-Weather.com doesn't have to buy new computers for 10-day forecasts. They just use the MRF (medium range forecast) model provided by National Center for Environmental Prediction, which is a 10-day model.
-Medium range forecasting may not so good now, but the models are constantly upgraded. Its important to have an operational model to further improve future models.
-The model run by the UK forecasts for the entire globe or Northern Hemisphere if I'm not mistaken. I know it has output for the states. I don't know if the Brits have the most accurate weather prediction in the world.
-I just don't like it when people bash meteorolgists. The guys on TV may suck, but that shouldn't bring down the rest of us scientists.
-Finally, I leave with the Recipe for Disaster, or, The Forecaster's Excuse
Take a large, almost round, rotating sphere 8000 miles in diameter,
Surround it with a viscous atmosphere of gases mixed with water vapor,
Tilt its axis so it wobbles back and forth with respect to a source of heat and light,
Freeze it at both ends and roast it in the middle,
Cover most of its surface with liquid that constantly feeds vapor into the atmosphere as the sphere tosses billions of gallons up and down to the rhythmic pulling of a captive satellite and the sun:
Then try to predict the conditions of that atmosphere over a small area within a 5 mile radius for a period of one to five days in advance!!
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