David's Digest

Was it in February or March that the boffins at the Met Office announced that we were virtually certain to have another hot dry summer this year?
Whichever, as we now know to our cost, they could not have been more wrong. April, yes, it was hot and dry, as were the first few days of May. But after that the heavens opened and seldom seem to have closed since.
On this farm once it started raining we had 125mm (5 inches in old money) in May. So far in June we have had as much again. Some places in the country have had much more, of course, and the short term forecast is for further falls before the end of the month at the weekend.
What does this prove? I suggest it shows that attempting to predict the weather months ahead is futile. Forecasters find it difficult enough to get it right five days, let alone five months ahead. I think they should concentrate on greater accuracy in the short term and leave the long term to those who practice witchcraft. That way we poor farmers will not be tempted to plan on the basis of weather that is unlikely to happen.