All Things Met Eireann Related Go in Here (MOD NOTE #1)

Onthe3rdDay

piuswal wrote: »

Not Met Eireann, RTE.

Who picks the picture? I think it's Met Eireann is in control of what shows up on screen. That includes the regular spelling mistakes when they're trying to make a point. If that is the case, then it is Met Eireann that has the problem with cognitive dissonance.

Harry Palmr

I'm pretty sure that the only thing RTE does is transmit the Met Eireann forecast, they have no hand, act or part in the presentation.

piuswal

sunbabe08 wrote: »

First thing I thought of was she was going to tell us there's an unexpected storm on the way. In the middle of a heatwave, don't need to b seeing those kind of pics

They opening TV Weather graphic is selected as follows;

"There are four weather photo competitions per year run in the RTE Guide - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.

There are usually hundreds of entries. A panel in RTE consisting of keen photographers and some corporate and graphics people, judge the entries (you'll notice there is no Met person).

A winner and about 20 other photos are chosen for use on the Weather forecast. The people who's photos have been chosen are contacted and they are given one date when their photo will appear on the Weather forecast. The Met Eireann TV Forecasters are given the list of names and photos and they use the correct photo for the relevant date.

Once the 20 photos have been shown on the correct dates (this takes 20 days) , they are then free to choose any one of the 20 photos from then until the they get the photos from next competition. In this period the choice of photo is completely arbitrary:

- they may choose a photo that matches the expected weather. eg. Crashing waves on a windy day etc.

- A green landscape is usually chosen for the farming forecast.

- they may choose a photo because it compliments what they are wearing.

- the photo may be there from the person before them.

- they may just like a particular photo."

I trust this explains the process - there are 20 days in each quarter in which the Met Forecasters have absolutely no control over the opening scene and for the remainder of the period they have a choice of just 20 photos - none of which may be particularly appropriate as they, the Met Eireann Forecasters, have no role in the selection process.

Harry Palmr

Jasus, RTE would do well to stay out of it. This is science not arts class.

mattser

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Jasus, RTE would do well to stay out of it. This is science not arts class.

:D

piuswal

They are the Broadcaster, they decide. Unfortunately science does not come into it as far as they are concerned.

Any idea who "produces" the weather programme for RTE?

Might be worth raising the matter with him or her; then maybe not, would they take any notice of their customers!

Onthe3rdDay

piuswal wrote: »

They are the Broadcaster, they decide. Unfortunately science does not come into it as far as they are concerned.

Any idea who "produces" the weather programme for RTE?

Might be worth raising the matter with him or her; then maybe not, would they take any notice of their customers!

Well it's done in house and I presume editorally it's basically Met Eireann Decides the content. That's why certain Weather people from time to time can either (depending on your point of view)give us a lecture on how weather is forecasted or rant against people up a mountain in Donegal.

It really does need to be updated. All On screen staff need to be fully trained in presentation. Some of them might have the qualifications to forecast the weather (which is the most important bit) but have been given little training on presentation or making it interesting.

Some retired forecasters had natural charm or presentation skills which covered up the problem. That's not so much the case now.

piuswal

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

Well it's done in house and I presume editorally it's basically Met Eireann Decides the content. That's why certain Weather people from time to time can either (depending on your point of view)give us a lecture on how weather is forecasted or rant against people up a mountain in Donegal.

It really does need to be updated. All On screen staff need to be fully trained in presentation. Some of them might have the qualifications to forecast the weather (which is the most important bit) but have been given little training on presentation or making it interesting.

Some retired forecasters had natural charm or presentation skills which covered up the problem. That's not so much the case now.

Met Eireann decides the content apart from the opening slide as already discussed.

The vast majority of people have little or no knowledge of meteorology but have some degree of interest in the weather and I think it is a pity that only one of the Forecasters makes an effort to help us viewers understand what is going on.

I believe that all presenters, Met Eireann forecasters included, have had courses in presentation.

Making it "interesting" is quite a different matter; do you want it interesting from simply a presentational point of view or a science/weather point of view?

"TV" interesting or "Weather" interesting?

Aerohead

Just listened to the ME forecast on radio and he said that Sunday and Monday will be fine with temp 20 to 21 , on the ME website it said rain or showers in Ulster and Connacht and on Monday drizzle in the morning and rain spreading from the Southwest who do I believe.

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/

jprboy

Missing radar detail tonight from 20.15 - 23.00

Onthe3rdDay

piuswal wrote: »

The vast majority of people have little or no knowledge of meteorology but have some degree of interest in the weather and I think it is a pity that only one of the Forecasters makes an effort to help us viewers understand what is going on.

I believe that all presenters, Met Eireann forecasters included, have had courses in presentation.

That's not a very fair comment about the other Forecasters. I think that one forecaster has an agenda of sorts, the rest seem to be trying to do their job. None of them are perfect and some need some real presentation training. You believe that they have had training, I would suggest a refresher course and a basic course in pacing which one or two of them seem have a problem with. There's also an issue with some of them that stumble over a word during the forecast and then appear flustered for the rest of the broadcast. They appear nervous even after years on air.

That's not actually a criticism. The best broadcasters in the world get regular top ups on their training. The RTE forecasters should do the same.

piuswal wrote: »

Making it "interesting" is quite a different matter; do you want it interesting from simply a presentational point of view or a science/weather point of view?

"TV" interesting or "Weather" interesting?

You do know it's possible to do both, broadcasters around the world are able to do it, BBC, SVT in Sweden and ARD/ZDF in germany come to mind. On RTE they regularly do neither. Before anyone says anything it has little to do with money.

mattser

Aerohead wrote: »

Just listened to the ME forecast on radio and he said that Sunday and Monday will be fine with temp 20 to 21 , on the ME website it said rain or showers in Ulster and Connacht and on Monday drizzle in the morning and rain spreading from the Southwest who do I believe.

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/

Sure one of them will be right. Bring a poncho just in case.

Harry Palmr

Anyone catch the 7.55 Am forecast? Can't recall who was forecasting (male, Irish, middle aged voice) but he went all the way to and including Friday - 7 days. That's as far out as I've ever heard someone give it go as far as I can remember.

Aerohead

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Anyone catch the 7.55 Am forecast? Can't recall who was forecasting (male, Irish, middle aged voice) but he went all the way to and including Friday - 7 days. That's as far out as I've ever heard someone give it go as far as I can remember.

Heard it this morning remember saying to the other half this will be interesting as I never heard that kind of forecast before

Oneiric 3

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

.

You do know it's possible to do both, broadcasters around the world are able to do it, BBC, SVT in Sweden and ARD/ZDF in germany come to mind. On RTE they regularly do neither. Before anyone says anything it has little to do with money.

I agree, esp when RTE are financially funded not only by TV licence revenue but also by a copious - and I would say obscene - amount of advertising. Even the 2 minutes of weather after the news is sponsored by some 'mmmmm, stuff your face with more cream' promo.

Having said that, I still don't get what the big deal is with the photo at the start of a weather broadcast. If they showed a blue sky image to prelude a blue sky forecast, then what would be the point of the forecast? Surely the point of the opening image is to showcase all aspects of Irish weather and not just ones that fit safely in with a 'good' forecast? I do recall seeing plenty of unrelated, sunny blue sky images shown at the opening of RTE weather forecasts during the height of the many stormy spells last winter, but this, for some reason, would probably be seen as being more OK.

tphase

there's a bug in the short-range forecast plot on the ME website. The timestamp in the upper right of the plot is 6 hours behind the time indicated by the slider under the plot. I presume the slider is correct...

Old diesel

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Anyone catch the 7.55 Am forecast? Can't recall who was forecasting (male, Irish, middle aged voice) but he went all the way to and including Friday - 7 days. That's as far out as I've ever heard someone give it go as far as I can remember.

The 7,55 am forecast on Radio 1 ALWAYS covers a longer time frame then the normal TV forecasts.

Works well I think

Godge

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/08/11/top-4-greatest-rte-weather-reports/

jprboy

No forecast for Sunday on the latest Met.ie forecast issued at 21.51 on Aug 29.

Skips from Saturday night to Monday.

piuswal

Yes, sent message to forecasts@met.ie.
Interesting to see how long they take to respond.

mattser

Amateurs, Ted, amateurs.

hawkwing

Gerry just now on the sixone bringing wind,rain,hail and much cooler weather,then said with a smile "but we had a good run of it"! Maybe if he stayed away it would have continued:o

Discodog

The relatively new Short range forecast is pretty poor. It says that it's updated every 50 mins or so but it can't be. It seems to be several hours behind the rainfall radar & isn't being updated. It's a pity because it could of been very useful.

Did anyone fill out the customer survey that was a pop up on the ME site ?

Jpmarn

Discodog wrote: »

Did anyone fill out the customer survey that was a pop up on the ME site ?

Yes and I requested that they post hourly weather reports for past hours up to 24 hours ago as well as the current latest hour.

piuswal

Anyone interested in observations and their use and how they are used might look at

http://www.met.ie/news/display.asp?ID=288

No Bills

Saw this event mentioned in the Weather News section on the Met Eireann website:

"Ensemble Prediction Systems : Probably the best forecasting
systems in the world…

22 December, The Custom House, Dublin, at 6pm

Alan Hally, PhD Post-doctoral researcher at Météo-France, Toulouse"

Thought it might be of interest to some people on here.

More details on the Irish Meteorological Society website: irishmetsociety.org

MadYaker

Just looking at 5 day rainfall forecast there and it looks like saturday is going to be a washout. I'm driving from Galway to Kerry that day I hope theres no serious flooding.

Pangea

Met Éireann plans to start naming storms from next year
http://www.thejournal.ie/met-eireann-naming-storms-1842107-Dec2014/

RobbingBandit

Pangea wrote: »

Met Éireann plans to start naming storms from next year
http://www.thejournal.ie/met-eireann-naming-storms-1842107-Dec2014/

Seeing as they're old fashioned/out of date and all bet the first one will be called Assumpta.

mattser

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Seeing as they're old fashioned/out of date and all bet the first one will be called Assumpta.

You really couldn't make this stuff up.

sunnyagain

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Seeing as they're old fashioned/out of date and all bet the first one will be called Assumpta.

Which are you talking about UKMO or the Irish Met Service?

sunnyagain

No Bills wrote: »

Saw this event mentioned in the Weather News section on the Met Eireann website:

"Ensemble Prediction Systems : Probably the best forecasting
systems in the world…

22 December, The Custom House, Dublin, at 6pm

Alan Hally, PhD Post-doctoral researcher at Météo-France, Toulouse"

Thought it might be of interest to some people on here.

More details on the Irish Meteorological Society website: irishmetsociety.org

Did anyone go to this?

Storm 10

Can anyone tell me why ME presenters dress like they are going to a ball, the cost of clothes must be crazy when you look at other station presenters who dress casual , what the he'll is the point of dressing up its just a weather forecast no one is looking at you

red_bairn

sunnyagain wrote:

Did anyone go to this?

I know somebody who went to this.

joujoujou

Storm 10 wrote: »

[...] its just a weather forecast no one is looking at you

They want to be looked at.

sunnyagain

Storm 10 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why ME presenters dress like they are going to a ball, the cost of clothes must be crazy when you look at other station presenters who dress casual , what the he'll is the point of dressing up its just a weather forecast no one is looking at you

I suspect that it is a decision of RTE, probably the Weather Producer and the wardrobe department.

I doubt if the Met people have much say in the matter.

Joe Public

Storm 10 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why ME presenters dress like they are going to a ball, the cost of clothes must be crazy when you look at other station presenters who dress casual , what the he'll is the point of dressing up its just a weather forecast no one is looking at you

I guess 99% of people do notice what they are wearing and the presenters like looking well. Maybe RTE, or Met eireann, need to reintroduce a few male weather presenters on TV to help bring down the fashion a little

Harry Palmr

Very slip shod again just now - "Sunday will be the cooler of the two" (weekend days) says she, up comes the end of forecast 5 days graphic showing Saturday at 5 c and Sunday at 8 c.

snubbleste

Where is it zooming in on? 1700 08/01/15

tanko

I'd just like to say thanks very much to met Éireann for their rubbish forecasts yesterday afternoon. So much for it being dry this morning and rain spreading west in the afternoon. 9am must be in the afternoon now. Muppets.

Storm 10

Torrential rain here in Galway did not expect this, roof in company where I work could not take the rain and its pouring into the premises. They gave rain for the North and North West but the radar shows far more of the Country getting heavy rain in fact parts of the North are not getting rain, :mad::mad:

Harps

Forecast at nine last night said 'Rain spreading from the west early on and to all areas by afternoon'. Six One said 'Rain in the west early on spreading across the country', One o'clock said 'An improvement first thing tomorrow followed by heavy rain pushing in from the atlantic.' All three showed graphics with heavy rain in the west in the morning and everywhere in the afternoon. Don't know how much clearer they can make it...

Joe Public

I got caught out this morning as I wasn't expecting rain until this afternoon, the rainfall radar did look a bit ominous ok but I was still hopeful going on the forecasts.

Lumi

Just spotted this
Historical data sets containing hourly, daily and monthly climate data from Met Eireann Synoptic stations are now freely available to download by completing this form http://www.met.ie/climate-request/ .

abaddon_ire

Just a curious, but is there anywhere that explains the symbols ME use on their website maps? Most are straightforward, but some are obscure.

jim-mcdee

Does anybody else think Met are going a bit mental on the weather warnings? A few drops of rain and a sprinkling of snow and there is a new status 'insert colour here' weather warning? FFS its winter. Save the weather warnings for actual bad weather. And read Peter and the wolf.

Joe Public

jim-mcdee wrote: »

Does anybody else think Met are going a bit mental on the weather warnings? A few drops of rain and a sprinkling of snow and there is a new status 'insert colour here' weather warning? FFS its winter. Save the weather warnings for actual bad weather. And read Peter and the wolf.

No!

Met Eireann have yellow warnings for wind and snow
MTC is on bold italics so that's at least a yellow
Most of the UK is on the same yellow warning.

Some places will get a lash of bad weather so the warning is out.

tphase

Lumi wrote: »

Just spotted this
Historical data sets containing hourly, daily and monthly climate data from Met Eireann Synoptic stations are now freely available to download by completing this form http://www.met.ie/climate-request/ .

pity there's a limit on how far back the records go...

Lumi

tphase wrote: »

pity there's a limit on how far back the records go...

I have all of the historical records for Galway in excel/PDF form if you'd like a copy?

tphase

Lumi wrote: »

I have all of the historical records for Galway in excel/PDF form if you'd like a copy?

Thanks Lumi, I have access to data. I'm just wondering why they would put time limit on how far back you can go. Possibly this is just the first step in the process and eventually all historical data will become freely available