Comments on the boards.ie daily forecast ( > 1,000,000 views )

Joe Public

I think MTC is doing a great job, with no pay, so I opened this thread as a repository for comments on his daily weather forecasts.

boomerang

I check it most days - it's my favourite weather forecast. Thanks MTC, much appreciated.

El Horseboxo

I rarely post in here and I use it as my forecast. Most days I even post the link up on facebook so a lot of mates check it out too that don't even have accounts here. Very detailed, highly accurate despite our often difficult to predict weather and most importantly much appreciated. Fair play MT.

dirtyghettokid

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I rarely post in here and I use it as my forecast. Most days I even post the link up on facebook so a lot of mates check it out too that don't even have accounts here. Very detailed, highly accurate despite our often difficult to predict weather and most importantly much appreciated. Fair play MT.

i do the very same thing!
he's a very well valued member on this site

Knine

Yes I check here every day for his forecast.:D I don't even bother checking ME any more

M.T. Cranium

Thanks for the thought that went into starting this thread and for the comments. I expect occasions where my forecasts might not emerge 100% unscathed, but also, when you have differences of opinion as we've seen this week, quite often the outcome lies somewhere in between, or at least you can see how the two different concepts might be blended into a more suitable mixture.

Stepping back a little just to comment in general, first of all the comment about no pay ... technically true, but I have seen some reasons for optimism in my parallel involvement with "Irish Weather Online" which in itself requires almost no additional work for me. But above and beyond that, I justify the effort simply on the basis of the friendly reaction of the Irish weather community over two or three years, which has made a rather minor commitment of time and effort very worthwhile.

Some have heard this before, but I can repeat the idea that the original concept of the thread "Your daily forecast from boards.ie" was actually meant to become a forum where boards members would discuss forecasts and keep a sort of running commentary that amounted to daily forecasts. For a while, it functioned somewhat like that but it attracted a few "trolls" who wanted to go into endless discussions of would a raindrop hit my windowpane at 1748 GMT and if not would I jump off a tall building in remorse?

That became somewhat tiresome as I was getting badly hurt jumping off the tall building every other day, so we narrowed the focus to daily forecasts take them or leave them. The number who have chosen to take them sometimes staggers my imagination. I had no preconceived notion of becoming some sort of Irish weather "source" and find the situation a challenge and at times a bit surreal since I am so far away and my own daily weather is sometimes so different that I have to make that effort to get into your head space and try to consider what terms will mean, what's going on locally and meso-scale, and also what range of possible outcomes there could be, since the effort is always to land somewhere near the middle of the target zone in these night-time jumps into dark terrain (it is so much easier to forecast the afternoon from the morning, than the day from the night).

Anyway, just thought I would mention those rather random thoughts. I'm hoping that a more rational basis for these efforts will eventually appear, because there would have to be a thought given to either retirement or delegation of part of the week to other forecasters. I've actually enjoyed this novel experiment of trying to forecast non-stop with just a few holiday breaks but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, it's just something that I got into doing on a smaller U.K. forum and so I was already up to speed when I jumped in here. It becomes a bit taxing on the mind when the weather gets stuck in a rut or fails to inspire. The more active, dynamic days that come along are easier to "get up" for and this is entirely a problem of being the sort of lone ranger that I am, I would imagine that shift work in a larger group setting would make the boring weather days a lot easier to take (thinking that oh well somebody's paying me to look at this dull easterly drizzle). :cool:

By the way, I am about to take a 2-week holiday in mid-August (hooray) and I believe that Su Campu will be providing you with your daily feed, so be to nice to him and don't throw stuff at him. He may actually have some clue what's going on as well, which can only be helpful.

weisses

So you be checking different models the two weeks your off in August ? :D;)

Thanks for the forecaststs ... Most of the time i use this one and the ME one mix em up and will keep puzzling them into a forecast that suits me

fizzycyst

MT, you're humble, funny, intelligent, generous and you give great forecasts to boot .......will you marry me? :D:D:D

M.T. Cranium

That sentence has already been handed down. :cool:

hotwhiskey

M.T i just want to ask are you moving house or country!!! If this is under review may i mention a move to the west of Ireland were the weather is so unpredictable there:D somewhere in region of Connemara or Westport.:P

pistolpetes11

Im also an avid follower of MT's forecasts , brilliant work sir !

WindmillWarrior

just discovered this today. great work MTC. You have a new follower!

fred funk }{

I look at his forecasts every morning and I find them the most accurate out of all others. Thanks MT!

glimmerman123

I don't post that often but i do check M.Ts forecast everyday without failure. I find them very accurate and i think we are very lucky to have someone like M.T forecasting our weather. Well done and thanks M.T for all the hard work you put in.

Cherrycola

I recommend you to everyone for weather forecasts are you are always pretty spot on.

Which is annoying me this week as im away on my sun holiday on Saturday just when it seems summer is arriving here, that drives me CRAZY!!
Hate wasting my sun holiday on a week of warm weather here, its meant to p iss rain while im gone!!!

Any chance its still gonna be around from Monday 8th Aug?

200motels

Yeah great forecasts and check them most mornings but mostly in winter as that's my favourite time of the year.

BluesBerry

I read M.t's forecasts daily too, I don't bother with any others now He seems to be spot on with his forecasts Thank you M.T Cranium

Su Campu

Here's an in-depth interview with the man himself MTC (Peter O'Donnell) by Claire O'Connell of the Irish Times.

dsmythy

Would the previous presence of 'Cindy' in the North Atlantic have had any role in playing havoc with the weather predictions for this week?

stevenmu

Am a big fan of MTC's forecasts as well. I especially like that the way they tend to give some indepth information on the background conditions and trends that lead to the forecast.

Welsh Wizard

stevenmu wrote: »

Am a big fan of MTC's forecasts as well. I especially like that the way they tend to give some indepth information on the background conditions and trends that lead to the forecast.

Brillant stuff.... Thanks very much...

Who knows, you valuable knowledge could of saved life's of many mountaineers and sailors and what's more we can actually plan having a B-B-Que

I find myself checking my phone before opening the curtains to see "what it's like outside.."

Did you ever send in your C.V. to Met Eireann...?

Much appreciated,

WW

eskimocat

MT, You rock! (need I say more?)

20silkcut

Great stuff we are lucky to have access to your forecasts very much appreciated.

Joe Public

Seem to be getting a nice spell of weather now in Vancouver, here we would call that a "heatwave":)

Welsh Wizard

Enjoy your well earned holiers M.T... !

Brilliant stuff Su Campo..!

Thanks guys..

Joe Public

Hopefully the change of forecaster will bring the good weather, starting next week just to give Su a few days to settle in.

dsmythy

If the thundery weather midweek comes to fruition it would be a toughie to forecast. Good luck Su.

Pangea

M.T. Cranium wrote: »

THURSDAY-SATURDAY ... Remnants of Irene tracking to the northwest and north of Donegal may bring frequent showers and stronger winds again, from the south at first then veering more westerly.

I knew the underground bunker would come in handy :pac:

M.T. Cranium

I gather SC had no more luck than yours truly in finding any hot, sunny weather ... this is why we both go south for our holidays.

August has been very nice here (one day with rain while we were away), after a rather poor July and a dismal June. So one out of three.

You must try to visit the southwest U.S. some day, the scenery and the storms are both memorable. And you can find some good bargains in terms of low-cost motels and meals, but Las Vegas is very uneven, some things are a bargain, others could prove very expensive -- as Craig Ferguson would say, call me Tiffany.

John mac

Thats where I went on my honeymoon many moons ago.

Tucson and Sedona are great for thunderstorms

shamcfc

Great stuff mr t. .. First thing I read in the morning.Use it to plan what day of the week will I cut my lawn and you have been right I say 90% of the time:)

Started using this board last year and have learned lots from reading threads,

Pangea

If that comes true for Donegal bay it will be an interesting day

Joe Public

Time to stick up your B&B sign as you can expect Iancar29 and a few others in pursuit.:D

pauldry

will be interesting to see that storm develop. someone should set a thread up on it or maybe its already set up and i dont see it

dsmythy

pauldry wrote: »

will be interesting to see that storm develop. someone should set a thread up on it or maybe its already set up and i dont see it

Using the Hurricane Katia thread at the moment. I suspect a "potentially very windy Sunday night/Monday" thread will pop up.

Pangea

Looks like ME is getting in on the act now too, theres an article in the Donegal post.
A rep from ME said
"Once the hurricane reaches the Atlantic Ocean it turns into a storm.
A hurricane only feeds on temperatures higher than 20 degrees centigrade.
Having said this,it is possible its remnants will hit the N Atlantic Area but we cannot pinpoint where and when at this stage"

dsmythy

Pangea wrote: »

Looks like ME is getting in on the act now too, theres an article in the Donegal post.
A rep from ME said
"Once the hurricane reaches the Atlantic Ocean it turns into a storm.
A hurricane only feeds on temperatures higher than 20 degrees centigrade.
Having said this,it is possible its remnants will hit the N Atlantic Area but we cannot pinpoint where and when at this stage"

Hinted at on the main page too.

"There'll be further showers on Saturday night. Winds ease somewhat for a time early Sunday. However, a deep Atlantic storm travelling northeastwards to the North of Scotland is likely to bring extremely windy weather over Ireland during Sunday night and into Monday morning; with the strongest winds in the northwest and north of the country"

Pangea

dsmythy wrote: »

Hinted at on the main page too.

"There'll be further showers on Saturday night. Winds ease somewhat for a time early Sunday. However, a deep Atlantic storm travelling northeastwards to the North of Scotland is likely to bring extremely windy weather over Ireland during Sunday night and into Monday morning; with the strongest winds in the northwest and north of the country"

Good looking. :cool:

thetonynator

M.T. Cranium wrote: »

Monday, 3 October, 2011
________________________________


THURSDAY ... Turning quite cool in westerly to northwesterly winds 30-50 mph, squally showers, lows near 7 C and highs near 12 C north to 14 C south. Risk of hail and even a bit of snow on higher summits of Connacht, Donegal.

And so it begins! First snow forecast for anywhere of the season I think!!

even if it is only a risk on northern hills . . :P

Mountainsandh

Never saw this thread before, so there, MT thanks for the daily forecasts, I hardly ever check ME anymore, but look forward to your more accurate predictions.



pssstt... come on everyone, thank him NOW, he might just come up with more snow or somethin'.

NIALL D

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Never saw this thread before, so there, MT thanks for the daily forecasts, I hardly ever check ME anymore, but look forward to your more accurate predictions.



pssstt... come on everyone, thank him NOW, he might just come up with more snow or somethin'.

fact !!! much more reliable then ME ......

THANKS MT :D:):cool:

Pangea

MTs comment has already made the media.
http://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/10/04/breaking-news-snow-on-way-to-donegal-hills-forecasters/

Good job MT and thanks :pac:

Birdnuts

I see a large HP will build to our South next week giving a period of rather mild settled weather - well and good but why the hell do we not get this anymore during summer proper!!

PS: I'll be glad to see the back of 2011 weatherwise - its been utterly dull in every sense of the word!!:(:rolleyes:

kstand

I live in London but whenever I'm going home for a few dyas, I have a look at MT's forecast as its usually bang on. Thanks and keep mup the good work.

dsmythy

Pangea wrote: »

MTs comment has already made the media.
http://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/10/04/breaking-news-snow-on-way-to-donegal-hills-forecasters/

Even they manage to turn risk of snow into 'snow on the way!' and cooler weather to 'shuddering shivering end'.

Pangea

dsmythy wrote: »

Even they manage to turn risk of snow into 'snow on the way!' and cooler weather to 'shuddering shivering end'.

I know, its pretty comical actually. Also notice the BREAKING NEWS headline. :rolleyes:
Totally misleading, funny thing is they are the same crowd that would post something then the day after saying the weather forecasters got it wrong.

The Assistinator

just wanted to say a big thank you to mt its my first port of call every morning dont get time to post here at that time, but really enjoy the severe weather days, thank you mt keep up the great work.

Su Campu

dsmythy wrote: »

Even they manage to turn risk of snow into 'snow on the way!' and cooler weather to 'shuddering shivering end'.

....and "winds of 30-50 mph..." to "winds of more than 50 mph.."

M.T. Cranium

Thanks for comments and feedback, clearly nobody in his right mind would do what I am doing, so it helps that I am in fact not in my right mind.

If boards.ie will permit, these forecasts should continue to appear at least through the coming winter season. Perhaps eventually it might be humane to reduce this effort to fewer regular forecasts, with concentration on the more active and unusual weather events.

I hope somebody spots some snow on a hilltop on Thursday, that would be nice. With the Irish media, I don't mind a little "embellishment" because at least they don't go off the deep end like the UK media with their "hurricane to destroy half of Britain" type of headlines every time a 70 mph wind gust could possibly occur. As to winds of >50 mph, well there's always Malin Head.

Pangea

Met Eireann have gusts up to 120km for north west tomorrow.