Odds on for snow

摘要

Is britain heading towards a return to ice and snow this winter? One of the more reliable weather predictors seems to be pointing that way. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) compares pressures across the ocean to determine what the forthcoming winter might be. If, as has been the case for the past few years, it is 'positive', then the weather will probably be mild and wet; if it's 'negative' it is more likely to be cold. For the first time for at least 10 years the NAO is negative, a cold signal - and hindsight shows that this predictor is right more than 65% of the time! The implications are far reaching: football matches will be called off; farming will be affected; and, unless highways authorities are well prepared, Britain's roads network will come to a sliding, snowy halt.