The Beijing weather bureau apologized to the public on Thursday
for making incorrect temperature forecasts for three consecutive
days and vowed to improve their accuracy for the 2008 Olympics.
The Beijing Meteorological Observatory has been widely
criticized after giving erroneous temperature forecasts from Sunday
to Tuesday. The temperature it forecast for Tuesday was a full 6.2
degrees Celsius higher than the actual temperature and 5 degrees
higher than on Sunday.
The false forecasts have triggered harsh words from Beijingers
and some are doubtful if the meteorological departments will be
able to produce a reliable forecasting service during the
Olympics.
"Accurate weather forecasting will play a key role in hosting a
successful Olympic Games and we started preparations in 2002 to
improve our accuracy," said Ding Deping, director of Beijing
Meteorological Observatory.
"However, Beijing's weather often fluctuates in July and August
and it poses a big challenge for Chinese meteorologists to forecast
correctly during the Olympics," said Ding.
The Beijing Olympics will run from August 8 to 24, the month
where the city sees about 40 to 50 percent of its annual
precipitation.
The timing of the apology is nothing short of embarrassment for
Beijing meteorological officials. On Wednesday, chief weatherman
Sun Jisong of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said, "Normally,
weather services only tell people the possibility of rainfall,
rough estimates of wind scale and temperature. During the Olympics,
we will forecast the exact time of rainfall and be accurate to
within minutes," Sun said.
It is not clear how far in advance weather forecasters will be
able to issue forecasts for specific Olympic venues.
Deputy chief engineer Wang Yubin, with the Beijing
Meteorological Bureau, said, "Issuing weather forecasts over the
Olympics will be very labor intensive and will require considerable
expertise by local forecasters. But a shortage of skilled
weathermen will be a major hindrance."
Hundreds of experienced weathermen will be loaned out to the
Beijing Meteorological Bureau to cope with the 17-day event, the
Beijing Daily has reported.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2007)