The message
from "martin rowley" contains these words:


"Paul Hyett" wrote in message
...
In weather like this it must be a thankless task.

Depending on whether cloud clears or stays, you can easily be
7°C or
more out, not to mention locations only a few miles apart can
differ by
that amount!

... tell me about it! I was not long into forecasting .. my first
such post in fact, (at RAF Bawtry in 1979, then a Main Met.
Office/No.1 Group), but in fact a large part of the work was for
non-military users (before the advent of the now-closed Leeds
WC).

The reference station for the 'Gas curve' (the temperature
forecasts sent to the local gas control room to forecast demand)
was Finningley, not far up the road (station 03360/EGXI ... soon
to be resurrected I understand!). The forecast and actual plot of
temperature was maintained (as on many stations at the time), on
a large Perspex board underneath where the forecaster worked.

My forecast for one particular early summer night was something
like a minimum of + 12degC, with the curve gently dropping to
that value through the night. I came in next morning and my heart
sank when I saw the chinagraph trace had 'nose-dived' well below
my poor efforts, and IIRC, the total error by the end of the
night was something like 7 degC!

Down to cloud cover of course ... I wasn't allowed to forget
that:

Oh, my next posting ... to the aforesaid RAF Finningley!

Martin.

Give the place my regards - started there with the MetO as an Assistant
back in 1958!!

Dave
Fair Isle