An alternative to Met Office catastrophising
SIR – In view of the Met Office’s catastrophist weather warnings (Leading Article, January 23), it might be helpful to consult the Beaufort Wind Scale. It was first used in the early 19th century and was a reliable guide to estimating wind speed before accurate measurement was possible. There is a helpful definition of features to be observed at sea and on land. Since the Met Office produces a live UK weather map, it is possible to observe the winds in your area in real time.
Given the definitions supplied by Admiral Beaufort, I could see that, during Storm Isha, the winds in my area varied from a strong breeze to a near gale. In a strong breeze, umbrellas are used with difficulty. In a near gale, inconvenience is felt when walking against the wind.
In Beaufort’s time, however, there was no need to allude to the dangers of flying trampolines.
David Henderson
East Molesey, Surrey
SIR – In September 2018 I went to Hong Kong to be with my daughter, who was expecting her first baby. Her husband was away and she was already two weeks past her due date when
Typhoon Mangkhut hit, with wind speeds of 177mph.
This onslaught carried on for 10 long hours, accompanied by biblical rain – a terrifying experience. The wind died down by 9pm, and a few minutes later the sound of chainsaws could be heard, with gangs already out clearing fallen trees. During the storm the lights hardly flickered, and television and internet connections did not cease.
Considerable structural damage occurred in the high-rise office blocks, and we were marooned on Lantau Island as all the road bridges were closed. Schools were then shut for two days and everything went into overdrive to get back to normal.
Thankfully my daughter did not go into labour during the typhoon, and I was mighty pleased she didn’t tell me that the hospital on Lantau didn’t have a maternity unit. We were on the wrong side of a sea inlet in any event. She had a lovely baby boy a few days later and I lost half a stone from worry.
Perhaps it is time for our Met Office to get a grip and stop terrifying the daylights out of us all with its warnings.