Medway Snowball

A quick google search re: coal resources in India and China. India and China have HUGE coal reserves estimated to last at least 200 years. India is the third largest coal producer and it's energy accounts for two thirds of total energy usage. China is the biggest coal producer in the world, 2nd in terms of reserves (USA number 1), and again accounts for two thirds of total energy used. Needless to say both countries compsumption of coal and there % of the total energy used is forecaster to grow! Regards ms

Surely that would be the same for any company that sell LRF! It seems to me that the Express has researched the number of "hits" that this site and others have received and the numbers who regually debate LRF and model discussions during the winter period. They have realised that many readers and contributers enjoy the prospect of cold weather and that there is a "market" there for the taking!! Hoping for increased sales at the newsagents. I, for one, prefer to stick to our own resident forcasters, all of whom i wish well, to meet my needs this winter! <_< regards ms

Hi Smich Great Idea! Coming from a non meterological background i have learnt to stick to the basics. The UKMO chart is good at showing charts that are familiar to any bbc weather watcher. It's weakness lies in that it only shows 2 charts per day, it's limited to T (Time) +132 hours and does not show any temperature variations. The Gfs 500 HPa charts do not show any "weather fronts" or temperature but does have the advantage?? of being updated every 6 hours. It also runs out to T+384 hours although anthing after T +168 hours runs into F.I. territory ( better known as Fantasy Island - Or unlikely to happen). Since each run contains different sampling, there tends to be differing outcomes especially beyond T +120. 06Z/12Z seem to be the colder "outers" and for cold lovers, like myself, always worth looking at. Probably what everyone is looking for is over a number of days are there any trends developing. Below T +120 all the charts are becoming within the accuracy range but when i hear the term "marginal" you know the charts may not be accurate right up to Time Zero, in which case the best thing to do is look outside of the window to see what the weather is like! Finally they superbly show the "DAM???" lines which seem all important for snow lovers. The final chart i normally view is the Gfs 850 Hpa charts which do show temperature information. When i first saw these charts i got really excited and then i realised that as a rule of thumb you need to ADD 10 degrees Celcius to get a rough idea of temperature at ground level! In summary my own predictions? are based on these three charts, particuarly the Gfs charts. Firstly trying to spot trends and then when something special materializes in the Realistic timeframe following the "Rollercoaster" down to Time Zero. I look for the "DAM" to be below say 524, accompanied by 850 Hpa temperature down to say -5 to -8.Finally i look at UKMO to see if there are any weather front or lines of organised showers up wind of me. With a bit of luck they will fall as SNOW! Regards MS