Bad wind, poor weather forecasters

[Danack (Dan Ackroyd)]

Hi guys,

I've noticed a couple of times now that the Australian weather forecasters seem to dislike giving bad news about the weather and will try to avoid mentioning or downplaying when there is bad weather on the way.

For example:

Wednesday: Windy, showers coast & ranges, south from Hunter. Showers in northeast. Light showers western slopes.

Thursday: Heavy showers & wind easing south from Hunter.

Wind easing? What's it easing from? They're implying it's going to be pretty windy but avoid saying it. Looking at the Bom wind chart for Thursday morning
shows that the wind at the coast around Nowra will be blowing at about 45 mph (75kph) and apparently will gust up to about 40% faster i.e. 63mph (105kph).

Yeah, it's not exactly the fastest wind in the world but can still be damaging; if I was writing the weather forecast I'd give it a bit more prominence that 'wind easing'.

If you are on the south east coast I'd still recommend not parking your car underneath an old tree tonight, and making sure that your bins aren't going to go 'walkies'.

[Phil Hart]

Most of the BoM's text forecasts (except Qld/WA) are computer generated now. I very much doubt that there is any attempt to downplay significant weather. Most weather agencies are conservative and will provide fair warning of whatever severe weather is possible.

But if you think the forecasts can be improved.. send them feedback.

cheers
Phil