"Norman" wrote :
Martin Rowley wrote:

"JPG" wrote

I find that statement by Mr McElwee remarkably unhelpful to the
cause of climbing out of this slough of dumbing down and general
ignorance which is pervading this country. Semantics it certainly
isn't! A squall line and a tornado are completely distinct
phenomena, as well we all know. Supporting the general scientific
ignorance by indicating that just because the effects are the same,
so must the meteorology producing it, is unacceptable from a
scientific professional.

... the BBC Weather Centre are getting themselves in a real mess on
this one. Obviously someone higher up the chain has told them to say
it is a squall line, but from the footage I've seen on N24, some, if
not all of the events must have been linked to tornado development;
the damage reported, and the eye-witness reports of 'roaring winds'
etc., would all suggest that the cold front spawned a multiple
outbreak of relatively weak tornadoes (T2 generally) along it's
length: more investigation would reveal this.

What is disappointing is that whilst the N24 presenters were linking
together the viewers responses, and also interviewing Dr. Meaden, the
'strap line' at the bottom boldly stated that the BBC Weather Centre
stated it was a squall line! Egg on faces time I think: you don't
rule out anything until proper investigation on the ground and after
a few days reflection.

I've just had someone from BBC Three Counties Radio on the phone asking
about these events. A Met Office spokesman had told them that the
damage was caused by squalls, not tornadoes. I'm told that he said that
it was necessary to have thunder and lightning to get tornadoes and no
thunder and lightning had been reported.

LOL. I wonder whether that came from Exeter, of from the BBC
Weather Centre (local radio stations often speak with them even though
the may not get their weather presentation from there).

I must say that the output of the MO Press Office has improved
markedly since Dave Britton took over from Wayne Elliot earlier this
year. Most (though not quite all) of their releases are now sensible and
sober
and measured and factual, and lack the sensationalism and hyperbole
of before.

Philip