Quote -
"We are back after our Xmas and New Year break and are looking now looking
forward to an exciting couple of months of weather in the UK. Although
mainly mild conditions are likely during the next few days, medium range
computer forecasting models are now beginning to move into line with our
long range forecast for winter which suggested much colder weather
developing during the second half of January. At the moment our winter
forecast is proving to be exceptionally accurate, highlighting firstly the
quiet and anticyclonic weather during the early December, then the colder
spell towards Xmas, and then the switch back to milder and changeable
conditions which is currently occurring.
The change to colder weather is likely as high pressure begins to build to
the north east of the UK allowing a much colder easterly feed of air across
the UK. This needs watching closely during the next ten days because there
is the potential for the UK to have its coldest spell of wintry weather for
many years.
Issued 03/01/2004 "

Note issue date!!
I will try to be objective although it will be slightly subjective, in line
with the forecast itself. I would say that December's forecast was as good
as anybody could expect but I wouldn't say exceptional.Weren't there two
severe cold spells forecast? It would be more of a surprise to me if there
wasn't at least one Nw'ly outbreak giving temps of 5C in the South and snow
on high ground at some stage,each winter month. Also I thought (and I may be
wrong) that the cold was going to be of the Easterly variety. I noted that
George has recorded his only snowless December since 1994. Nearly every
winter, even in these milder times, will produce a couple of colder
interludes in each month. To say we were only a couple of days out would be
pretty meaningless. I will reserve my final opinion till later in the
winter, but frankly, unless we get something like two weeks near freezing
with widespread snowfall for the last two weeks of January I can't see it
being much more than inspired guesswork.
Others thoughts would be interesting, especially if they could refrain from
gratuitous TWO bashing. (Lawrence's jokes excepted, naturally!)

Dave