"Wijke" wrote in message
...
snip
The KNMI, and other weather-institutes, simply explain things like
this. Our
weatherguys/ -women really are educators :-).

.... yes, we don't seem to do very well at this - and yet it wasn't
always so. Probably dates from the days of fronts becoming 'weather
fronts' and (sshhhhh), don't mention the isobar! (it's a tramline). We
had a weather 'club' at school and used to post daily weather summaries
and publish seasonal reports in the school mag. (and no, this wasn't a
Public School - a County Secondary Modern with an enlightened Geography
master!). You would think from all the interesting weather events of
recent years that meteorology (as opposed to 'phew, wot a scorcher'
stories) would figure more prominently - I offered a few years ago to go
into my son's school to talk about 'the weather' and perhaps get some of
the youngsters interested, but there was no interest and I abandoned it
after a couple of attempts.

And, I also think, we're used to these confrontations of two
air-masses --
cold air in the east-southeast and incoming milder air from the ocean.
Its
rather common over Holland in wintertime. So not much of real
grumbling
about snow, sleet or rain :-).

.... well, so are we :-0 ... yet as you see, there have been a lot of
disappointed bunnies. As mentioned elsewhere, perhaps being too specific
was the problem. Perhaps the warnings to the Public Services should be
'as agreed' but those to the general public rather broader, but then we
would be accused of 'dumbing down' or with-holding data or some-such.

Concerning the warning systems. In general: I think its more a matter
of
culture. When I visit your big beautiful island, its always striking
how
often you're warned (!!) for almost everything :-). The only warning I
really missed was the pubs closing down at 23.00 h! :-)).

.... this is a constant refrain and there is some basis to it - but the
Warnings are put out to an agreed schedule/standard with the various
Public Services, NGO's, Broadcasting services, etc. As I posted
elsewhere though, the warnings do get pumped up somewhat along the line.


The KNMI doesn't know something like a warning-scale "early warning -
severe warning etc".
Warnings are always over the next 24 hours; given every half hour on
radio,
and via every other available channel. Wind's given in Beaufort -- and
there
warnings when windforce is above 6.
In serious conditions, like last weekend, the KNMI gives the windforce
and
adds a warning for heavy to very heavy gusts, also 24 hours ahead.
And, of
course, change it if necessary. Icy roads-warnings are the most common
one
in winter.
Windchill is only added when there's real danger of frost-bite -- in
general
with windchilltemps below ms 15 C.

.... as you say, if you are happy with it, then good for you. No doubt
the EC will harmonise everything in due course - a 'Euro-warning' [
Always make me think of Jim Hacker and the 'Euro-sausage' saga ;-) ]

Thanks for the very full reply,

Martin.