Microburst

Andy, I have had an e mail reply from weather - no plans to do this on digital at the moment but in future most things on Ceefax now will transfer over to Digi text. Hope this helps. Keep watching thats the answer, sorry I can't be more specific. MB

Hey Paul It will still be around on the BBC analogue services for the forseeable future. As and when the analogue transmitters are switched off region by region starting from 2008 then Ceefax will disappear too. 2008 Border: Carlisle and towns on border of England and Scotland including Lockerbie and Dumfries West Country:Devon and Cornwall including Exeter, Plymouth HTV Wales: from Cardiff and Swansea in the south to Holyhead in the north 2009 Granada: Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool HTV West: Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire Grampian: Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Scottish Highlands Scottish TV: Edinburgh, Motherwell, Glasgow, East Kilbride 2010 Central: Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham Yorkshire - York, Leeds, Doncaster, Sheffield, Harrogate Anglia: Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester 2011 Meridian: Southampton, Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, Dover, Maidstone Greater London Tyne Tees: Newcastle, Sunderland and the north east Ulster: Belfast, Newry, Derry 2012 Channel Islands MB

Hey Andy, It's Ok I don't mind being bugged if it helps you weather fans understand the BBC a bit more. Hard to say I have looked at both services and see your point. I will pass on the question to weather and will try to find out for you asap. MB

Yes GP you are correct. Ceefax will be obsolete when everything goes digital and the analogue system is shut down for good. It's been a good warhorse for the BBC - sad to see it go but not for a little while yet! There's no stopping this digital revolution. MB

Hi Paul, There are some glitches within the Ceefax system at the moment and some pages are not updating as frequently as they should. Ceefax is over 30 years old now and problems are occurring more frequently, however screwdrivers are out again and things should be back to normal later today. MB

I thought someone on NW had unfortunately closed this topic last weekend, glad to see it open again! I admire your persistence Jackone, with symbols, but as I have said before - very very unlikely. With regard to wind speeds. It has been decided that numerically they can be shown and where necessary, will be, when the wind is likely to be the dominating focus of the weather. The weather team are experimenting at the moment with some new features based on recent critcism and comment. If you see something that you like or dislike then please write in to the BBC or leave them here and I will pass directly.... all comments are read! MB

Thanks Paul, Good points and I will pass them on. I think it would be the interpretation of the data and the broadcast meteorologist presenting the forecast to warn as to the severity of the wind as is the case now. As for developing a new scale for wind, I doubt whether the BBC or MO would go for this - could you imagine the outcry from the public with something else radically new! this would then lead to problems with other TV media forecasts. I know wind interpretation and explanation in broadcasts is currently under review with the new graphics which was why I was interested in opinion. MB

WINDSPEEDS IN NUMERALS ? Un-biased comments please......... Is it really necessary for these to be shown on the TV wind charts? Bearing in mind that the majority on Net -Weather will say, yes, (we expect that!) look at it from all sides as we have to - is it important in a broad overview of the weather that it be shown that the wind comes from the SW@ 30mph, Or, is it sufficient that explanation be given that there will be a strong SW wind blowing with the size and speed wind arrows as currently used? Any thoughts? MB

Hi Jackone. It is likely that there will be a few more subtle changes and improvements as the weeks go on. At the moment there are no plans for the reintroduction of symbols. Temperature shading would only increase confusion with the shading currently in place for sun and cloud. Fog, I understand is shown as greyish white shading, with frost as white. Whether this leads to confusion remains to be seen in the Autumn. Experiments are ongoing at the moment with different scenarios so nothing is cast in stone, suffice as to say again - the old way of weather presentation with symbols has gone I'm afraid, but not forgotten! MB

New revised graphics available tomorrow on BBC weather broadcasts. There is still room for more improvements any ideas forthcoming I will pass on next week. MB PS I am trying for you!!! But it's a hard slog!

Good points, I will pass them on.

I don't agree it is a failed project. It is here to stay with some modifications made as time goes by. The old graphics will not be coming back.

Here is the BBC press release http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/t...dio/4587747.stm MB

well you certainly didn't!

None of us, not even the BBC is perfect!

It will be in due course

Just shows - the BBC do listen then....contrary to popular belief among some net weather people?

UPDATE: 1533 27/05/05 NEVER SAY NEVER! The BBC is to change its controversial new weather maps immediately after a storm of complaints that they were confusing and biased against Scotland and the north. It will "retilt" the map from tomorrow, in what will be see as a victory for viewer power and a humiliating climbdown for the corporation which has invested £1mn in the hi-tech forecasts. By straightening the "aerial view" of the UK, the BBC will redress the main complaint that Scotland was shrunk out of proportion to the UK. "The BBC has changed its mind almost as quickly as the weather changes in the Western Isles," said Angus MacNeil, the Scottish National Party MP who tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons in protest at the forecasts. "This is a great victory for people from across Scotland who raised their concerns with the BBC. It goes to show that Scotland's voice can be heard and we can make London think again. We have made Scotland matter in the boardrooms of the BBC. "But of course this is only the first stage. People are equally concerned about the loss of wind speeds and isobars - two pieces of information that are crucial to my constituents and others who make a living outdoors. "I will be keeping up the pressure on the BBC on these points, and look forward to further changes and improvements on their weather map." The new 3-D forecasts have come under unprecedented attack since they were launched in a blaze of publicity last week with 4,000 complaints. Viewers and former BBC weather forecasters lined up to criticise the bulletins, in which "virtual reality" clouds and rain are animated over a beige-coloured British Isles, saying they were unclear and induced motion sickness. The BBC director of news, Helen Boaden, today intervened in the crisis - she telephoned one of the leading protestors, the SNP media spokesman Pete Wishart, to tell him that changes would be made to the map tomorrow. "I spoke to the BBC's director of news this morning and she has confirmed the changes will take place," said Mr Wishart. "This is good news for Scotland and is a decision that reflects well on the BBC. They have listened and learned and should be congratulated for their speedy response to viewers' complaints." The BBC was forced onto the defensive over the forecasts almost immediately after the new 3-D graphics appeared on screen eleven days ago. Viewers were the first to protest with politicians quick to wade in on their behalf. The campaign for a change intensified when the former weather chief, Bill Giles, said the forecasts were "too much, too soon. The new technology is very clever, but I don't think they've thought it through carefully enough. " And yesterday, John Teather, who founded the BBC's weather centre in 1991, said he was "depressed" by the graphics which he said did nothing to help viewers understand the forecast. He accused management of censorship after his comments were removed from a BBC website just minutes after they were posted. Critics complained that the 3-D map under-represented Scotland, which was reduced to the size of south west England. The SNP called on viewers to "flood the BBC with complaints". Nevertheless, BBC management initially held firm in the face of criticism, saying it would take viewers "time to get used to the new system". The BBC weather centre manager, Andrew Lane, said the new forecast gave viewers "the extra clarity and detail they have told us they want from our forecasts." A statement posted on the BBC's website yesterday said audience research had shown 69% of viewers "either preferred the new weather system or like it as much as the old forecasts". However, that left 31% - nearly a third of viewers - who thought it inferior to the old forecasts. The BBC suffered further embarrassment after it emerged that the system, which was bought from the New Zealand Met Office, was turned down by ITV in a revamp of its weather forecasts earlier this year. "ITV avoided devices that are, perhaps, more appealing to television producers than to viewers who simply want to know what to wear tomorrow," said the ITV News executive, Michael Jeremy. MB

RELATED INFO TV and radio weather forecasts will offer health advice on how to cope with a heatwave, health officials said today as temperatures in England soared to 31C (87F). Under plans drawn up by the Department of Health (DoH), BBC and ITN weather forecasts will for the first time include tips on how to stay healthy in high temperatures and viewers will be referred to the telephone helpline NHS Direct. The measures are part of contingency plans for England to avoid a repeat of August 2003 when more than 2,000 deaths were attributed to the heatwave, mainly among people over 75. Mike Gill, the regional director of public health for south-east England, said advice will be provided on national and local TV and radio weather forecasts. Dr Gill said: "The detail of how much health advice will be provided in forecasts is still being negotiated with the Met Office. But we expect it will include basic guidelines such as staying in the shade and drinking plenty of water. "We also want a specific reference for the public to think about whether they know anyone who'd be particularly vulnerable from the effect of hot weather, such as older people." Long-range forecasts from the Met Office indicate above average temperatures this July and August. Temperatures could match the record high of 38.5C (101F) recorded in Brogdale, Kent, on August 10 2003. Over a 10-day period, the number of deaths was 17% above average across England, rising to 42% above average in London. Weather forecasts would provide similar information to the survival guide, Heatwave: A Guide to Looking After Yourself, published bythe government's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, earlier this month. It includes advice such as: ·: plan your day so you can stay out of the heat and avoid going out during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm; ·: if you must go out, stay in the shade. Wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothes, preferably cotton. Take plenty of water with you; ·: take cool showers or baths and splash yourself several times a day with cold water. Try to eat more cold food, particularly salads and fruit; ·: look after older people. They are much more prone to the effects of heat. Dr Gill said the aim of the plans was to shift public attitudes towards hot weather. "Heat is still seen as an opportunity to take your clothes off on the beach or give lollies to zebras at the zoo," he said. "We want people to take care of their own health but also to look out for anyone particularly vulnerable, such as older people living alone at home while their relatives are away on holiday." · The BBC has backed down after a storm of complaints over its new weather forecast. Changes to the map will be made tomorrow, it has emerged.

UPDATE!! OK weather fans, I bring exploding news hot off the press!! "The BBC has backed down after a storm of complaints over its new weather forecast. Changes to the map will be made tomorrow, it has emerged. More soon... I will bring further news as soon as it is released this afternoon. MB

which was??

You should contact BBC Information with your query.

These stats come from all the feedback so far - from numerous sources.

To be fair - there has been a considerable amount of praise for the new graphics as well as critiscism. I would say 60/40 for and against. I have seen the stats in the office.

UPDATE! For all those of you who think the BBC don't listen to public opinion, I thought you might be interested in this press release. MB Those protesting that the BBC's £1m revamp of its weather forecasts is biased against Scotland saw a chink of light through the clouds yesterday, as the corporation admitted it was re-examining elements of its hi-tech approach. As interest in the weather warms up with forecasters predicting a heatwave on Friday and over the weekend, the BBC has bowed to pressure from viewers, MPs and former presenters to take another look at its new forecasts. Following an early day motion in parliament and questions in the House of Lords, the BBC yesterday confirmed it was looking at "retilting" the 3D map so that Scotland got a fairer showing. It had previously argued that the 3D effect, with the camera swooping in on specific areas, meant that the new forecasts were not biased against the north. The BBC has been deluged with complaints since relaunching its weather forecasts, doing away with the familiar cloud and sun symbols in favour of 3D computer graphics designed to make them less "boring and old fashioned". But hundreds of viewers have complained that the new forecasts are more difficult to follow and that the shifting brown patterns designed to denote cloud cover look "drab" and "dull". In doing away with familiar wind speeds and isobars, some have also complained that the new broadcasts actually contain less useful information. The most vociferous protests have come from those north of the border, who complain that the perspective of the map is biased in favour of the south. "It is unacceptable that the perspective given to these new maps means that the whole of the north of England is given the same prominence and detail as a couple of southern counties," Liberal Democrat peer Lord Greaves has complained. "Also, the BBC weather centre appears to regard Scotland as a far away country about which we know little." The BBC said the system, which it bought from the New Zealand Met Office, was the biggest change to its weather in 20 years and would take time to bed in. It also pointed to new audience research showing that seven in 10 viewers either preferred the new forecasts or liked them as much as the old ones. "That said, we welcome the comments from the House of Lords and recognise that there have been viewers who have raised concerns about the system," said a spokesman. "We are continuing to monitor feedback and if there are opportunities to improve aspects of the system - such as the perspective - we will examine these carefully." The corporation's embarrassment was compounded when ITV News executive Michael Jeremy revealed in the Guardian that the broadcaster passed up the chance to use the 3D system when it relaunched its own forecasts earlier this year. "ITV avoided devices that are, perhaps, more appealing to television producers than to viewers who simply want to know what to wear tomorrow," he wrote.