Weather forecaster in surprise apology after raining on nation's hopes of sunshine
By: Daniel O'Carroll | Published Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 2:35 PM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 10:22 PM
One of Ireland's most senior broadcast meteorologists has made a surprise apology on national radio after the weather agency mistakenly misled weather pundits into believing that some sunny weather would punctuate an otherwise gloomy summer over the coming weeks.
Speaking on popular drivetime radio show Morning Ireland, weather guru Evelyn Cusack said she felt it was her civic duty to issue a national apology for the slipup which will undoubtedly deflate the hopes of countless weather fanatics nationwide, a group thought by some estimates to comprise as much as more or less the entire population.
The remarks came as Ireland suffers through yet another gloomy Irish summer, which has thusfar been dominated by a seemingly endless supply of clouds, showers, and disheartening false good weather alerts, such as the one issued by Cusack and her forecasting cronies in Glasnevin.
The forecaster, who recently also made headlines after being handed down a driving ban driving for driving under the influence, explained that Ireland's hapless latitude - at 51 degrees North it lies closer to the North Pole than the Equator - means that the famously miserable Irish summertime weather will remain a staple of Irish life for many years to come.
And although Cusack was quick to add that it would be a very different meteorological tale if Ireland were situated 'just off the West African Coast', that will come as little consolation to the perennially pasty Irish as such a drastic foray southwards would likely take hundreds, if not thousands, of years to complete.
The apology, however, may come as a minor consolation to the countless Irish barbecue fanatics so often left vexed, angry, and underfed by notoriously unreliable summertime weather predictions. The last major apology from the forecasting service dates back to last year, when radio met spokesperson Vincent O'Shea prompted nationwide complaints after what was described in the media as an 'unusually incoherent' exposition of the day's predicted weather. Met Éireann put the episode down to an apparent reaction with prescription medication. Long sought after weather forecasting accountability may finally be on the way.
Unfortunately the incident only confirmed that after the wettest, windiest, and dullest May since 1972 and a June so unseasonal that national minerals distributor Britvic said that its revenues had dropped by 15.3pc, what's left of July will probably be little better.
Maybe next year!
6 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.catriona59 | Jul 25, 2011, 11:40 PM EDT
I would much rather be in Ireland during the rainy summer than here in Ohio during the recent heat wave.
kerryman201 | Jul 22, 2011, 05:38 PM EDT
wouldn't mind if we moved off the coast of west afraic
themurphia | Jul 22, 2011, 05:11 PM EDT
A minor meterological mishap compared to Michael Fish's...you probably weren't born your prettiness... reassurance to the lady who phoned the BBC to warn them of the hurricane...Ya don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows...
themurphia | Jul 22, 2011, 01:03 PM EDT
Ahhh blaashht it I could have posted my meterological joke here...BAH!
themurphia | Jul 22, 2011, 12:44 PM EDT
Pretty/Danny Boy..have you been out in the sun too long a mhic...?
jamieLM | Jul 22, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT
A yearly Midwestern (Chicago area) pasttime is to complain about the weather. It's too hot, too humid, too cold, too dry, too wet, too much snow, not enough snow. With 4 different weather seasons, there's always something to complain about and we do. We take it for granted that the meteorologists are often going to get it wrong, even with all their maps, doplar radar, and meteorologist degrees. Right now, I'd like to exchange our heat (100F with a heat index 110F-120F because of high humidity) with your gloomy, rainy weather. We're surviving because we have AC - home, workplace, stores, cars, - everywhere except outside. If you're in NY, you know all about it. Btw: our local meteorologists rarely apologize. Instead, they give us some convoluted explanation when they blow it on the forecast which is always entertaining.