On the day of the original advance warning, I said I'd eat my hat if
we had any significant snow here (S Hampshire) and my coat as well if
anything lay for more than an hour. I felt pretty safe. Yet as
recently as yesterday afternoon, unclear and misleading maps of
"disruption" risks were being shown on BBC TV weather forecasts.

For the South East away from North Sea coasts, the map showed a "high"
risk of disruption (very high nearer the E coasts). But the Western
boundary of this was completely obscured by a huge opaque "HIGH"
[risk] symbol plastered over Hampshire and surrounding areas. This
would have led most people down here to conclude that there was a
better than even chance of disruption over the whole of Hampshire and
the Isle of Wight and everywhere to the East/NE of there. I *knew*
there was very little chance of disruption SW of London and I'm sure
the forecasters did, too... but they (BBC W/C) allowed sloppy
presentation to get in the way of the forecast.

So yes, the real problem is presentation... not just in the popular
media but by professional BBC W/C presenters, too. Sadly, it happens
time and time again and the Met Office should perhaps take more
control over this because in the end it reflects badly on them, too.

--
Dave
Fareham Hampshire
Absolutely spot on there Dave. That was the problem. BBC News 24 at 1.00 am
this morning was talking of major disruption to the rush hour and heavy snow
as far down as Essex and Kent. Even warned people to not to go out! Everyone
looking at the radar then could see the showers moving out to sea and the
pressure rising and the wind in the NW etc. etc.
Dave