OK this is to let y'all know that The UK's longest-serving weather forecaster Michael Fish broadcasts for the last time on BBC television on Wednesday. After 32 years on the nation's screens, his moustachioed face is synonymous with weather forecasting but he has never lived down his comments prior to the 1987 storms.

Apparently his final broadcast will be after tonight's 10 o'clock news.

:ok:

G'luck Mr Fish ... in more ways than one you brought colour to TV weather forecasting!! :E

Never knew nothing no how. Us weather watchers find the Beeb a v poor source of info. Current forecast down here? NW @<hidden> 4mph.

Current wx? SW Blowing a freakin hooley.:suspect:

I've seen his house, nice little place in Twickers.

... but he has never lived down his comments prior to the 1987 storms.
I'm intrigued. What did he say that he could never live down?

Something along the lines of "someone has just phoned the Beeb saying they'd heard that there was a hurricane coming - don't worry, there isn't"

That night was one of the windest on record in the south of England.

Although apparently the winds never reached hurricane force, but a million fallen trees might disagree with that.

He dismissed out of hand on prime time national television that a widely predicted storm (was it a hurricane?) would affect the British Isles.

Bear in mind severe weather is extremely rare in our part of the world, and that the '87 storm were certainly the most powerful in my 28 year living memory.

He dismissed out of hand on prime time national television that a widely predicted storm
He dismissed a hurricane. He did warn of severe, stormy weather. What happened was not a hurricane but severe, stormy weather.

Years of tabloid style stupidity built the myth.

It's sad to see him go. I like his style. Some of these weather folks became stars in their own right, but have never been employed on 'meeja' salaries. They are civil servants on around 35k a year (plus dress allowance).

I slept through the 1987 'hurricane' -- with bedroom window open.

The slightest bit of severe weather in Blighty and everyone goes ape!

Try a Number 10 in Macau!!!

Not only that, but IIRC Mr Fish was responding to a call from a worried viewer who thought a hurricane about to hit the US would affect the UK. He re-assured her that that hurricane wouldn't come here...which was true. He then went on to warn of the severe, story weather which was also true!

As eal401 says, years of tabloid myth. Still, we've all learnt on PPRuNE not to believe what we read in the papers...haven't we?

The best bit is that he is a proper 'forecaster'. Not a large breasted dolly who just reads an autocue. Although they do have their uses...:ok:

He is a great guy (I met him at Bracknell Met office a few years back) - one of the 'old school'. He and Ian Mc Caskell were my favorites.

Guys like this - real meteorologists who aren't afraid to show pressure charts on daytime TV - are being replaced by useless 'wally weather' presenters who wouldn't know an occlusion from an inversion - or the likely results on the weather of either.

Farewell Michael - you will be sadly missed by PPLs and weather watchers everywhere.

SSD

Thirty two years of weather forecasting. Isn't that longer than an airline pilots career?

Good luck Michael, just watched your last forcast with deep regret. As my flying instructor keeps reminding me, "the most important factor in my decision to go flying, is the weather"

"the most important factor in my decision to go flying, is the weather"

I absolutely agree, Gingernut , except that I spell it "Whether"

Good luck, Michael Fish, I think we will see you again.