Weather Forecasts

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 10

Weather Forecasts

Sir,—A gentleman has suggested that I should "write to the papers” about our recent weather. Certainly, if I

complained about the weather Itself you could hardly tell mo to write to the Authority concerned; but we do have a legitimate moan about the standard of forecasting. For several weeks the weather people have been wrong nearly all the time, and I suggest that intuitive diagnosis, still best for our health In spite of computers galore, should be applied also to local weather forecasting. After all, most people want to know If the weather tomorrow is likely to be wet or dry, here where they live, but on this count the experts perform rather worse with their Science than they could by tossing a coin, let alone feeling their corns and seaweed. Christchurch could do With another Fred. L. Wooles to give us practical weather forecasts, and leave those unpredictable cold fronts to those who need them.— Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. April 25, 1968.

[“No useful purpose would be served by our trying to make official comment on such an unspecific complaint,” said Mr E. A. Williamson, acting assistant director (forecasting) of the New Zealand Meteorological Service when this letter was referred to him.]