Seriously Martin? Of course Andy's pessimistic guesswork may be correct but with the massive range of options across the northern latitudes by day 10 on the ECM output such conclusions simply cannot be drawn from the ECM chart. It is an option but only one of many.
There are times when the models display high confidence levels (statistically), this is not one of them http://modeles.meteociel.fr/modeles/gens/ecmwf/graphe_ens3.php?mode=2&x=&y=&run=0&lat=57.125506072874494&lon=-2.169811320754718&runpara=0
If it turns out Andy's (and others') two month forecasts based on 10 days of selected data are correct I'm sure they will be lauded as excellent forecasts but they are no more than guesswork based on continuation of the status quo.
Failure to recognise probability and to go with the most likely option as the only one is risky even if you do end up with the "right answer".
Mind you it's a win win and an easy option isn't it? Forecast mild and it's mild and you can say "I told you so", forecast mild and it turns cold and no one cares that you were wrong! (And forecast or discuss anything else and you're labelled as unrealistic, naive, immature or a cold ramper regardless of the analysis*).
*These labels are all from personal experience in past years.
Originally Posted by: doctormog