A special day for weather forecasting
Post categories: Eisteddfod,Ìýeisteddfod
| 16:06 UK time, Monday, 1 August 2011
Today is a special day for the Met Office, celebrating 150 years of forecasting for the nation as it marks the appearing in print.
I wonder what would think of the way we forecast the weather now, using super computers, radar and satellites? The admiral was captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous expedition and also a meteorologist who pioneered accurate weather forecasting.
He also introduced the use of barometers at ports (to be checked before sailing) and introduced 'weather charts' fed by data from fifteen different land based weather stations. I'm sure he'd be amazed at how much things have changed since the 1850's but equally, would embrace new technology in the same way he did, in his own era.
Of course, we don't always get it right, sometimes a forecast is wrong, but on the whole, forecasts are much more accurate these days thanks to advances in science and technology. We also have a much of how the atmosphere functions.
Hopefully the forecast will be right for the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham this week. I'll be heading up there tomorrow and taking the sun cream and an umbrella just in case.
Sunny intervals are likely over the next few days but I wouldn't rule out a shower or a thunderstorm too. It will also feel humid and close, with temperatures on Wednesday soaring to a sticky 25 Celsius/ 77 Fahrenheit.
Thankfully, it will turn fresher on Friday with winds from the Atlantic bringing some relief from all the humidity.
See you on the Maes!
Derek
Comments Post your comment