instead, I shall be concentrating on a local weekly outlook for Devon
south
of a line from Exeter to Okehampton to Launceston and east of the Tamar
and west
of the Exe, roughly the A30. I know this is somewhat parochial but it is
where I
feel that I still have something definite to offer, as opposed to trying
to
second guess vastly improved model outputs in recent years.

So here's to times past and a look to the future in 2007!

I will of course continue to comment here on events from time to time.


Theres nothing more for me to say than what others have, but I shall surely
miss the forecasts myself. It was a treat to be able to read exactly the
reasoning behind the forecasts, not being treated like idiots, and I for one
learned much from them. But time and tide wait for no man as they say so
best wishes for your semi-retirement, Will!
--
Rob
Pasture Farm Cottages, Langtoft,
148m asl

On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 12:38:03 -0000, Will Hand wrote:

The period around the solstice is often a time for reflection and taking stock
and it is with some sadness that I have taken the decision to end my national
weekly forecast which I have been doing for many years now. Things have moved on
and the Met Office now issues regular weekly updates at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...t_weather.html also Darren does
a superb daily rundown of all the NWP outputs, and I'm also finding that I'm
putting less effort into it now too for various reasons.

So instead, I shall be concentrating on a local weekly outlook for Devon south
of a line from Exeter to Okehampton to Launceston and east of the Tamar and west
of the Exe, roughly the A30. I know this is somewhat parochial but it is where I
feel that I still have something definite to offer, as opposed to trying to
second guess vastly improved model outputs in recent years.

So here's to times past and a look to the future in 2007!

I will of course continue to comment here on events from time to time.

Will (Chief forecaster Haytor meteorological Office)

I don't often post but have been reading your forecasts for many years,
they will be sorely missed. Even for this 'know nowt', they were easy to
understand and if things didn't go quite how you'd forecast, you were
willing to explain why you got it wrong. Thanks Will, for all the effort
you've put in over and the years and good luck with your future local
forecasts.