Make weathermen who get it wrong pay, say seaside councillors

Monday 09 July 2012

Weather forecasters should be 'made to pay' for getting it wrong because mistakes cost companies 'hundreds of thousands of euros' on a daily basis, according to Labour councillors in the seaside town of Hoek van Holland.

Rain and thunderstorms were predicted for Hoek van Holland on Wednesday and Thursday last week but the weather turned out to be warm and sunny. However, the councillors claim tourists stayed away because of the forecast, hitting local firms.

The councillors say local businesses should be compensated for the error, and want the town council to submit damages claims to the weather bureaus.

Nos weatherman Gerrit Hiemstra said in a reaction that it is 'impossible' to give a specific forecast for individual towns. 'We'd like to do it, but the atmospheric conditions at the moment make it very unpredictable.'

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