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YESTERDAY, THEJOURNAL.IE PUBLISHED some of the correspondence people have sent to Met Éireann complaining about their forecasts.
One person complained about an incorrect bad weather forecast that cancelled a golf tournament. Another woman planned a barbecue after a good forecast only for it to be washed out. She wasn’t happy.
Do these people have a point or do we just have to accept that forecasting the weather in Ireland is nigh on impossible?
Today’s question, Do you trust Met Éireann weather forecasts?
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Somebody at the Journal must have had a barbeque ruined due to a dodgy weather forecast
They must have been writing a news story, about fine weather?
The hint is in the name, they are forecasts, not predictions. People having bbqs should note the difference
People organising bbqs in Ireland in advance need a reality check
I’ll be sure to attend one of your spontaneous pop-up bbq’s then
With our geographical location taken into account, it must be very difficult to predict the weather. Especially on the western side of the country. I think it’s unfair to bash Met Eireann over getting it wrong. If we were in mainland Europe and they were getting it wrong, then they’d be ripe for criticism.
The system met eireann uses to predict irish weather is it only rains twice a year April through to September and October through to march all their weather predictions is based on this system…..
The atlantic that gives is so much rain also saves us from -40 winters.
Temperate maritime climate and some of the most difficult forecasting challenges on the planet. Then there’s the expectation that the forecast is accurate to the square km – they do a pretty good job but the most useful thing is the rainfall radar.
The weather is hard to predict because of the weather modification programmes going on above us
Just look @ sky news weather for Ireland on the western side they get it wright.
Met Eireann forecast is only for tourist.
Wright?
It is a weather forecast not a prediction.
The weather is too complex a system, with too many variables interacting for anybody to be able to predict with any degree of accuracy more than a few hours.
Here, what’s the Journal’s vendetta against Met Eireann?
The long term forecast is always wrong… It be better if they had a window to look out in their studio, lol.
We only complain if it turns out not as forecast. Who acknowledges when it’s right ? It’s not an exact science.
Jean Byrne always gets it right for me anyway.
I predict a large front forming looking at that pic of the lovely Siobhan.
Yep siobhan would get it alright.
I haven’t watched the weather in years. Just always bring a jacket with you,just in case.
I made my peace with the rain years ago. If you accept that there’s essentially always a chance you’ll get wet, it ceases to bother you. Just bring a jacket…
I’m still at war with rain Vin. I won’t give up that easily
Move to Galway; you’ll break. They all do.
We live at the edge of the North Atlantic. Met Eireann do a good job but impossible to predict every shower. Don’t shoot the messenger .If the weather’s not to your liking emigrate otherwise invest in good quality rain gear. PS Forecasts for D Day in 1944 was based on irish forecasts.
If you watch the detailed forecast and check the regional forecast it is usually spot on but don’t blame Met Eireann if you watch the forecast on BBC or list to the DJ’s quick summary
Just google “yr” and your town/city. You’ll get a perfect forecast courtesy of the Norwegian weather service.
Yep, have been using yr.no professionally for years. Only use met eireann for rainfall radar, which in fairness is excellent.
People seem to be forgetting the meaning of the term ‘forecast’
Exactly.
You would have to be a complete moron to expect weather forecasts to be 100% accurate all of the time.
Irish weather online, on Facebook, he knows what he’s doing. This lot are always off.
Ha. What mathematical climate models is he using, pray tell? He’s got a couple of supercomputers in his basement doing Met Eireann’s job?
I’m not quite sure on that Malachi, but check out today’s forecast, compared to M.E.
I particularly like Evelyn Cusack’s weather charts.
sky news seem to be fairly spot on
I only watch the weather forecast to see the gorgeous Siobhan Ryan and I believe every word she says and if she gets wrong, well she’s still gorgeous.
i dont think anybody can really predict the weather its nature after all mostly down to luck
Or science and learning Sheìla. We build models, feed in the data and get a prediction. You’re right in that chance plays a bigger role the further out you try to predict (butterfly effect, kinda) but we do have pretty good prediction from the science so far.
The 5 day is excellent http://www.met.ie/forecasts/5day-ireland.asp and resolution on 6 hour forecast is excellent
The Journal are really running with their only exclusive.
they should get mystic meg to do it. Aries you’ll meet a tall dark stranger in the rain, Pisces you’ll be sunburnt on dollymount strand.
My job is often weather dependent and I trust Met Eireann forecasts 90% of the time.
What do you do for the other 70% of the time lol.
How could anyone trust these buffoons? I remember in the late 80′s they would get the weather forecast for the previous day completely wrong.
The BBC has the most accurate for the south East in my opinion. Always gets the radar spot on.
Their long term forecasting is always subject to some change – the N Atlantic can do that alright.
But the short term / next day forecast is usually grand.
And the rainfall radar is great for the next hour or so to see what coming at you.
My Dad use to say: any eejit can bring a coat on a wet day, the smart fella brings his on a dry day :)
Ok, for nine months its going to rain every day, then in summer it will rain a few days a week. Somebody pay me as that is as accurate as yer gonna get sure.
If I look for a forecast I use Met UK. They have a super computer capable of making 14 trillion calculations a second when it comes to forecasting weather. Second only to Japan I believe. A very good app also. Works very well for me.
Accuweather is much better
The yahoo weather app says it’s raining in swords right now!!! But it’s not
spin you must be a blue shirter
They are accurate in the sense that they include every possible type of weather in their reports knowing that they will be right on one of them. Every night they report of possible ‘sunny spells with patches of heavy rain in some places, but with moments of sunshine’. Sure they are covering all their bases! With that attitude they are going to be ‘right’ at some point.
I’ve never trusted them , if I want to know tomorrow’s weather I Google it and it’s amazing how often they differ so much but Google’s info is far more acurate
Some people have too much time on their hands. They actually take time out to complain to rte about the weather.how sad
Always the same..Sunny spells with scattered showers..easiest job in Ireland.
Don’t trust any weather report either tv or app I judge the weather on the day.
Thats a nowcast, not forecast
yr.no is a good, mainly accurate site….
The overall metro forecasts can be 80 per cent accurate, but changes of wind direction off the Great Atlantic Way can confound predictions in coastal counties, particularly if there are scenic mountains around. Better bring a jacket and brolly when cliches like “bright spells” and “scattered showers clearing in the evening” appear in the commentary.
Unfortunately I work outside all year round , met eireann constantly get it wrong , it’s shocking bad , they will say snow, thunder, rain , sun, all in one day just to cover their hole, for those saying it’s hard to predict , it’s met eireanns job to use modern software and satellites and do it properly , other apps like accuweather get it spot on , their saying thunderstorms in Dublin tomorrow afternoon , watch and see :)
meant to be hot today and yesterday ?
Of course the forecast is always correct basically I think the met office have a generic model with the general wording “some cloud some rain wind and sunshine!”Can’t go wrong with that in this country just switch the wording around a little and it’s sorted.
a dry day with rain in places.
have your say