Hi

I just watched the South West Spotlight 1.40 PM Weather which highlighted a possible heat wave warning for the SW if the max was 30°C or higher and the mins 15° higher for two consecutive days. The presenter then says that there is a 60% probability of that happening but a warning won't be issued till the confidence is 90%.

The presenter then gets into the forecast and says that the max for tomorrow may reach 30 or 31°C in the SW (even though the highest temperature on the graphics is only 29°C). The presenter then says that Sunday will be cooler because of a cold front moving down from the north.

So why mention the possible issuing of a warning that patently will not meet the criteria of the heatwave warning for this part of the country in the first place?

I think the BBC forecast is putting the wrong spin on the weather of the last week or so. The emphasis in my opinion should be on a brilliantly anticyclonic fine spell with a great deal of sunshine, and less emphasis on day time maxima which although very warm - locally hot - are not in the same league as say August 2003 when they were truly hot (35°C) over a wide area.

Bruce.