Dried mud in your eye

A Great Dust Storm

While looking at ABC's lack of reporting of failed weather forecasts, here's another forecast for the diary...
Australian dust storm could be weeks away

"An earth scientist says another major dust storm over south-eastern Australia is likely within weeks."

This is no surprise given the frequency of dust storms in Australia. See for instance this report titled "Severe Dust Storms" from the Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 27 September, 1938.

We'll look back in four weeks time to see how this particular forecast faired.

Long term forecasts?

ABC HEADLINE:  "Qld facing severe storm season" News online 21 September 2010
ABC REPORTED: ABC reported on comments made by Queensland's Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts who says "long-term weather forecasts show the state could be facing its worst storm season in years."
THE COMPLAINT: Can ABC clarify which long term forecasts were being referred to? Why didn't ABC's reporter ask the question?
A quick check of the BOM website indicates this years forecast are yet to be released:

"Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Outlook for Queensland

The tropical cyclone season extends from November to April. The outlook for the 2010/11 tropical cyclone season will be issued in October 2010."See http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/cyclone/seasonal/

OUTCOME: Pending
COMMENT: Another example of "Faith in Authority". Where's the evidence?