Will Hand wrote:

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This forecast represents the *PERSONAL OPINION* of the Chief
forecaster at the privately run Haytor meteorological office in Devon
on how the weather may unfold next week. The Chief forecaster will
take no responsibility whatsoever for any actions arising from its
use. It is provided freely in the spirit of freedom and the great
love for meteorology that we personally enjoy and wish to share
freely with others.


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Summary valid for Sunday 19/02/06 to Saturday 25/02/06/
TOI (time of issue) Thursday 16/02/06 2000 UK local time

This summary is based on a quick appraisal of the GFS, JMA, ECMWF,
UKMO, FAX, and ENS (NCEP ensemble) labelled charts available from the
superb http://www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten

Moderate confidence that this week will see the first widespread
snowfall of the winter in England and Wales. Possible disruption to
transport services. Very high confidence, however, that the week will
be very cold with northeasterly winds setting in.

On Sunday a developing low will track east across northern France and
then become slow moving over Belgium and Holland before filling up by
midweek and then drifting south. The low will spread rain eastwards
across southern coastal counties on Sunday morning with strengthening
east or northeast winds. The rain will turn heavy and persistent
giving a spell of snow above 400m asl. Track uncertain, so northern
edge uncertain. Later in the day as the low turns slightly northeast
the rain will spread into much of SE England and the Midlands and
during the evening will turn increasingly to sleet and snow on hills
above about 150m asl. During the night the precipitation should drift
eastwards with SW England becoming mainly dry but by Monday morning
sleet and snow will be falling at low levels as temperatures fall to
freezing giving a covering of snow in east and SE England. Lower risk
of snowfall further west and north but certainly possible. Scotland
and Northern Ireland will be cold and showery with sleet and snow on
high ground. NW England showery with wintry showers on hills but
possibly some rain, sleet and snow getting into NE England on Monday.
Winds fresh to strong northeasterly in the south and east with some
drifting snow on high ground. Moderate to fresh winds further north.

On Tuesday and Wednesday moderate to fresh, locally strong, east or
northeasterly winds will bring further spells of rain, sleet and snow
to all areas. Rain mainly near the coast and on very low ground but
inland, and especially over hills, several centimetres of snow are
likely in exposed places. East and SE England seem likely to catch
most snow. However, SW England (especially moors) could get some
heavy snow on Wednesday as a front brushes by from the east. NW
England and Scotland and Northern Ireland, brighter but still with
wintry showers and some drifting on high ground.

For the rest of the week the trend will be for pressure to build to
the north of Britain, so staying very cold and much drier in the
north with severe frost setting in at night. Further sleet and snow
showers in the south and east with frost at night. Drifting of lying
snow in the moderate to fresh winds in the south.

Outlook for the following week with low to moderate confidence is for
it to stay very cold with severe overnight frosts and further sleet
and snow at times.

Finally here is the Dartmoor winter walking and sledging forecast for
the weekend of 18th/19th February 2006.

Saturday looks like being mainly cloudy with spells of rain. Possibly
some sleet and snow above 500m asl. Some sunny intervals below 300m
asl. On Sunday rain with snow above 400m asl will set in during the
early hours. Winds will become easterly fresh to strong with local
gales on the south moor where blizzard and dangerous whiteout
conditions are possible on the plateau for a time. Rain turning
increasingly to snow at all levels during the day but also tending to
die out from the west. Confidence moderate. Temperatures generally
1-4 deg C but falling to freezing above 300m asl by end of Sunday.
Walkers are advised to get an up to date weather check before
venturing out on Sunday. Sledging conditions could become good on
Sunday afternoon but strong winds and heavy snow may make access
difficult, also drifting could become a problem.


If it had been anyone else writing this but you, Will, I would have
dismissed them as a crank!
--
Rob Overfield
Hull