In June of 1947,British Pathévisited brothers John and Dennis Bartlett , professional weather forecaster who claimed to be " 80 percent accurate " and to have known all about the magnificently frigid wintertime of 1947 . Here , they are enlisted to find Britain ’s " proverbial one - week summertime . "
There ’s something decidingly un - British about their cockiness , but mamma Bartlett did n’t raise any saphead .
Or did she ?
You talk a self-aggrandising game , Bartlett brothers — but can you back it up ? You ’re about to get fact - check , 67 days into the future .
wager you did n’t see this come , chaps .
July:
Bartlett Brothers Prediction:“The first week of July , thunderstorm . The middle two weeks , fine and gay . Two thunderstorm . And the last week will be bright and fairly seemly again . "
Actual Weather:“July 1947 — A rather warm calendar month , with a cool enchantment 5th-11th ; frequent , and at times severe , thunderstorms … thunderstorm come about rather oftentimes , mainly on the first , 8th-9th , eleventh , 14th-19th , 22nd-23rd and 28th-29th . Those on the 15th-16th and 28th were widespread and life-threatening locally . " ( Monthly Weather Report of the Meteorological Office )
Those middle two weeks were anything but " fine and sunny , " Bartlett bros . You burn out it . I ’m sure there are some soak besotted holiday - goers on Brighton Beach who ’d like to have a word with you ( assuming they are still alive , which is improbable ) .
August:
Bartlett Brothers Prediction:“Well , it ’s get going to be very very disappointing . Heavy downpours of rain . thunderstorm . It ’s going to be distinctive for this calendar month . I do n’t remember it ’s going to be a very good month at all , August . Very dissatisfactory . That ’s the skillful way to tally it up . "
Actual Weather:“August 1947 — An exceptionally spicy , ironic and sunny calendar month …. In England and Wales it was the driest August on record . " ( Monthly Weather Report of the Meteorological Office )
" The calendar month was unprecedented ( for fine weather ) for over 75 years over practically the whole of the British Isles — only surpassed by August 1995 . " ( ' Weather , ' February 2013 )
It ’s easy to sit in a sunny meadow and pass ovals on maps for the camera , Bartlett bros . , but when the violent storm of truth comes seethe in , it rain down all over your parade . Doubt you brought an umbrella . Sorry to slip your thunder . When it rain down it pours , huh ? Maybe you should ’ve keep your heads out of the clouds . And so on and so off .
