Colwyn Bay DCNN 7607 – Set in a perfectly natural environment?

53.29095 -3.71465 Met Office Assessed CIMO Class 4 (?) Installed 1/1/1929

I have deliberately pulled out this image to fully show the environment in which the weather station is set. Whilst in my previous post on Strathallan I felt the CIMO rating of Class 4 was harsh and it was almost a class 1 candidate, I am frankly astonished this Colwyn Bay site is even bothered with at all. The Class 4 rating is an absurdity.

Focusing in to get a clearer image of the screen involves going back in time through historic images which predate the construction of the artificial turf pitch to the east of the screen. – bear this addition in mind.

There is now so much construction surrounding this site that it is not possible to get a street view image of it, however with containers, pathways, a running track stadium building, astroturf sports pitch etc, is the Met Office really trying to claim this conforms to vegetation and ground cover typical of the locality. I have no doubt whatsoever that the Met Office will defend this site as meeting “requirements” by getting out the tape measure so I will save them the time. Here are the terms and conditions.

And here is the site with a 10 metre radius.

Hey presto it is less than 50% so it can be called Class 4 despite being totally unacceptable to any reasonable minded meteorologist let alone the general public. It is also less than 30% in a 3 metre radius but who would give credibility to readings from all the above? Well nobody who saw what also goes on at this place. Image below courtesy of streetview images or maybe its from “Where’s Wally“. Play “Spot the Stevenson Screen” here……it’s in there!

Yes the “Stadiwm CSM” regularly hosts concerts, major sporting events and the likes. I have been assured that sitting up on the bank alongside the weather station is a really good vantage point. This is very reminiscent of the former Cheltenham Montpelier Park 1990 all time record high temperature where a fete and concert were being held on that self-same day. Apparently thousands of humans, on site catering, volume car parking and the occasional bit of high jinks makes no difference to the readings.

Another quality weather site (on a par with the souvenir of Innsbruck pictoral thermometer in my conservatory) funded by the UK taxpayer.