The Weather Forecast Thread

There is a lot of talk about sun burn and the UV index today, telling people how to behave in the sun. All the stories talk about the standard UV scale of 1-10, however BBC Weather have scrapped the UV index to a low medium and high scale... isnt this going to confuse people who are today being told to stay out of the sun in UV level 2 if they have fair skin or stay in up to UV level 6 if their skin is dark?

Surely the same argument could be made by BBC to scrap celcius and make a high medium and low temperature scale, they could say "people only want to know if its going to warm or not outside"!!

Not really, no.

'It'll be X degrees celcius' comes with a basic understanding from a viewer, whereas 'It'll be 6 on the UV Index' does not.

The UV Index is mentioned so infrequently that most people haven't got a clue about how it works, the basis on which it is measured, and so forth. It is, therefore, logical to replace it with a system of low/med/high, which viewers will understand better.

A week or so into the new graphics, I still prefer them to the old versions, but having strained my eyes to look up to Scotland the past few times I've checked I understand the problems that people are having. I only have a 'wee' telly, as they might say up there, and so perhaps the problem is greater because of that, but it is almost impossible to work out what the hell is going on up there.

Totally flawed argument, Cat.

Everyone learns about temperatures sometime - I'm sure no-one when they're born knows what 17 degrees C means in terms of how warm it is ... but they come to learn.

Similarly, display a UV scale of 1-10 often enough and people will eventually learn what it can mean to them - they won't know it when they're born but they'll come to learn.

You can't just say "let's not have something in case people don't understand them". If we lived our whole lives like that we'd spend all the time from cradle to grave learning nothing.

Tell you what, let's get rid of languages, words, letters - days of the week - after all, these all take trouble and effort to learn.

The new graphics worked a bit better this morning with Louise Lear. She started off with a satellite view to show us cloud patterns, and where the weather was coming from, before zooming in to the UK, followed by a flyover of the country's regions. - the rain drops actually made sense when placed in the context of the satellite image. Could still do with some isobars and the like though.

I think I'm now confused by the temperatures.

Are they meant to be 3D-fied and standing up on their end?

You see the N24 weather forecaster just pointed to the temperature symbol over Edinburgh (that's the part of the country it covers up), but then quoted the temperature as that of Newcastle.

The only possible explanation is that the temperature symbols are meant to be standing on their edge, therefore (to make it easier for you southern people), you would have to e.g. look over Luton to see the temperature relevant to London).

That could have been the worst explanation this forum has ever seen, but there you go.

I really must say about the weather is ****. So **** that 1960's or 70's weathermen might turn up from their graves

Turn in their graves, turn in.

I could also say the the symbols have been replaced by cowpat and urine

But you wouldn't say that as it would make you sound like you were 10 years old?

Plus, if your urine is blue then you should consult your GP right away!

Who cares about old people, all they do is slag of youths and moan all day, miserable gits. They also say about young drivers, well its the old ones who need to be watched, going at 2mph, causing more accidents.

What the hell is it with you and DEATH?