I thought it would be interesting to think back to the Met Office's
long range forecast issued May/June time this year, widely reported in
the press. In it they speculated that August would see searing heat,
with temparatures well above average.

It seems from Darren's commentary that the start of August will be
relatively warm, but nothing to write home about - indeed if anything
temperatures a degree or so below average.

In order for the MO to be correct, there will have to be some serious
heat in the last two weeks of August.

For me, it goes to show that forecasting these days seems to be more
about headline grabbing and soundbites rather than meaningful,
considered remarks. Even the use of probabilities and confidence in
the earlier articles would have sufficed.

My question is this - is it the media doctoring UKMO output, or are
both the media and UKMO to blame for setting expectations incorrectly?

Regards from an overcast almost October-type Wokingham,

Ian