23 September 2008
One of the world leaders in weather forecasting and climate change science, the Met Office is proud to be in pole position to deliver the opening address at this year’s Cold Comfort.
Met Office predictions of a warming climate present new challenges for weather forecasters — not just in the winter but all year round, whether it is high temperatures, heavy rainfall or ice.
The prospect of milder temperatures and more ‘marginal’ nights adds to the challenges of when — or not — to treat roads in the winter. Predicting cloud cover and the distribution of showers are the biggest challenges that face both forecasters and road engineers alike. It is these areas where improvements in model data have increased.
Use of higher resolution model data is required to meet the increasing demands the weather has on routes across the country. The Met Office is working with the road industry to ensure that our OpenRoad service is continually developing to meet those requirements.
Notes:
The 17th Cold Comfort conference runs on 23–24 September 2008 at the Cardiff International Area.
| For further information: |
| Met Office Press Office +44 (0)1392 886655 |
| E-mail: pressoffice@metoffice.gov.uk |
| Met Office Customer Centre 0870 900 0100 |
| If you're outside the UK +44 (0)1392 885680 |
