The show had received over 1,000 entries for livestock, sheep and dogs

Organisers of a popular agricultural show have been forced to cancel it for the first time in 254 years because of the weather.

The one-day Brecon County Show, which attracts around 10,000 people each year, was due to be staged on Saturday.

But after days of wet weather, and more rain forecast, it has been cancelled over concerns of waterlogged fields and possible traffic problems.

The show society’s secretary said it would lose up to £30,000.

“The marquees are all up, we’ve taken over 1,00 entries for livestock, dogs, sheep… everything was in place and ready to go,” Barbara Green said.

“But we had a crisis meeting today after hearing the weather forecast and unfortunately after so much rain and more to come – including on the day itself – there’s nothing we can do but cancel.

“We are very, very disappointed and it was a very hard decision to make as we have been planning it for the last year or so. But everyone’s been very understanding and we aim to be back next year.”

Prince of Wales

She said the society took a variety of factors into consideration before calling off the show, which claims to be the oldest in the UK and has the Prince of Wales as a patron.

The show, held in Brecon’s showground, was mainly made up of fields and had few footpaths, Ms Green said, so the ground was likely to become very muddy.

There was also the likelihood that many visitors would not attend and that some competitors would not turn up.

The show’s society feared it would end up having to pay more to tow away vehicles that became stuck in the fields, she said.

“This is the first time in the show’s 254-year history that it’s been cancelled because of the weather,” Ms Green added.

“It was called off once before in 2001 because of the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions. But the show went ahead fine the following year so we hope that will be the case this time.”

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The media spotlight has been on our summer forecast in the last week and here we clarify some of the misconceptions about the recent routine update to our forecast for this summer.

An important point to get across is that, even though our forecast is for rainfall to be near or above average in August there is still the possibility of some spells of fine weather at times through the month.

We acknowledge that the weather we have seen through July has been disappointing, especially after the fine weather through June and the heatwave at the end of June and beginning of July.

In April our seasonal forecast for the summer (June, July and August) stated that there was a 65% probability of a warmer-than-average and near- or drier-than-average summer. Our news release stated: “The coming summer is ‘odds on for a barbecue summer’…

“Although the forecast is for a drier and warmer summer than average it does not rule out the chances of seeing some heavy downpours at times. However, a repeat of the wet summers of 2007 and 2008 is unlikely.”

At no time did the Met Office state that Summer 2009 would be hot and dry throughout or forecast a ‘scorcher’.

Some facts:

* Since the start of the school holidays we have see above-average rainfall in some areas and temperatures generally above average.
* Many areas of the UK had a heatwave at the end of June.
* The hottest temperatures since the record-breaking month of July 2006, have already been recorded this summer. Many locations reached or exceeded 30 °C, with Wisley, Surrey recording the highest temperature of 31.8 °C.
* The first half of this summer has not been as wet as 2007 and 2008. June had 87% of the average rainfall.
* The Wimbledon tennis championships were virtually rain-free, providing the best weather at the tournament since 1995. The Glastonbury Festival was also mostly dry, the Ashes Test Matches and the Open golf all saw largely dry and sunny conditions.
* July, so far, has seen warmer-than-average temperatures and above-average rainfall in some areas.

Seasonal forecasting is a developing area of meteorology and, although these forecasts are nowhere near as accurate as our short-term forecasts, they do demonstrate some skill in predicting what may happen for a season ahead — if they are looked at over a number of years.

It is important that the Met Office, as well as others developing seasonal forecasting methods, do not stand still and continue to drive forward developments in seasonal forecasting and climate change. We have seen vast improvements in our short-range forecasting over the last 50 years due to our continuing research programme and we are confident that we will continue to see improvements in our seasonal forecasts as well.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090731.html

The tournament which has run every year since 1983 will return in 2010

One of the top rugby sevens tournaments in Wales has fallen victim to the rain for the first time in its history.

The Cwmtawe 7s, which was due to kick-off in Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley on Saturday, has been cancelled.

Organisers said the pitches were unplayable and vehicles could not get on site to set-up the marquees, sound systems, toilets, fencing and catering.

The pre-season tournament attracted teams from south Wales and beyond, including the holders the British Army.

The 7s has been held every year since its inception in 1983.

The organising committee blamed “the heavy and persistent rainfall throughout July.”

It said the decision followed a pitch inspection by Neath Port Talbot council and the tournament referees.

“With more rain forecast for Friday and Saturday the Cwmtawe 7s has reluctantly no option but to cancel the tournament for the first time in its history,” said the organisers.

“Whilst we are all disappointed with this outcome, we can assure all affected parties that the tournament will be back at Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, on Saturday, 7 August 2010.”

• The one-day Brecon County Show, which was also due to start on Saturday, has also been cancelled for the first time in 254 years because of the weather.

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A WET winter is in store for Weston – weather experts are predicting.

The Met Office has released a statement saying it is expecting a higher than average amount of rain later on in the year.

The latest disappointing news follows a very wet July, after predictions by many that the area would be in for a scorcher of a summer.

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED30%20Jul%202009%2015%3A29%3A07%3A900

24hr Graph for 30th July 2009

Average temperature = 15.2°C
Average humidity = 83%
Average dewpoint = 12.2°C
Average barometer = 1018.5 mb
Average windspeed = 6.4 mph
Average gustspeed = 13.2 mph
Average direction = 277° ( W )
Rainfall for month = 224.3 mm
Rainfall for year = 688.7 mm
Rainfall for day = 13.9 mm
Maximum rain per minute = 2.6 mm on day 30 at time 09:04
Maximum temperature = 19.5°C on day 30 at time 16:21
Minimum temperature = 12.1°C on day 30 at time 09:37
Maximum humidity = 97% on day 30 at time 07:14
Minimum humidity = 64% on day 30 at time 17:44
Maximum pressure = 1022.9 mb on day 30 at time 23:22
Minimum pressure = 1012.2 mb on day 30 at time 00:03
Maximum windspeed = 15.0 mph on day 30 at time 14:27
Maximum gust speed = 32 mph from 315 °( NW) on day 30 at time 14:27
Maximum heat index = 24.5°C on day 30 at time 17:44

The flight was struck on its way to Edinburgh

A passenger flight turned around after being struck by lightning shortly after take-off from Manchester Airport.

The BMI flight to Edinburgh was hit during a thunderstorm and the captain made the decision to return to the airport as a precaution.

No-one was injured in the incident at about 0730 BST and 17 passengers on board the aircraft took the next available flight.

Engineers later assessed the aircraft for any damage.

A BMI spokesman said: “Flight BD381 from Manchester to Edinburgh suffered a lightning strike shortly after take-off.

“As a precaution the captain decided to return to Manchester for aircraft checks.

“All passengers disembarked safely and were accommodated on the next flight to Edinburgh.”

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