This is an extract from Hansard 1947, some things never change
Weather Forecasts
§ 39. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give an explanation of the incorrect weather forecasts given by his Department during the recent cold spell.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerTo my regret I must admit that the science of meteorology still leaves much to be desired. During the recent cold weather, however, the Meteorological Office issued about 2,000 weather forecasts for the different regions of the British Isles and of the surrounding seas, and many thousands to the crews of British and other aircraft, and I am advised that the vast majority of them were correct. I am placing copies of these recent forecasts, and of the subsequent weather reports, in the Library of the House. If the hon. Member finds among them any to which he takes particular objection, perhaps he will put down a further Question.
§ Mr. GammansIs the Secretary of State aware that the Air Ministry predicted two thaws which did not come off, and that once they predicted rain and fog, which, fortunately, did not arrive? Will he try to improve the reliability of his forecasts, in view of the great inconvenience this country has suffered from the unreliable forecasts of the Minister of Fuel and Power?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am aware that, as someone said, one "thawcast was a frost." I am also aware that many people tend to confuse the science and the practitioners of the science. The science is imperfect, but I think our practitioners in the very difficult conditions of the British Isles really do remarkably well.
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Weather
I actually remember the winter of 47. Coal was rationed at the time too! (I also remember the winters of 63 and 87 - shows how old I am!!)
I find it amazing that everytime this happens - every twenty years or so - the public want to know why were are not better prepared. How many of them would want their council taxes to rise to take into account the cost of storing grit and machinery all the time for this once every twenty year event? Of course we are not prepared, it happens so rarely.
June
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A point which I think that others have picked-up on. I remember 1963, I was born 1949, but it really did not seem to be a problem, mind you I was living in Plymouth and it was worse for those outside on Dartmoor. Plymouth was protected from the worst of it, unlike the German bombers in the Blitz! Hey that's what we could do with 'the spirit of the Blitz. Only trouble is that during the Blitz in Plymouth for very sound reasons many Plmouth people left the City, I nearly said fled, but that would not be fair.