Martin Rowley wrote:

"Norman" wrote ...

I agree with you 100 percent on that, Jack. Unfortunately, another
dictionary definition of "normal" is "the average of a set of observed
values". This definition has been in common use in the Met Office for many
years (Is that still the case, anyone?). Averages for the time of year
were (are?) commonly referred to as "the normals". But I'm with you, Jack.
For me, the "average" maximum temperature for a particular month for a
particular location is a single value whereas the maximum temperature that
may be considered "normal" for that month for that location is a range of
values, spread either side of the "average" value.

... WMO still refer to 'Normals'

http://www.wmo.int/e-catalog/index_e...h2.x=0&search2
.y=0

Martin.

I'm sure that monthly average values don't occur that often on a day-to-day
basis e.g. if the average daily max for a location in February is 8C the actual
daily max at that location will be some value other than 8C during most days in
any February. Some other value may occur more frequently than 8C. The average
may well be 8C but, as Jack said, other values are perfectly normal. 6C, for
example, may occur more frequently even though 8C is the average. I suspect
that the professional meteorological community's understanding of the word
"normal" is not the same as Joe Public's.

Norman
--
Norman Lynagh
Tideswell, Derbyshire
303m a.s.l.

"Norman" wrote :

In this increasingly litigious world it actually does matter. The legal
profession is very good at playing with words and manipulating them to
suit
their own ends. If the word "normal" is used to describe the "average"
value
then it is easy for a barrister to argue that anything that differs from
the
average is "not normal" and hence is "abnormal". If it is abnormal he
would
then argue that it is not a value that could reasonably have been
anticipated
by an individual. That is utter tripe, of course, but it is the sort of
argument that I come across very frequently.

My desk dictionary gives 9 meanings for "normal", but it
also gives 16 for "average", 7 for "mean", 8 for "median" and
9 for "mode". So you're stuffed whichever one you use! All
the more reason, then, to apply common sense, which effectively
means accepting that words have different meanings; so in a legal
environment that requires you to define your terms ... which I am
sure you do, Norman.

Philip

Norman wrote:

I suspect
that the professional meteorological community's understanding of the word
"normal" is not the same as Joe Public's.

And who is the customer?

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks., UK. E-mail: newsman not newsboy

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:12:45 +0000, Paul C wrote:

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:36:58 +0000, "Keith (Southend)"
wrote:

Paul C wrote:
Thursday 26 February 10:00pm on C4

"In the first weeks of February, travellers were stranded, and
thousands of schools closed as Britain suffered its worst snowfalls in
18 years. This film documents that extraordinary week and the fallout
from the storm, exploring the possible factors behind the freak
weather. People battled to get to work. Some took eight hours using
skis and sledges while others made the most of their wintry day off.
Britain was turned into a fun, white wonderland by this sudden change
in conditions - but with more than just a few broken bones as a
result."


Oh dear!

I must have dozed off that week, did I miss something ?

I think it must have snowed in London.


I see the TV promo for the programme now talks about "the coldest
winter for 18 years."

Paul C wrote:
On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:12:45 +0000, Paul C wrote:

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:36:58 +0000, "Keith (Southend)"
wrote:

Paul C wrote:
Thursday 26 February 10:00pm on C4

"In the first weeks of February, travellers were stranded, and
thousands of schools closed as Britain suffered its worst
snowfalls in 18 years. This film documents that extraordinary week
and the fallout from the storm, exploring the possible factors
behind the freak weather. People battled to get to work. Some took
eight hours using skis and sledges while others made the most of
their wintry day off. Britain was turned into a fun, white
wonderland by this sudden change in conditions - but with more
than just a few broken bones as a result."


Oh dear!

I must have dozed off that week, did I miss something ?

I think it must have snowed in London.


I see the TV promo for the programme now talks about "the coldest
winter for 18 years."

Does it really? Give me strength!
I never watch these programmes, I doubt I'll be watching this one either as
it all sounds a load of cobblers to me. The pictures might be nice to see
though.

Will
--