On 2014-01-10 18:09:21 +0000, Bill Foggitt said:

In my day the only stuff we had to predict a season ahead were berries,
moles, pine cones and seaweed. The national press treated us almost
like genteel national treasures. As good as technology is it's turned
many of the same eccentric anoraks into egotistical maniacs.

One other thing there's a poster on this blog called Tim Channon - the
name has a familiar ring to it?

http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/about-tim/

I think the weather is full of so many egos because it is a case of
one-opmanship (I can predict/forecast more accurately than you).

However, as we have seen over the last 3 months, most of it turns out
not to be humans doing any forecasting at all, but merely interpreting
a particularly extreme run of the 10-15 day model predictions, and
trying to be the first to mention severe weather for a particular day.

Presumably, this is all about creating a group of followers for that
particular person or organisation; either for ego purposes or for
possible commercial exploitation, or both.

Hopefully, this relatively mild weather will continue for a few more
days, and I will be able to scotch a myth to all my friends; who
confidently predict a spell of heavy snow and sharp frosts based on the
simple "fact" that whatever the USA gets, we will get 7/10/15* days
later. *Delete whichever time period does not fit with the "prediction".