On Thu, 6 Dec 2012 08:46:29 -0000, Eskimo Will wrote:

Take the yellow warning for snow currently in place. Read what is
found under "Cumbria", it talks about Scotland an awful lot. OK the
Borders are sort of relevant for Cumbria but the exact same text can
be found under all the other sub regions with warnings in North West
England. That's Greater Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen and
Lancashire.

By all means have such broad brush text for the main region but the
sub regions really ought to have it tailored to them.

Ah but Dave you have to remember that it's all done from ExitDoor now.

Where it's done isn't overly relevant these days all the data is available to
them weather they be in Exeter or Timbucktwo.

Centralised forecasts for the whole UK. The poor Chief forecaster
simply doesn't have the time and does a great job in the circumstances.

They only have one Chief Forecaster, who does it when he's not in or is on
leave or heaven forbid sick? Has forecasting become a 9-5 M-F only job these
days?

I don't think it really needs a Chief Forecaster to produce sub regional
warnings. It's a sub-editors job, to remove the irelevant parts of the
regional warning and add in a bit more local detail. Take this sentance from
the current warning for Cumbria:

"Over Scotland and northern England snow is expected over higher ground where
5-10cm is likely above about 250 m, with locally 10-15 cm possible above 400m
over Scotland."

What is the expected depth of snow for bits of Cumbria 400 m? Looks like it
could be anything from 5 cm to 15 cm... This same text is in the warning for
Greater Manchester etc...

The Chief Forecaster ought to approve the sub regional warning text but he
doesn't have to produce it.

--
Cheers Dave.
Nr Garrigill, Cumbria. 421m ASL.