Weather, specifically pressure.

[Farmer John]

I find most of the weather forecasts on TV in UK are not very good. Because of the needs of farming, and previously of shipping, I have always taken an interest in the weather, isobars seem to have gone from the current forecasts, presumably because we are all too thick to understand them.

I have just been lucky enough to buy a Barograph and today I plastered on it's first chart with me. It was bought from the local saleroom at an antiques auction, and looking at it closely it has had some incidents in life. The main mechanism is fastened to the base with 4 slot headed bolt/screws, with a high finish to them. Three of them are fine, the heads are horizontal, the fourth is inserted at an angle, and there is a long jagged scratch from it across the base. I am very happy with it, I shall see how it goes, it seems it can be repaired, the stacks of aneroid capsules can be fixed and the clockwork can be repaired.

I have just looked at the headings for forums on here, the very bottom one links to a very interesting site, I have it down for a good looking at.

[BobClay]

I'm also interested in weather and although a barometer sits above the tide clock in my hall, there's no doubt a barograph is even better, giving that time dimension as well. I've got an electronic one that gives a 24 hour graph, but the fact is it's a bit naff.

I agree with the weather forecasts being dumbed down with respect to pressure charts, although some occasionally delve into the science of it, unfortunately not enough. The BBC Weather site gives a simplified pressure chart and also a prognosis over five days which I find interesting to record and see how accurate they are. I'd have to say they're much better at it than they used to be.

We all ponder/talk/discuss/complain (you can't delete any of these, because they all apply ) about the weather, it's a national pastime. Comes of living on an island with a volatile weather situation. Living in Cornwall I sometimes describe the weather as being generated in a 3000 mile wide engine just to the west that keeps being emptied onto us.

PS ... the last couple of days have been real burners, I've got every ceiling fan running in the house, it's a wonder it hasn't taken off .....

[Tom Alexander]

I still think that if you want an accurate forecast, look out of the window. The guy/gal at the TV station with all his fancy gizmos and contact with the National Weather Service, or whatever they call themselves will often sometimes assertively advise that it is sunny with cloudy periods today --- and then I look out of the window and see it's p1ss1ng down with rain!

[Farmer John]

Weather is extraordinarily local. Some years ago we watched a little storm settle over Barrowford and proceed to thrash the town. We were troubled by some gentle rain.
Where we live now, we are in the lee of some high ground, clouds sweep across from York, up over the high ground where the clouds drop their rain, we get some refreshing showers. If you watch the weather maps, you can see this little local effect quite often. I hesitate to claim this is due to my presence. Local forecasting by looking outside is the necessary fine tuning if you have a field of grass to cut (not my job now, but once very important to me).

[Tony Selman]

The beeb is pretty accurate round here. Very good with wind and rain forecasts but always undercooks the temperature by about 3 degrees. I found a very good app that originates in Germany called WeatherPro and I check on that regularly now and it is excellent and gives very good predictions. I have the Mac version but I think there is PC version as well. Costs £1.99 and well worth if you like weather. There is a more detailed version but haven't subscribed to that.

[BobClay]

I've got that app on my phone, it is good.

Can I also point out that tomorrow is the Solstice !! After tomorrow, the nights will be drawing in !!

Winter is coming !!

(Just thought I'd cheer everybody up.)

[Farmer John]

I have just located a Thermograph as well, not so sure about running that as well,it would only make sense outside, but it is the same make (Sharp and Mason) as the Barograph but very much newer.

The link at the bottom of the forums list on here seems very comprehensive, I have had a look at it and I will be going back.

http://magicseaweed.com/MSW-Surf-Cha...hartType=PRATE

[BobClay]

This is an private amateur weather station in Newquay.

I often wonder if he can pack anymore into it ... it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. :-O

http://www.newquayweather.com/wxbeachlivehd.php

[Farmer John]

That is a hobby taken to the edge of obsession, and perhaps a little beyond. Certainly a site to visit again.

Tomorrow is expected to be even hotter, and it is my day to check the stock on the farm, a 3 hour job in the middle of the day.

[ChasD]

Couple of sites I use on a day-day basis -


http://www.weathercharts.org/ukmomslp.htm
gives the old charts many will be familiar with,
http://meteox.com/ gives the radar situation and



http://www1.wetter3.de/ gives a deep picture of the atmosphere, although somewhat undermined by an annoying 'sponsor' ...
But the data is useful...
Chas

[Farmer John]

I have come to the conclusion that my Barograph is attracting low pressure.

Those sites are going in the Met folder, Chasd, thank you very much.

[BobClay]

Another good site giving anything from local up to global graphics which you can roll around with the mouse as you please, and gives phenomenal details right up to high altitudes.

Give it a few seconds to load because it is very graphics intensive.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#curren...8.43,53.50,670

[Farmer John]

Heavens, there is a vortex coming down my chimney according to that. I think I will put the infernal machine at the top of the garden.

[Varley]

Originally Posted by Farmer John

I have come to the conclusion that my Barograph is attracting low pressure.

Those sites are going in the Met folder, Chasd, thank you very much.

Interesting. Perhaps the theory could be tested by determining if there are any mutual forces acting between barograph instruments.