http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/weather/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Weather-the-new-taboo/ Remember when weather was the most neutral topic in the world? The topic you’d turn to when all avenues of small talk were exhausted? Not any more. That notion now belongs in an age when dinosaurs may or may not have roamed the world, depending on whether you buy the science. Weather is the new religion. The new politics. It’s the new black-listed topic that you dare not broach at dinner parties for fear of turning a pleasant occasion feral. Feral was pretty much the tone this week, after I tackled the issue of the heavy March rainfall in SE Australia. My innocuous story last Friday was picked up by my senior News Ltd colleague Andrew Bolt, who proceeded to give me quite the intellectual shakedown on Monday, with another on Tuesday for good measure. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Weather-the-new-taboo/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Weather-the-new-taboo/#item7953 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-frogs-are-croaking-but-dont-blame-climate-change/ On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-frogs-are-croaking-but-dont-blame-climate-change/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-frogs-are-croaking-but-dont-blame-climate-change/#item7910 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sydney-people-are-such-sooks-about-the-weather/ You know you’ve officially become a Sydneysider when you become obsessed with “The Southerly”. When’s it due? Why hasn’t it got here yet? It’s reached the airport - bloody-well hurry up. In Sydney, having the Bureau of Meteorology as your homepage is not considered weird. We’ve been bitching and moaning for months about how wet it is, how cold it is, how we wanted to spend Christmas at the beach but it raaaaiiined. Then yesterday in Sydney we had our first day over 30 degrees for the summer, and last night it didn’t get down below 25.5 degrees at Observatory Hill. You’d think this event would be welcomed with wild celebrations yes? Not in Sydney. Today we’re all soooo tiiiirrred because none of us could sleep properly. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sydney-people-are-such-sooks-about-the-weather/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sydney-people-are-such-sooks-about-the-weather/#item7645 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-03-01-2011/ A few talkers for the start of the working week. 1) If you live in Sydney or Brisbane: how great is this weather? If you live in Melbourne or Adelaide: I hope you’ve got the AC on, a bottle of water next to you and a personal servant to handfeed you grapes, because I hear it’s scorching. Suckers. 2) If Seinfeld had been on air in the early eighties, you’d bet the press would’ve been calling Queensland’s state government the Seinfeld administration if this story had came to light a little earlier: The Bjelke-Petersen cabinet spent time discussing whether toilet doors should uniformly swing inwards or outwards, some recently released records show. Personally, I’m agnostic when it comes to this contentious debate. I just wish somebody would fix the second cubicle door in The Punch’s male bathroom. The lock has been broken for months and the door won’t stay shut! Bah humbug. 3) Please welcome back to The Punch the exceptionally talented Tory Maguire. A longtime newswoman, Tory has rejoined the team after some time off taking care of her young bub. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-03-01-2011/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-03-01-2011/#item7464 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ICB-Hey-weatherman-just-tell-me-if-I-need-a-jacket/ I freely admit that in the past few years I’ve remained unable to acclimatise properly to this beautiful country’s extremes, occasionally moaning either about the heat or the cold—when back home I’d break out the deckchair and whack a hanky on my head the minute the clouds broke. At present we’re at the start of an Australian winter. For me, that should rightly be like an English summer. And while there are some truly gorgeous days cropping up now and then, you just can’t tell how it’s going to pan out. My main beef is with the wind chill factor. Or lack of it. That’s right, people who report the weather, I said wind. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s out there, even now, blowing shit around. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ICB-Hey-weatherman-just-tell-me-if-I-need-a-jacket/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ICB-Hey-weatherman-just-tell-me-if-I-need-a-jacket/#item6039 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-much-weather-porn-can-we-watch/ I have lived in Tully and Innisfail and survived cyclones when I resided there. I was evacuated in the recent Brisbane floods for five days but fortunately the water surrounding my house stopped just before it entered. I am currently in North America and been bombarded with weather warnings about the “Snow storm of the century” I admit that during the time that Cyclone Yasi was crossing the North Queensland coast I was listening to ABC radio here in North America on the internet as I was concerned for the welfare of friends and relatives living there. The aim of a severe weather warning is to prevent a weather hazard from becoming a disaster. I am amazed however at the national extent of the weather hysteria devoted by the media and politicians both here and in Australia when accurate and credible warnings for potentially affected areas are all that are required. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-much-weather-porn-can-we-watch/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-much-weather-porn-can-we-watch/#item5072 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/when-a-change-in-the-weather-affects-the-political-climate/ ``Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you,’’ goes the much loved Crowded House song. But if you’re in politics, it’s more often the weather which takes you and its colossal force can sweep you away. Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott should remember this because climate and climate related politics have shaped many a political turn over the years. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/when-a-change-in-the-weather-affects-the-political-climate/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/when-a-change-in-the-weather-affects-the-political-climate/#item5113 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-real-city-rivalry-melbourne-perth/ Returning home for summer is a continuing novelty for me. This may be explained in part by the fact the Melburnian summer exists only in myth, much like the unicorn or Dennis Lillee. Compared to the glorious and endless parade of 35-degree days in Perth, the southern capital is a pale and moody slouch.  Yes, it may be the cultural, sporting, and nightlife epicentre of the nation, but not even Events Victoria could poach a decent summer. Rain outside of winter does not make for happy tidings. As Thom Yorke croaked: “everything in its right place”. And that means, Melbourne, keep the damp in July and open up the summer goody bag sometime around December. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-real-city-rivalry-melbourne-perth/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-real-city-rivalry-melbourne-perth/#item5002 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-weather-bureau-for-dud-forecasts/ Everyone loves to bag the weatherman. But the cold, hard truth of the matter is that weather forecasts have become extremely reliable. It’s everyone else who gets it wrong. By “everyone else” I mean both the general public and the media. As messengers, the media often over-simplify the bureau’s raw data to the point of abstraction, while the public takes the game of Chinese Whispers a step further, wildly misinterpreting the media’s already-distorted forecasts. It happens every day. A forecast that says “slight chance of a shower” becomes an umbrella icon on a ditzy weather presenter’s weather chart, which the public then read as a certain deluge. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-weather-bureau-for-dud-forecasts/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-weather-bureau-for-dud-forecasts/#item4656 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/top-australian-scientists-agree-the-climate-is-changing/ More extremely hot days fewer cold ones; wetter in the north and drier in the south of the country; sea levels higher around the country: this is not a forecast for Australia’s climate but a snapshot of the changes to our climate now. The thousands of scientists working for both the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology have been studying and observing the many changes underway to our climate and, as a result, our weather for a number of years now. Who hasn’t wondered recently what is going on with the weather? penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/top-australian-scientists-agree-the-climate-is-changing/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/top-australian-scientists-agree-the-climate-is-changing/#item2626 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 On February 7, the National Climate Centre announced Australia just had its wettest two years on record. It’s dangerously wet again in SE Australia this week. Many towns have had over half their annual rainfall in February alone. Some are going under. But all this rain has very little to do with climate change, according to Dr Karl Braganza of the National Climate Centre (NCC). “This sort of rainfall occurred in south east Australia in the early 70s. We have had two La Nina events in a row just like we did in 1973 and ’74, so it’s far too early to say whether there is a link to climate change.”