18 comments Add a comment
Now that the weather has warmed up a bit and were having the occasional heat wave - its time to have a gripe about something that makes me a bit hot under the collar!
How long are we going to be stuck with the deplorable BBC TV Weather Maps? Their dull brown and beige background illustrates what appears to be a Britain a few months after a nuclear attack - not a hint of green anywhere.
very difficult to glean the details of the forecast
The effect of these drab and boring maps is that it is very difficult to glean the details of the forecast - everywhere in the country looks like everywhere else! Also, the animated symbols for rain and cloud, etc., are just plain pathetic.
Sky's weather programme compared to the BBC - Clouds swirl and raindrops dance
Compare the BBC's poor performances with the superbly designed Weather Maps put out by Sky News. Every detail of the weather is beautifully illustrated against a colourful and attractive map of the British Isles. Clouds swirl and raindrops dance and the sun bursts through - it's a positive ballet of weather information!
Come on, BBC: you've wasted our licence money once again, but you should make amends by scrapping the present Weather Maps and get something as good as Sky News.
By: Oracle 2006
Leave a comment
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.
Dr Nick Riviera