Monday December 31, 2007, 1:33 am

Not sure how long the Daily Express keep their articles online (henc why I`m post it in full below)
One point to perhaps note here is that Piers Corbyn was CORRECT when he forecasted those floods in the U.K. earlier in the year.


NEW YEAR BIG FREEZE IS COMING

Monday December 31,2007

BRITAIN faces one of its bitterest winters for 100 years, with temperatures set to plummet to -17C (1.4F), forecasters warned last night.

The New Year will begin with a freezing cold snap that will sweep across the country, causing “havoc” in its wake.

And forecasters predict an even icier Arctic blast will strike later in the month to bring the coldest recorded temperatures in 20 years.

Sleet and snow are expected in many parts over the next few days. And spells of freezing weather are set to last until the end of February.

The sudden cold snap is predicted to cause chaos, as it coincides with millions of people returning to work after the Christmas break.

Car breakdowns on Wednesday are set to rocket by 70 per cent as an estimated 45,000 drivers in England and Wales find their cars unable to start due to the cold weather.

The Highways Agency has already put 500 gritting vehicles on standby to cope with the predicted snowfall.

Concern is also growing for the welfare of the 2.5million pensioners across the UK who live in poorly heated homes.

Piers Corbyn, from long-range weather forecasters WeatherAction, said: “It is likely to be one of the six coldest Januarys for 100 years and is expected to include at least one exceptionally cold spell, similar to that experienced in January 1987 and the legendary January of 1740 when biting, strong, easterly winds and snow wreaked severe havoc.

“There is likely to be a number of days when temperatures in many parts stay below freezing all day.

“The lowest night temperatures in parts of the Midlands, Northern England or Scotland could be as low as -17C (1.4F) or possibly colder.”

The Met Office yesterday forecast a bitterly cold snap for almost the whole of the UK in the middle of this week.

Temperatures are expected to plunge from a mild 10C (50F) to -4C (25F) overnight in northern areas by Thursday and a blanket of snow is likely in many parts.

Robin Downton, of the Met Office, predicted snowfall in the East and North of England and eastern Scotland on Wednesday, possibly spreading to the Midlands, East Anglia and the South on Thursday.

He said: “The weather is going to turn really cold during Wednesday and by Thursday it will feel jolly cold throughout the whole of the country, apart from the very far West and South-west.

“With the strong winds, it will be a bit of a shock for people because it will feel bitterly cold. With the wind-chill, it will feel perishing.”

The freezing temperatures will feel even worse because of the mild winter Britain has enjoyed so far.

By the weekend, temperatures are due to thaw to about 11C (52F) but forecasters say the respite will be only temporary, with further winter misery to come. Jonathan Powell, senior forecaster at Positive Weather Solutions, said: “During February we will see an extended cold snap. We would expect it to be much colder than January.

“It will not be a pleasant month. We would expect many days where the temperatures struggle to get above freezing.

“There will be harsh frosts and snow at the start and the end of the month.”

The gloomy forecast means revellers looking forward to welcoming in 2008 outdoors should make the most of the next two days.

Unlike last year when many New Year and Hogmanay celebrations had to be cancelled, mild temperatures of about 8C (46F) are expected for the evening.

Wales and most of England will be mainly dry and cloudy today, although one or two showers are anticipated.

Revellers in northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, however, can expect rain.

Those hoping to walk off the excesses of New Year’s Eve can expect a mild but cloudy day on January 1.

Most areas will remain dry but rain is expected in central and southern Scotland, North-east England and East Anglia.

The mercury is expected to top 10C (50F) in southern England on New Year’s Day and will only be a few degrees cooler across the rest of the UK.

http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/29879


I just love how the `sceptics` post in the readers comments that it`s rubbish - without any knowledge no doubt as to how Piers Corbyn`s been so accurate before.
Not to mention how NASA`s James Hansen did predict that we could be heading for an ice-age.

Monday December 31, 2007, 6:40 am

Re: Piers Corbyn and WeatherAction`s ACCURATE forecasts previously :-


Previous Forecasts

Spring 2006

Assertions that the Met Office long range forecast was 'almost right' may have tempted some people to the idea of a cold end of Feb and an exceptionally cold March - in line with Weather Action forecast from 8 months ahead.

However Spring months are not winter months and this late Spring - as forecast by Weather Action - also contradicts the commonly held view of traditional meteorology that man-made global warming is causing earlier Springs.

The argument that Global warming caused the Traditional forecast to go wrong and made it milder' is untenable because that same approach also implies an early Spring ... and the opposite has taken place.



Winter 2005/06

Weather Action forecast users noted the Weather Action forecast for the Winter as a whole went overall well - with temperatures close to normal as Weather Action predicted - and in detail.

In November we stated that the much publicised prognosis of 'traditional meteorology' for a cold or very cold winter was incorrect and users know our forecast firmly ruled out a moderately cold or very cold winter overall.

The Weather Action forecast has been verified and the TV publicised prognosis has failed.



Autumn 2003

Weather Action's Autumn 2003 forecasts proved to be excellent with warm spells in September and the significant aspects of October and November being predicted.



Spring 2003
April 2003's detailed Weather Action forecast issued in March predicted all the significant developments in April including the cold spell with frosts in places in early April and the very warm spell just before Easter. The developments through the Easter break in detail were well predicted from a month ahead including the cold blustery/windy and showery Easter Saturday and Sunday.



Winter 2002/03

"Snow and BLIZZARDS 26-29 Jan". were correctly forecast for Jan 2003 (forecast issued in Mid Dec 2002). The forecast also correctly warned that the period was likely to be more windy and snowy than Traditional (TV) forecasts would expect from just a few days ahead.



Autumn 2002

The storms which hit parts of Britain and Europe on 9th Sept 2002 and led to massive floods in Southern France were also predicted by Weather Action in mid-August. Weather Action also correctly predicted that the period 4th-6th and 8th-9th August would have more rain and thunder (with floods) than traditional meteorology forecasts would expect.



Summer 2002
Weather Action correctly predicted the hotspell at the end of July 2002 and the torrential rain and floods in Britain and Europe, especially in early August.



Spring 2002

Predicted the generally fine April 2002 and the major HAILSTORMS near the end of April 2002.



Winter 2001/2

BLIZZARDS were Correctly predicted for Northern England for Feb 20-22, 2002.



2000

Predicted 'The Storm of the Century' in France and the notably wet September of 2000.



1999

Weather Action's Solar-based forecasts correctly predicted the 'tree-ripping' Christmas STORMS of 1999 on the South coast.

http://www.weatheraction.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=38

Monday December 31, 2007, 7:19 am
I don't trust Piers Corbyn, but maybe you know better. I have heard that he makes a lot of predictions and make news the ones he scores.

MET office gives following prediction:

Forecast for the remainder of Winter 2007/8

Temperature

Mean temperatures for the remainder of the winter period are more likely to be above normal than below normal over much of Europe. Probabilities for above-normal temperatures are higher for northern Europe than for some central and southern regions, where there is more uncertainty.

For the UK as a whole, mean temperatures are more likely to be above normal than either near or below normal. Although temperatures above the 1971-2000 average are favoured, it is likely to be less mild overall than last year.
Precipitation

Above-average rainfall is more likely than below-average rainfall across northern Europe. In contrast, for southern Europe below-average rainfall is more likely than above average.

For the UK as a whole, rainfall is slightly more likely to be near, or above average, than below average.

Monday December 31, 2007, 7:14 pm
No censorship here, Pekka. Unlike Chris and mamabear, Robin and other deniers of manmade global warming do not fear differing opinions. Weather forecasting is one of the best jobs in the world. I mean what other job will allow you to make so many mistakes and not get fired? It is next to impossible to predict the weather accurately for more than three days in advance. They do predict likely trends and from what I have been seeing this winter the article is pretty much on the money. I make this judgment not from the forecast, but from what has already occurred this winter. There have been below “normal” temperatures and near record snow fall in many areas throughout the northern hemisphere. All it is going to take is a couple more winters like this one and the effects of the so called manmade global warming will have been cancelled out.

Tuesday January 1, 2008, 3:39 am

I cant wait until that happens Ralph, and they find out that yet again they`ve been deceived.

The sad part is though, all this money that is being wasted unnecessarily on all this fear-mongering could have been put to better use had it been spent on those areas of the environment that do genuinely need our attention. Just because we `deniers` are disputing the man-made global warming does NOT mean that we do not see there is damage being done to the enviroment, by humans, in many other ways. The Native folk had the right idea: only take what you need and always give back to the earth.

Wednesday January 2, 2008, 5:56 am

Just maybe Piers Corbyn was right after all :


UK braced for sleet and snow

ITN - 1 hour 28 minutes ago - Jan 2nd, 20078

Britain is braced for some freezing temperatures over the next three days, with showers of sleet or snow forecast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maximum temperatures on Thursday will be between 0C and 3C over much of the UK, but as high as 5C in places.

But windchill will make it feel significantly colder, meteorologists have warned.

The worst-affected parts of the country could experience "disruptive" snow causing delays on roads and public transport.

Snowfalls are predicted for late on Thursday, with some areas expecting heavy downfalls.

Meteorologist Jeremy Plester said most parts of the country will probably see some snow, with the North East of England, Lincolnshire and the Pennines seeing the largest falls.

He said: "It's reasonably mild at the moment but there's cold air coming from Russia that's going to be moving across the whole of the UK tomorrow."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080102/tuk-uk-braced-for-sleet-and-snow-dba1618_1.html



MET OFFICE `Severe Weather` warning - as at January 2nd 2008 - 2pm

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/