If you're involved with Bat Surveys, you'll know the importance of having a reliable record of weather data.

Scottish Natural Heritage have produced best practice guidance for developers and planners to ensure that onshore wind energy developments post minimal risk to bats.

Section 5.2.6 states: Weather data including wind speed, temperature and rainfall are important for the interpretation of bat activity data, and should be recorded nightly for all types of bat survey. The use of automated weather meters is strongly encouraged, and it is suggested that more than one unit is deployed per site to allow for equipment failures.

See the full guidance on the nature.scot website

We have many customers who find a 

Firstly, to cover off measuring the actual depth of snow. By far the simplest method is to use a ruler! Remember that its just an indication of how much snow is on the ground, not how much snow has actually fallen, much may have melted or sublimated (evaporated, which can occur in very dry, sunny or windy conditions). Find a flat area (such as your lawn) away from drifts or any obstacle likely to have caused an obstruction to falling snow; even trees and bushes 2-3 metres away can create areas of uneven depth, especially when it has been windy. We measure to the nearest cm and report the snow depth at least once a day, at 09Z, if possible.

The amount of snow can also be measured by what is known as its 'water equivalent'. The problem is that unless you've got a heated rain gauge (and the UK Met Office does use these), any snow will not drip through into the tipping bucket mechanism either at all or at the time corresponding to that in which in fell in, unless it is very wet. If too

As could be seen in part two of this potted history, the Admiralty was reasonably well prepared for the onset of hostilities. Four years previously, in 1935, documents were produced authorising aircraft carriers, battleships and larger cruisers to be equipped according to their status and advising on the location of the Met Office and balloon shelter; also the siting of certain crucial, and delicate, meteorological instruments in order that they were able to function in the desired manner.

As could be seen in part two of this potted history, the Admiralty was reasonably well prepared for the onset of hostilities. Four years previously, in 1935, documents were produced authorising aircraft carriers, battleships and larger cruisers to be equipped according to their status and advising on the location of the Met Office and balloon shelter; also the siting of certain crucial, and delicate, meteorological instruments in order that they were able to function

We may find a number of elements causing problems outside in the garden during the winter months. These include frost, and penetrating cold, high winds, heavy snow and heavy rain causing waterlogged ground.

Usually dry winters present the least problem, not least because even a dry winter sees far less water loss through evaporation and transporation than even a mid autumn month. However, with dry winters can come chill northerly or easterly winds of course. Whilst very cold weather is often blamed for plant loss, in fact it's usually the combination of the wind with very cold temperatures. Such early cold in November and early December is particularly problematic, as deciduous plants are very  vulnerable then- because they are not yet fully dormant. Longer periods of severe weather (of more than a week) will also likely be damaging later in the winter. It is possible to minimise the damage likely by both wind and penetrating cold, though.

Strong

The meteorologist’s skills as used during WW1 must have been of use, particularly to the Royal Navy aviation world as once hostilities ceased, for those officers who had a particular interest in the weather; cessation did not appear to be an option. Although the majority of their work was done, these intrepid future RN Forecasters continued using their knowledge alongside their other duties on board ship.

At this time it did not really occur to anyone that these skills could be transferred to the shore bases where a few planes were still based. True most of the aerodromes had been transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force, but now that the Naval Air Service (NAS) had disbanded, Royal Naval Air Stations (RNAS) were beginning to come into being, after all aircraft carriers were beginning to come into their own and when the ships were not at sea or were being refitted it was necessary to store the planes somewhere. Most of these stores were part of