On 14/09/2011 10:49, Ken Cook wrote:
The local man killed by a falling tree in Monday's gale was well known
to me. It certainly brings home another side of severe weather when
something like this happens. Was the Met Office right to issue gale
warnings? Ask ordinary folk here and you will be told in no uncertain
terms. They don't know what the official terms of a gale are and aren't
particularly interested, but they do know that a gale warning means
damage, strong winds and danger.

I agree. It is more important than ever now that there are lots of
semi-dead horse chestnut trees about with brittle branches. One of my
neighbours had a 30' tree snap in two on Monday - narrowly missing their
house. The mature oaks I can see from home have survived unscathed
despite being in a very exposed position and swaying like crazy on the
day (whole tree that is not just the branches).

The warnings were well in advance and spot on, they usually are here.
Imagine the repercussions in these parts if there had been no warnings.
Most of our population are not weather nuts and welcome warnings of
gales, snow, ice etc.

Ken
Copley, Teesdale

The amber alert seemed entirely appropriate here. Plenty of high sided
vehicles blown over. They don't close the A19 flyover for nothing.

The same people whinging on about over reaction would be moaning about
failure to warn the public had the Met Office not put out a warning.
They just don't like the Met Office.

Regards,
Martin Brown
North Yorks