New BBC weather maps

The 'new' BBC weather maps are the best on TV. Not an opinion. It's a fact.

A lot of the detail seems to be lost on some people - who can't get over the fact that the maps aren't green (the colour green has no special relevance to the weather) or that they move (like most other TV images).

Any accusation of 'dumbing down' indicates a lack of understanding about weather graphics in the first place. The 'new' graphics were actually dumbed 'up' - but obviously there are still some people who prefer a comically large cartoon picture of a cloud hovering over half the country in order to understand what the weather forecast is.

I notice someone earlier said the maps don't ' bear any relation to the
magnificent shades of green and brown we actually see in the landscape of the British Isles'.
Well - they're not supposed to. And nor should they. Most people understand why, but there's always going to be a few stragglers.

All weather forecasts will be presented in a similar way in the future - the BBC followed Sky in this respect. Just take a look at the woefully old-fashioned ITV weather forecasts and enjoy them while you still can.

The Sky News Weather charts were fine until the Sky News revamp, they have since gone very messy and I cannot differentiate how heavy the rain is falling at times and sometimes those wind arrows get on my nerves. At least with the BBC charts, they are simple and clear, heavy rain is shown as colours and they show information that is appropriate.

The BBC weather forecast is far superior to the short versions on ITV or sky, however I did prefer the older stile maps with the pressure charts.

I agree with Bar Chewer. I think the maps are great and they should never change it.

Typical British whining and an underlying trend of Americanism. All worried about style and the substance comes second. Not ONE comment on how accurate the forecast is.

If you think that's bad, try the BBC's international weather forecasts on BBC World. We live in Portugal, a country that appears to have been renamed "weatherman's elbow" by the BBC. Yup, they stand in front of the dear motherland. Every forecast, every day, every presenter. They seem to be totally unaware of our abusive shouts, obscene geatures and hurled objects (carefully selected not to cause lasting screen damage). Why can't they stand in front of friggin' Spain one in a while?

It's not just the maps that is poor but the presentation. The camera and presenter lingers over Northern Ireland and Scotland (where a small proportion of the population lives) but doesn't even mention large parts of England (apart from the South West where again few people live. Also why give a detailled description of the weather during the night up till 6 a.m. in the evening bulletin. Who cares whether it is raining at 2 in the morning people want to know what the weater will be like the next day not whilst they are asleep in bed.

Well done Oracle.
The BBC weather charts are pathetic, and it is about time someone went public and give us the chance to comment.
Would anyone from the BBC care to give us an explanation as to why these particular sets of drab colours were used in the first place?

Presumably Bar Chewer is colour blind if he imagines the drab,putty-coloured BBC weather maps bear any relation to the
magnificent shades of green and brown we actually see in the landscape of the British Isles.

As for accuracy, who thought up the bright idea of showing lakes, rivers, the sea and rain showers in almost the same shade of blue? Sometimes it's impossible to work out if the winds are blowing a storm towards London or the Thames is in flood!

I understand these new weather maps were turned down by commercial television before the BBC were suckered into buying them. Bar Chewer sounds so upset about this that I
can only think he works for the BBC.

Oracle 2006

Rubbish, the BBC's new weather maps are brilliant. They are much more accurate, have more detail than ever before. People like you who want to watch Mickey Mouse cartoons might prefer Sky's maps, but there again you want the weather news dumbed down to your level of intelligence.