that's the weather, for now

14th December

National Weather Forecast
Blimey, when I said I hoped these forecasts would become a regular feature, I wasn't expecting them to be daily. Not complaining mind.

To go with the swishy new graphics, they now have a green-screen. Chroma key!
Makes it look just like a studio-based forecast.

I'd have thought Dan would've been a little more excited, but serious weather = serious Dan; heavy rain brought flooding to northern parts of the South Island.

Think of it like taking a sponge, you push it against a wall and all the moisture comes out [some off-screen gesturing here].

There's video, below UPDATE: March 2012 - MetService recently deleted all their old video forecasts from their YouTube account.

Flooding in Nelson
Wait, what's this? Yet another extreme weather event in New Zealand?

Dan appeared on TVNZ's Breakfast to discuss the flooding. Forward to around 3m 40s.

Almost imagine taking a sponge and you push it against a wall.

It's not like we can flick a switch and say, 'nasty rain band, go away!'

He's mentioned in the NZ Herald:

"It's just a pipeline of rain coming in from the Tasman," Mr Corbett said. "Instead of the weather going straight through, it's just piling in - almost like somebody with a strong garden hose continuing to spray it on the area."

and on stuff.co.nz:

MetService's Daniel Corbett said the high had been like a big boulder in a stream blocking the flow.

13th September

Rugby World Cup
Three new Rugby World Cup forecast videos today, all embedded below. UPDATE: March 2012 - These videos are no longer available; MetService recently deleted all their old video forecasts from their YouTube account.

Hailmageddon
I'm beginning to get suspicious about how many extreme weather events have been happening in New Zealand since Dan moved there.

The latest is 'Hailmageddon', as explained in this 3News video (Dan is 1 minute in).

It’s what we call an upper level short wave in the atmosphere. Think of it like a piece of energy as it squeezes the clouds, [presses hands together in squeezing gesture - see pic], squeezes out the moisture and, in this case, developed quite a thunderstorm that was so intense it was actually able to develop this hail.

There's a similar ~ism in the Wairarapa Times-Age, where Dan is quoted as saying,
Think of it as a pair of hands squeezing the clouds together.

catchup

13th August
On TVNZ, Dan warns of an impending polar blast [42s in]:
Think of it like a layer of treacle that is oozing down from the poles.

15th August
Dan was interviewed about the snow in Wellington by the New Zealand Herald. Here's the video on their website.

Loved the clips of kids sledging on a light dusting of snow.

He also features on a couple more TVNZ videos. First up; Breakfast:

You have to almost think of these polar outbreaks ... like having a layer of treacle that sits at the top of the poles and somebody just gives it a bit of a nudge and it just starts to ooze. In this case, instead of it oozing it's just gone, brrr, straight across much of New Zealand.

Surges of moisture:
Like spokes on a bicycle wheel.

You can't always say we're done with winter until the fat lady sings.

Next, Close Up:

Dan explains what graupel is:
Anyone out with maybe a magnifying glass would've looked at it [gestures doing so - see pic], it didn't have the lovely pretty shapes.

Presenter Mark Sainsbury mentions that Dan has come from the Beeb.
Dan: I've only been in the country for about six to eight weeks so people said when I first arrived the weather was fairly quiet. So literally, I've been here six, eight weeks and to have the outbreak we had in July and now the one in August and people today were tapping me on the shoulder and saying, 'is it something you've brought with you?'.

Jim Hickey [TV One forecaster]: I'm gonna get you re-orientated Daniel, because when we had the last outbreak you mentioned, and I like the turn of phrase, you talked about this cold snap being like treacle oozing, he said oozing down from the pole, and I'm thinking, 'are you still in the northern hemisphere?' we talk about it oozing up in this part of the world, so get yourself sorted will you mate.

Is it just me, or does he do it again moments later?
Dan: The polar vortex [cups hands together as if holding an invisible cup] which is that area of cold air that sits above the poles, I use the analogy to think of it as a layer of treacle, it just sits there and most of the time it's pretty happy just sort of wobbling around. But just imagine giving it a bit of a shove and it just weakens the edge of it and if you vice it enough of a shove and it just starts to ooze towards areas to the south.

Mark: Daniel, tomorrow, where would you not want to be?

Dan: Well, that depends, Mark. Would I want to be building a snowman or would I want to be sitting in my t-shirt and shorts?

Mark: Who is going to be hit the hardest?

Dan: Well, it's not going to be a picnic for anyone.

It's not a picnic by any means. It's going to be an icy blast but I think we'll all say let's put a big check [ticks] next to Thursday or Friday on the calendar and we'll say when they come we'll all have smiles on our faces because we can kick the polar blast out the back door and say goodbye to it.

Dan also appears on this 3 News video [1 minute in] about the record-breaking weather:
The way it's been going you'll probably need long lists and pieces of paper in the sense of not only snow amounts and places that haven't seen snow for a long time.

Finally, Dan talks to Marcus Lush on Radio Live. Speaking of weather systems:
There are several more, almost like buses lined up in a queue waiting to pull into a bus station, they just keep coming.

16th August
Dan talks to Marcus Lush on Radio Live again:
You almost think of a bicycle wheel, you have spokes on the bicycle wheel. This weather system, instead of it just being one big lump or one spoke, it's been several spokes or areas of moisture.

The high pressure which has been sitting, waiting, saying 'come on, give me a chance' it finally builds in and sort of slowly kicks the backside of this nasty weather system out of the way.

17th August
Peter Gibbs tweets:

Just had chat with ex colleague Dan Corbett on 5Live, now in New Zealand. Threatening to send him back cos he's brought British weather.

Many thanks to my lovely friend, Heather, for the recording his appearance on 5Live's Up All Night for me.

The funny thing is, since I've been here, about two months or so, they've actually said, 'our weather was fine until you arrived.'

What's a polar outbreak?
It's just an oozing layer of treacle, the cold air.

You can imagine everyone just sort of dressed like the Abominable Snowman.

Describing a block:
You take a car and it just sort of sits there, it spins its wheels in the sand or the mud and it doesn't move.

18th August
Powder Watch
Ridge of high pressure builds in, settles things down, it takes this weather system and just gives it a boot out the back door [does he gesture doing so?].

If you're going with the neighbours maybe skiing or they say they're going, yeah, they'll have a good time.

Bear in mind extra layers, particularly when you're sitting on that lift if you're going up you'll be [huddles] a-he! Very cold as you finish off.

So you're going skiing, you're already thinking, maybe licking your chops.

19th August
Weekend Weather
At least you won't be like that [touches head] with the hat.

Crunchy, cold, frosty [steps].

Temperatures overnight will go, chmmm, straight down.

Another cold, frosty night, great night for a fire.

Temperatures will finally recover so you'll start peeling off those abominable snowman layers [gestures doing so].

4th April

Tornado risk in the United States
"BBC Weather's Daniel Corbett looks at the likelihood of tornadoes striking the eastern United States this week, and the conditions that are making their formation possible."

North America
The greens, the yellows, like I've had some crayons out, but these are the heavier cells [brief scribbling gesture - see pic].

18th February

Again, Dan may not be on the following videos for much longer, so catch him while you can!

North America
It's like, hehehe, shaking a snow shaker of sorts [salt-cellar gesture].

Central America
Anyone heading there on holiday, make sure they pack the old sun lotion [rubs back of hand].

As we work through the night most of them that have bubbled up, they've gone. Vmmm, they go.

South America
Vmmm go the storms.

All this blue here, that's just those tropical showers that bubble up, and then by night, ooo, they've gone. But then by day, almost like you flick a gas switch, [ignition gesture] vvv, there they go, they're back.

Africa
That lump of colour there, like a big lump of cotton.

Asian Subcontinent and the Middle East
A peppering of snow, almost like a salt shaker being sort of done [?] like this [salt-cellar gesture].

Couldn't get a decent screengrab of the wonderful new salt-cellar ~ism, but got this one instead.

Tropical cyclones bring heavy rain to Australia
Another update on the cyclones in Australia.

BBC World
Another busy week at work meant that today was my first chance to investigate TVPC.com. Disappointingly, work's net-nanny filter blocks it, but I did manage to watch at home (but only on Safari, strangely).

I was home 'early' today (before 5.30pm, imagine that!) and managed to catch Dan giving a very brief whole world forecast at 5-to and 25-past the hour. No ~isms on the ones I saw but, as always, Dan is a pleasure to watch with or without them.

17th February

More World video forecasts again today.

Europe
Further north and east, notice how the temperatures go, feeeeeuuu [makes downward slide gesture], straight down.

The cold air is just sort of having a bit of a think.

The cold air is sitting there and it's sort of just thinking, hu-hurr, it's going to start sinking its way slowly south and west.

There's video of this forecast here which I can't seem to be able to embed.

North America
Prepare to be awed by Dan's genius:
Look at this area of white here. It's almost like you've just gone mad with a big white roller [energetic roller gesture], that's some decent snow for the Sierra Nevadas. You can see the skiers going, 'yeh-he-hey!' [shakes both fists in celebration].

L.A., probably standing at the bus stop with the old umbrella [umbrella gesture].

East and South-East Asia
The low winding up, vmmm, off it goes.

Working south and east we'll just see a smattering of showers, almost like you flick a few on the weather map like lumps of paint [flicking gesture].

British Forces News
For many of us across much of Europe, the warm parkas have probably been stashed to the back of the cupboard [coat-in-cupboard gesture].

Notice a few little specks of white, it's not like somebody with a salt shaker [gestures shaking salt cellar].

More cyclones batter Australia
Further news on the cyclones in Australia.

16th February

Hooray! Dan's back looking chirpy on the BBC World video forecasts.

Central America
Lumps of cloud, like lumps of cotton being thrown at the the weather map [throwing gestures].

Fine-looking weather for the deckchairs.

South America
The umbrellas will certainly be coming handy [umbrella gesture].

All the tropical moisture just, vmmm [ignition gesture], it bubbles to life through the day.

Quite a mass of blue, like we've just gone like that [painting gesture?] with an area of blue paint.

Australasia
For the most part they'll still have the deckchairs out on the beach, it'll be fairly pleasant.

Tropical cyclones hit Australia
Dan's special report on the latest storms to hit Australia.

15th December

UK Snow Update
Looks like many of us could be digging out the snow shovels and snow scrapers over the next couple of days.

You can see the cold Arctic air just coming in, oozing down like somebody's tipped some treacle on the weather map.

Watch it on the BBC Weather site.

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
We bring in a northerly wind and, as you've gone like that [throwing gesture?] shaking some talcum powder, but that is snow.

13:55 BBC News
Temperatures; like flicking a switch [gestures doing so], vmmm, they drop away.

There's video, below.
Daily Fail reporters: avert your eyes when he gets to Devon.

26th October

10:56 BBC News
A soggy day for us today, a day the ducks'll be smiling at the duck pond, if they could.

Fairly breezy; hold onto the hats [touches head] for the next couple of days.

There's video of this and the 11:57 Autumnwatch forecast below. Dan presents an additional Autumnwatch update on the BBC Weather site.

11:31 BBC News
The ducks'll be happy, they'll be swimming about through the day.

13:28 BBC News
It is mild, so you won't be bundled up [huddles] like that if you're at the bus stop over the next couple of days.

I think like that [umbrella gesture - see pic] at the bus stop with the umbrella in hand next couple of days.

Watch on the iPlayer, available for 24 hours from broadcast. Listen out for the rhyme.

19th October

10:55 BBC News
I tell you what, you know, I think over the next couple of nights, couple of days, you'll be certainly looking for the extra layers if you haven't already, the blanket on the bed.

Quite a chilly start; the old scraper [scraping gesture] will be out on the car in the morning.

Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven; these are the highs. So, Wednesday, it's sort of a day to be bundled up [huddles], a different sort of day.

11:57 BBC News
Autumnwatch!
Dan explains why the leaves change colour:

What happens is, the chlorophyll breaks down as the temperatures drop away at night.

So now you know.

You might be out with the old scraper on the car [scraping gesture].

There's video of this forecast below, and a different Autumnwatch update on the BBC Weather site.

Don't faint; I think I've FINALLY figured out how to contribute to those Autumnwatch sightings.

12:56 BBC News
The extra warm layers will certainly come in handy over the next couple of days.

That little line of cloud, that's the weather front that has eased through, now it's like, open the floodgates, vmmm [dropping gesture], down comes the cold, Arctic air.

So, ice-scrapers out in the morning [scraping gesture].

A chilly sort of day. You'll notice that as you step to the outside [unusual low parting curtains-esque gesture] and you'll be, 'pfffw, boy!'

13:29 BBC One and BBC News
I think we'll be grabbing the extra layers if we haven't done so already over the next twenty-four hours to say the least.

Look at the clouds. You see this swirl, the big 'U'? That's the cold air plunging south. Think of it like the floodgates opening and, whoosh, down comes the cold air.

Watch on the iPlayer, available for 24 hours from broadcast.

13:57 BBC News
A chilly night. You might be tempted to reach into the cupboard [gestures doing so] for two extra blankets.

What looks like speckles of blue paint just being thrown at the weather map [flicking gesture], one little cluster of showers here.

7th September

10:57 BBC News
Some of you have certainly been out through the night with some wellies.

11:27 BBC News
The air is fairly unstable so it's almost like turning on the gas stove, vvv [ignition gesture] they go, the showers.

11:57 BBC News
It's not been the day for the old picnic basket, it's been stashed in the back of the cupboard. More than likely the wet-weather gear.

You could at least manage some drier, brighter spells between some of the showers. You'll notice them when they come through [looks up], ho ho, there they are.

One of those days where you have your hand close to the old umbrella [umbrella gesture].

Of course, if you want to just check on the details for the weather, perhaps a picnic, [seems to suddenly recall the poor forecast], maybe not; go online. That's the weather, for now.

Am annoyed I pressed 'delete' instead of 'keep' on this one. Yay! Mike uploaded it - it's below.

12:56 BBC News
The showers ... lose their heating of the day and, vmmm, they're gone, bye bye.

We start off Wednesday with still probably the umbrella in your bag [brolly-in-bag gesture] as you head off to work.

13:29 BBC One and BBC News
Notice some of the darker blues, like we've gone mad with blue crayon [scribbling gesture].

We continue to bring in weather systems. The first one eases away, that's it there, off he goes, bye bye.

Northern Ireland deluge
Dan explains the recent wet weather in Northern Ireland.

You look at the calendar and look at your watch [gestures doing so] and say, 'this is early September?'.

24th August

10:56 BBC News
Catch your breath for a bit [holds chest], then the next weather system starts to work in.

Watch out for the course of Wednesday, put a circle next to that day on the old calendar [gestures doing so].

More details on the weather, it's a bit of a roller coaster ride [roller coaster gesture], perhaps you're planning that trip away, more details of course, just go online. That's the weather, for now.

11:57 BBC News
After a report about beach rescue dogs:
If you are going to be out with the dog for the afternoon, not a bad-looking day.

12:29 BBC News
You might want to think about the umbrella [umbrella gesture] just in case.

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
Quite a lump of rain. Bear it in mind if you're out driving, maybe taking family off for a holiday or something.

The weather has sort of been like a bit of a roller coaster ride; one weather system, another weather system. Picnic basket, where is that? I don't know.

I would send you to the iPlayer to watch this but, what a surprise, it isn't working It's working now, but who knows for how long.

13:57 BBC News
A quiet, dry night. Clearer spells, maybe a good old night for the telescope [looks up] or something.

There's video, below.

Why so wet?
Dan explains all in this video on the BBC Weather site.

15th August

Wow - Dan was absolutely on fire today! Loved every minute! Genius.

10:56 BBC News
If you watched the rain patter against the window panes yesterday, a better-looking day for the outside today, you might even be grabbing a picnic basket, you never know.

A dry start to Monday, a bit of a weather sandwich; one from one side, one from the other [indicates areas of rain at either end of the British Isles].

There's video, below.

11:30 BBC News
Better-looking afternoon for the most part, you should be in good shape. Maybe you've already been to the outside and gone, 'ooh yes, nice day'.

Monday is still a dry day but we're getting squeezed from both sides, two different weather systems. This chappie is going to win, he'll slowly barrel his way in.

There's video, below.

Country Tracks
Today might be the day many of us might get the sunglasses out. Over the course of the week the wet-weather gear will certainly come in handy.

It's almost like a weather sandwich; two bits of bread [indicates areas of rain at either end of the British Isles], in-between you've got the middle, that's the drier, brighter weather.

You will be grabbing the umbrella probably from time-to-time through the course of the week.

The first weather system to come in from the west is this one. You'll notice the other one, he'll be very close but I think this chap wins out, almost like a bull in a china shop saying, 'hmm, it's my turn' and he will come through [see pic]. Tuesday, put a tick next to it [ticking gesture] and just say, 'it is a wet day'.

There's video, below.

13:26 BBC News
Caution: this forecast is made of awesome.
After a piece about a car once owned by Diana Dors:
One of those days where you might want to be taking the open-topped car out, maybe sort of put a nice picnic basket in it and off you go.

Maybe you're out-and-about for a walk, say across parts of Kent, along the coast. That breeze there, just making you feel [looks up] ooh yes, I do notice it.

Our little ridge of high pressure just sits and nestles across the British Isles and gives us a fine day. Notice all that lump of blue there, like you've gone like that [painting gesture] with some blue paint and said, 'ha ha!'. That's quite a storm system, maybe you're sort of packing the kids in the car, heading over to the continent.

And then, bfff, here it comes [pushed in the weather system], wet weather. So Tuesday, it's going to be the umbrella day [umbrella gesture] if you're going to be out-and-about at the bus stop perhaps, or wherever you might be, heading out.

13:57 BBC News
If maybe you're out-and-about for that walk in the afternoon you should see numbers up around twenty or so.

Our ridge of high pressure just sort of sits here and sort of hangs out for the course of the day, gives us a fairly pleasant day. Notice the colour to the continent, like we've gone mad with the blue crayon [scribbling gesture].

This guy [the weather system off to the west], he's coming, watch him just spread his way in. Tuesday's the day you circle it [gestures doing so] and say, 'that's the umbrella day for sure'.

14:27 BBC News
We'll all be grabbing the umbrellas [umbrella gesture] as we work through the next couple of days.

It's a decent afternoon, fine for the outside, maybe the friends coming round, good-looking afternoon for the garden.

Almost looks like a bit of a weather sandwich of sorts ... our two little lumps of blue, our two slices of bread, in-between we've got the little sliver of high pressure. So it is a mainly fine, dry day but we are getting a bit of a squeeze, like taking the two bits of bread on a sandwich and going, chwww [gestures squashing it], like that.

So there it is [the weather system off to the west], this one just says, 'na-ha, I'm going to come in' - and he does.

Tuesday, big ring round it [gestures doing so] saying it's a wet day.

The plants will be smiling at least on Tuesday. Top numbers around twenty. That's the weather, for now.

Weather News
Thanks to @JamSeven for the heads up about a video on the BBC Weather site in which Dan tells us about heavy rain forecast for Italy.

Lumps of cloud spinning round like a big washing machine throwing round bits of clothing.

You can really see the colours there, like we've gone mad with some crayons [scribbling gesture].

25th June

10:55 BBC News
Brace yourselves for the full awesomeness of Dan.

You can already see some people sort of digging in the back of the cupboards [gestures doing so] for the bucket and spade.

The south-west wind just, vmmm [gestures pulling it in], bringing in the warmer air.

On the dry side, so maybe the plants in the garden are looking a bit like that [was this supposed to be a wilting plants impression? Judge for yourselves; there's video of this gem below], could use [was that a little chuckle?] perhaps the watering can.

Glastonbury;
You won't need the wellies [tramping gesture - for want of a better word].

The low that's sort of sitting out here spinning [spins hands] like a car in the mud, trying to work in a band of rain. Elsewhere it's just a mild night. Maybe a close night into a few spots. The fan might be going in the bedroom again, brrr [fan gesture], as it does.

Our ridge of high pressure sits in place like a big arm-wrestler and says, 'no, stay away'.

Area of low pressure to the north-west spinning round like a bit of a corkscrew.

11:56 BBC News
We'll all be looking for the bucket and the spade and if you are planning the outdoor plans for the weekend don't forget the old sun-lotion [rubs back of hand].

Glastonbury;
It won't be the wellies, more than likely you'll want to be wearing [?] the old sun-lotion [rubs back of hand].

Another close night, one of the nights where the old fan keeps going in the bedroom [fan gesture].

Vmmm [ignition gesture], into the afternoon, a few showers bubble up here and there.

There's the low spinning around like a car stuck in the mud.

12:27 BBC News
Certainly looks like it's going to be a weekend for the picnic baskets.

12:57 BBC News
Another close night for some of us, the fan is spinning in the bedroom [fan gesture] perhaps.

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
We'll all be looking in the back of the cupboard for that bucket and spade through the course of the weekend.

If you are going to Wimbledon, of course, by now the sun-lotion [rubs back of hand].

You'll probably have the old fan going in the bedroom [fan gesture], don't be surprised.

There is a risk for a few showers, but you look and say, 'well, where?'.

If you're going to Glastonbury, yes, sun-lotion [rubs back of hand] certainly, a sun hat.

Maybe even an ice-lolly [signing man gestures licking a lolly], you never know.

Watch on the iPlayer, available for 24 hours from broadcast.

13:55 BBC News
There is an area of low pressure, though, sitting to our north and our west ... but it's more-or-less sort of sitting in park, spinning its engine [spins his hands], not really moving in.

Cloud bubbling up looking a bit like Swiss Cheese.

Glastonbury;
The sun-lotion certainly coming in handy [rubs back of hand].

By now you've probably got the deckchairs into the garden [deckchair gesture].

One of those nights where you open the windows [gestures doing so] and go, [pulls face] 'uuurgh' with the yucky air coming in.

Will the hot weather last?
Dan answers this question in this short video over on the BBC Weather site.
It's certainly been the weather for ice-lollies and certainly not the umbrellas over the past few days.

15th June

11:56 BBC News
The final Springwatch forecast of the season?
High pressure comes in place and with that you'll be reaching for the picnic baskets.

Video, below.

Dan gives us a different Springwatch report online.
Autumnwatch next, apparently.

12:29 BBC News
Some of us might be tempted to grab a picnic basket over the next couple of days.

13:57 BBC News
A fine-looking afternoon. Maybe a trip to the outside, the park, very pleasant.

So next couple of days we've got some fine-looking weather, you never know, picnic basket. More details online. That's the weather, for now.

14th June

10:55 BBC News
I think you might be planning, maybe even sort of finding where that picnic basket is in the back of the cupboard.

A decent-looking Wednesday, maybe one of the next three days you put a tick on Wednesday [tick gesture] and say, 'yeah, it's a fine day'.

11:57 BBC News
The ridge of high pressure just sort of oozing its way in like a big balloon just sort of spreading out [expanding gesture] as you sort of pump it with air.

Wednesday, looks good. Decent-looking day; seventeen, eighteen, maybe a twenty. Good day for a picnic if you perhaps have the day off.

12:56 BBC News
The showers, bye bye to them.

Tuesday's a fine-looking day, it's one of the days where you probably stick a packed lunch into the bag [gestures doing so], enjoy it, a trip out to the park [signing bloke gestures eating a sandwich].

13:27 BBC One and BBC News
Some good-looking weather over the next couple of days. You never know, some of us might even be grabbing a couple of picnic baskets in the next few days.

We've had a lot of cloud in place, we've had that wet weather, but say goodbye to that, say hello to the brighter skies.

Ridge of high pressure sitting off to the west, here it comes, like you pump up a balloon [pumping gesture] and, vfff [expanding gesture], here it comes.

13:56 BBC News
Fine-looking weather for maybe sitting outside and watching some football or just, you never know, a trip to the park.

Our ridge of high pressure just sort of bending its way in ... like you pump it with air [pumping gesture] and, vmmm [expanding gesture], here it comes, there it sits for the next couple of days.

There's video, below.

Royal Ascot
Dan's forecast for Royal Ascot is over at the BBC Weather site.

7th June

It would be fair to say I wasn't having a very good day at work. Then I remembered Dan might be on, so I checked the online forecast, and it cheered me right up...

British Isles video forecast
If you're heading out-and-about you want to grab the wet-weather gear [umbrella gesture]. A couple of showers will work through, some heavier ones too, you might be caught beneath one so definitely keep the old umbrella in hand [umbrella gesture].

And you can see there's quite an extensive blue as well, like you've just sort of, fmmm [throwing gesture], gone like that with a big mass of blue paint.

This broad area of low pressure just sort of starts to work in and it's going to take up residence. Think of it like it's coming in and you shift the car into park [indescribable gesture - see pic, above] and it doesn't move.

So the numbers down and not sort of, huuurgh [another indescribable gesture - see pic] hot, sort of stifling as we finish off.

Dan looked very happy to be back.
And we're very happy to see him back.

14:27 BBC News
Oh dear, graphics fail. Not a good start. But Dan has an explanation:
You can see sometimes the graphics are a bit slow, it's getting into the afternoon [looks at watch], it probably needs its cup of tea.

It feels that bit fresher and not, urgh [I can't describe the accompanying gesture - watch the video, below to see it for yourself], as humid.

Heat of the day and, vvv [ignition gesture] there they go, the showers bubble up.

15:56 BBC News
It'll be one of those mornings, put the umbrella in the bag [gestures doing so], it'll probably come in use.

There'll be that risk for some showers over the next couple of days you're going to keep that umbrella fairly close to hand.

Twitter
I wasn't the only one pleased to see the return of Dan.
@CollectorManiac took a celebratory photograph:

Hurray! It's Dan Corbett! http://tweetphoto.com/26082464

Australasia
The extra layers certainly coming in handy across the south-eastern parts of Australia and New Zealand as well.

Let's see what he means...

Melbourne, you'll see the wet weather, notice the numbers tumble away [down to a nippy twelve degrees, bless 'em] and Wellington as well, keep the umbrella handy, and obviously a couple of extra layers too. That's the weather, for now.

UPDATE:
Thanks to @sirjamesuk for alerting me to this great video on the BBC Weather site of Dan talking about the heatwave in the States.

You look at the weather map to start with and nothing really jumps out at you and says, 'wow, look at that'.

More details on the weather, all sorts of weather if you like, just head online. That's the weather, for now.

18th May

10:56 BBC News
Almost one of those days where you want to start heading back to the outside with the packed lunch.

Video, below.

12:56 BBC News
Looks like all of us might be grabbing the picnic baskets over the next couple of days.

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
This time last week we had the warm coats on. These are a thing of the past.

13:56 BBC News
Some fine weather for the outdoor plans if you maybe are planning or thinking of it.

Looking rather nice in fact if you're going to be out-and-about for a walk in the park.

The energy moves through pretty quickly, so it's a big lump of blue and then it just goes, fwww [kind of sags], like that, fizzles out.

Volcanic ash / Springwatch
Dan's in a couple of videos on the BBC Weather site; a Dan-ism free volcanic ash update and also this week's Springwatch:

The spring over the past week has almost been hidden away [covering gesture - see pic].

17th May

10:56 BBC News
Fairly pleasant day, maybe even the picnic basket if you've got the day off.

11:56 BBC News
Things are getting better weather-wise for us over the next few days. I think we'll all put the deckchairs into the garden [deckchair gesture].

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
By the time we get to the end of the week, deckchairs into the garden [deckchair gesture], wouldn't be surprised.

13:57 BBC News
Jane Hill: We're full of beans here, full of beans. So's Dan Corbett, let's get the weather.

Dan: It's going to be nice at the end of the week, we'll be full of picnic baskets, you never know.

A few of the darker blues, like you go like that [scribbling gesture] with some blue marker.

There's video, below.

Volcano update
Here's Dan telling us about the predicted path of the ash cloud.

13th May

10:56 BBC News
Saturday's our good day, let's put a circle [draws circle in the air] round that day on the calendar and say, 'fine'.

11:28 BBC News
After a report on the €500 note, Jane Hill and Matthew Amroliwala have three such notes with them in the studio. Dan opens with,
I think Matthew's going to take us all out for lunch. It'll be a nice day in fact, the temperatures are warming up over the next couple of days, we might even be tempted to grab our picnic baskets.

11:57 BBC News
After a report about blue flag beaches:
Jane Hill: Let's fine out whether it's beach weather, hello Dan.

Dan: Hello, well Jane, maybe not this afternoon unless you perhaps are in the fleece, but over the next couple of days you never know we might just find that bucket and spade and the weather might actually be like that.

I think for Saturday it's a lovely day, you can put a tick next to it [ticking gesture] and say, 'this is a fine day'.

Video, below.

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
Those extra coats and things can get stashed to the back of the cupboard [gestures doing so].

Saturday is the day we put a tick [ticking gesture] next to it and say, 'a nice day'.

You never know, a couple of days, maybe a picnic basket.

13:55 BBC News
Well, I tell you, in a couple of days some of us might even be tempted to grab a bucket and spade.

Notice how the cloud just sort of looks like a piece of Swiss cheese here, just sort of bubbling up.

Friday's more-or-less going to be bits and pieces, like a bit of a weather sandwich. Bit of bread there and there, in-between you've got a weather front with some wet weather.

Saturday, might put a tick [ticking gesture] next to that day.

Cold snap to end?
On the BBC Weather site, Dan presents a short video on this very subject.

11th May

10:56 BBC News
Well, it's one of those days where, if you've been to the outside or perhaps planning to, it's cool in a few spots, you want to grab a coat ... and of course you do need an umbrella.

That's the view to the outside in Cuventry Coventry, cool with some showers for many of us through the day. Some of them are starting to go off here and there, almost like turning on the gas stove, vmmm [ignition gesture], there they go.

The old picnic baskets being probably stashed to the back of the cupboard [gestures doing so].

Video, below.

11:56 BBC News
Yay! Springwatch!
This week we look at the first flowering of the horse chestnut and we are starting to see these, maybe you've been out, perhaps to the park, and you've seen these sightings as well and reported them.

Well, I might report them if I knew how to. It's still unclear how to do so!

If you are going to be outside, maybe doing some sightings, you'll say, 'cor, I need my coat!'

There's video of this one, below - plus another of Dan's Springwatch forecasts and a short ash cloud forecast online for your viewing pleasure.

12:29 BBC News
You can see the lumps of cloud almost like lumps of cotton.

12:55 BBC News
Not the typical sort of May where you almost want to put all the deckchairs outside [deckchair gesture] and say, 'yeah, this is a nice day'.

They lose their heating of the day so the showers, like flicking a switch [gestures doing so], fmmm, off they go.

13:28 BBC One and BBC News
After Nick Robinson makes his political predictions:
Simon McCoy: Now, to a man who is used to predicting but getting it right, of course; Dan.

Dan: [laughs] Well, you say this is, what, the first or second week of May [looks at watch], but it's almost like somebody's taken the calendar, thrown it up in the air [gestures doing so] and it's landed on March.

If you've been to the outside you've been tempted to grab that fleece and keep it in hand as well.

The haze of blue, and the blue just expanding on the weather map like you tip some blue on the map and it just expands.

The signing lady looked utterly baffled after this and stood there for several seconds doing nothing at all.

2nd May

Interruptions from (mostly) boring political events meant we missed a few forecast opportunities today. However, Dan made up for it by being on top form.

10:56 BBC News
It's probably one of those mornings where some of us maybe took the dog out for a walk ... and he looked at you [looks up and back] and said, 'no, not yet, wait til the afternoon'. he probably saw the weather forecast too.

Temperatures don't hang about, they go, fmmm, straight down.

A chilly night so if you've been busy in the garden for the last couple of days just think about some of the plants.

11:56 BBC News
It's been a soggy start to the day for some of us, maybe even the wellies tromping out-and-about [gestures doing so].

Still the risk for heavy rain ... for the next couple of hours. Bear that in mind, maybe you're going to be in the car heading to Grandma's, somewhere like that.

It's one of those days where you head out to the park, if you're planning to, you just want to grab an extra layer.

The lump of blue, the wet weather, that slowly eases away, but it does take its time, just sort of lingering there, bye bye, go on [pushes it away].

Our friend, high pressure, he's been sort of sitting there, waiting [waiting gesture] then he finally starts to build in.

12:30 BBC News
If you've got plans for the outside today you'll be tempted to grab an extra layer or two and for some of us as well you'll probably want the wet-weather gear.

12:35 BBC One
A good dollop of rain across parts of the British Isles, but even with a few spots, still the rain buckets [gestures depth of water in them] are below where they should be for the time of year.

This chappie here, high pressure, he'll more-or-less dominate our weather, he'll more-or-less sit there. It's almost like you've put some glue on him [glueing gesture] and let's check in four days' time, he'll still be there.

Our ridge of high pressure will still be there, as I say, it's almost like you sort of take some glue, stick it on the back of the high [glueing gesture], leave it there.

This weather system becomes a bit more pronounced and you think, 'ah, some wet weather'. A little bit, but the high, almost like a big arm wrestler, stretching itself out [stretching gesture] will just sort of win the battle.

We work our way towards Thursday and that system, it's gone, because the ridge of high pressure just goes, fmmm [expanding gesture], like that.

Then we finish the week [points to high pressure], he's still there.

Video, below.

13:29 BBC News
After a report from Ben Brown in windswept Newquay;
The weather for some of us is a bit on the breezy side. We saw how Ben was looking there, certainly want to hold on to his hat [touches head] if he had one [he didn't]. If you've been to the outside you probably need an extra layer or two.

13:55 BBC News
It's been one of those days where probably only the ducks had the smiles on their faces if they could smile.

A chilly night; an extra blanket on the bed and maybe even think about the plants in the garden if you've maybe been out there [can only describe what he did here as 'gardening gesture'] through the weekend as well.

14:28 BBC News
A slow-moving area of low pressure has made it a day for the wellies for some of us.

BBC Weather News
I'm not very good at remembering to check the BBC Weather site's news section, but yesterday Dan did a forecast for gardeners (added to yesterday's post) and today there's a short video about how the weather affects the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

1st May

10:56 BBC News
You'll see the cloud [looks up] going 'brrr' [ignition gesture] like that into the afternoon.

It's a wet, it's a yucky start to Sunday across south-eastern areas. You might open back the curtains [curtain gesture] say, in London, see it and go [pulls face] 'ooh gosh' as you start the morning.

Our friend high pressure, come on, build in [waves it in] and we push the weather system slowly away by the time we get to the Monday. So, Monday, of the three days, tick that one [ticking gesture], I'd say it's the drier day of the two.

11:56 BBC News
If you're thinking of having the deckchairs into the garden for the weekend, you might want to hang on for a while.

Notice that darker area of blue just sort of sits there like you're going like that [scribbling gesture] with a blue crayon.

High pressure, come on, get in [waves it in].

Monday's the drier day so the outdoor plans, the deckchairs, I'd pick this one.

Video, below.

13:27 BBC News
Sunday will be one of the days where you step to the outside and go 'fwww, I need an extra layer'. Certainly will.

13:58 BBC News
It's not going to be the weekend for the picnic baskets.

15:28 BBC News
If you're thinking of holding up the picnic basket over the next couple of days, instead it might be the umbrella and maybe even a couple of extra layers.

Gardening forecast for the Bank Holiday
Kicks off with a great Dan-ism. Watch it on the BBC Weather site.

You'll be tempted to grab a couple of extra layers - and take a look at where we've been ... temperatures around twenty degrees, but as we work through the Bank Holiday weekend, look at them, just plunging like a trip down a roller-coaster, vvvmm, all the way down to below where we should be for the time of year.

Springwatch

Over at the BBC Weather site, Dan presents this week's Springwatch... erm... not-forecast:

BBC Meteorologist Daniel Corbett takes a look at Blackthorn and provides a weekly round up of sightings for all six of our early season Springwatch species.

No sign-off at the end, but then it isn't a weather forecast.

Next week's Green Balloon Club Springwatch spot: the peacock butterfly.

28th February

British Isles video forecast
Then we're maybe putting all the bits back in the bag [gestures doing so], heading back to work for Monday. It's going to be mainly a dry day, a quieter sort of day as well, you won't be sort of huddled at the bus stop like this [huddles].

That haze of blue, like you've tipped some blue paint on the map [throwing gesture].

16:32 BBC News
The weather tomorrow, it's going to be pretty good you know. You can take the umbrellas and stick them in the back of the cupboard [coat-in-cupboard gesture].

This is the leftovers of the wet weather, taking its wind with it. Off you go, bye-bye [pushes it off to the continent].

16:55 BBC News
The lumps of white here like lumps of cotton, that is the haze, the mist and the fog.

You won't be trudging in the puddles really, off to work [steps].

Countryfile
By now probably all of us want to take those big thick parkas, stash them to the back of the cupboard [coat-in-cupboard gesture] and leave them there for a while. I wouldn't do it just yet.

You look to the west and just bits and pieces, nothing really to sort of stick a fork in [gestures doing so] and say, 'watch out for that'.

There is a ridge of high pressure that's sort of trying to topple-in in the upper levels of the atmosphere and sort of gets stuck in the way, almost like a stream of water, you block things so it can't move [accompanying gesture].

Just one system out to the west, he's sort of sitting there almost like waiting at the platform.

Then things start to move round a bit, like we're moving chessboard pieces on a board [gestures doing so].

Video, below.

British Isles video forecast
Trip back to work, you might be tempted to take the parka and stick it to the back of the cupboard [coat-in-cupboard gesture] for a few days after quite a long winter.

We've said goodbye [waves] to that windy old low that worked across southern parts of Britain.

Monday's not a bad day, you won't be sort of with all the extra layers, like this [two-handed umbrella gesture (yay!)] at the old bus stop.

Still maybe that risk of - with the clearer skies, light winds - for some mist and some fog. These are the lumps of white, like throwing bits of cotton at the weather map.

Storm Xynthia
Dan's on yet another weather news video, this time about the storm which 'past [sharp intake of breath at shocking typo] over Spain, Portugal and France' this weekend.

Madeira

Dan's in another weather news video, this time he's explaining why Madeira is in for another dumping of rain. That pesky jet stream [shakes fist].

He even manages to squeeze a Dan-ism in:
We put the winds on there, almost like water just being flushed down the toilet [dropping gesture].

Thanks for the tip-off, Ian!

El Niño

There's a great little feature video on the BBC News site, with Dan explaining the effects of El Niño on the jet stream.

He even manages to squeeze a couple of sound effects and Dan-isms in there too.

We normally have an undulating jet stream bringing in the weather systems, but this winter now, bmmm, say goodbye to that. Big lump of high pressure, say hello to that. And with that, like a big stone blocking the flow in the water, we instead get a cold flow of air from Siberia.

31st December

BBCi UK Forecast
Sounding particularly laid back:
If you're heading out this evening for festivities, it's certainly the extra layers; the mittens, the scarf, everything you can think of.

And a bit of a shade of blue there, almost like you just sort of pour some blue paint at the map [throwing gesture] and it just sort of sticks and almost sort of freezes [hunches a bit, sticking arms out].

Don't expect to be out there with the sunglasses [sunglasses gesture].

16:28 BBC News
Extra layers, the hat, the scarf and all that sort of thing. You'll probably be dressed up like the abominable snowman [hunches, as if wearing an excessive amount of clothing], but at least you'll be warm.

16:56 BBC News
Blimey, he kept the Dan-isms coming in this one...
Well, I tell you, one bit of good news at least for many of use, you'll at least keep the umbrella away [brolly-in bag gesture] you won't be needing that. But that extra-warm parka, the mittens, the scarf, grab it all - it's all going to come in handy.

All this cloud that's coming in, it's just like taking a sheet and just going, zhoom [throwing gesture] like that, across the British Isles.

Elsewhere, there is some cloud but it'll probably just linger, almost like it's stuck to the weather map. And look at the finishing numbers; one, two, three, four. Seven or eight would be typical so we're being a bit cheated on the numbers. It's because of this guy here, high pressure sitting to our north. And it more or less puts a lid over that area of cloud, it can't really move, no weather systems from the west. And look at it, it's just sort of sitting there. Come on, do something.

The warm parka perhaps you got for Christmas has been coming in handy.

2009 will sort of slowly come in [wheels it in slowly in a gesture very similar to 'the barbecue'] and 2008 will almost be frozen, you'll have to push it out of the way [pushing gesture]. More details online. That's the weather, for now.

Hmm, not at all sure about the fireworks on midnight's tedious tour.

17:29 BBC News
Hello there. Big plans tonight, big celebrations? Couple of things you'll need [two-handed point at camera], the good old warm coat, the scarf the mittens, everything in fact. Cold, frosty, we move 2008 slowly out, almost like frozen round the edges, all the cold air almost like the blue is just frozen on the map.

17:57 BBC News
Hello there. If you're wondering if 2008 is going to go out like a lamb or like a lion, more than likely it's going to go out frozen round the edges.

It's going to be a chilly one, we almost have to push the globe a bit faster because it'll be cold and frosty for the night.

This sheet of cloud has just worked in, like throwing it across the top of the bed [throwing gesture].

And our high pressure is just sitting here, almost like a big stone [holding gesture] stuck in a stream, doesn't let the weather systems come in. And you look at it and you think, 'you gonna move?', no it doesn't.

18:31 BBC News
Bear it in mind, maybe after the party you might be having to scrape the old car [scraping gesture].

18:55-ish BBC One
That cold Arctic air, like a blue layer of treacle.

UPDATE 2/1/09:
There's a very short New Year's Eve forecast of Dan's (with fireworks) embedded within this article on the BBC News website (there's a bigger version here). There are a couple of Dan-isms (ice-scraper and extra layers) but, brace yourselves, they chopped off his sign-off. Gah!

eBay
In other news, Google alerted me to this signed photo of Dan up for sale on eBay.
If you're after Dan's autograph, pick up a pen and write to him, for goodness sake. In return for you expressing your heartfelt appreciation of his amazing weather skillz, he'll probably send you a signed photo.

UPDATE: 4/1/09
It sold for £1.50
I can't decide whether I'm pleased someone wanted it or utterly appalled at the cheek of it.

29th October

A bit of a surprise to see him on an early shift, given the RT prediction, but early Dan is better than no Dan.

08:57 BBC News
Rachel Schofield: Dan, some people surprised by snow this morning?

Dan: Yes, just think of it, that feeling, peeling back the curtains [parting curtains gesture] and everyone, phew, gosh, snow!

A chilly start; you'll probably be out in the middle of the day with your parka - a cold sort of feel.

09:28 BBC News
Hello there. Another day for the warm parkas and you've probably been busy maybe scraping the snow off the cars, the ice as well.

BBCi UK Forecast
The parka will come in handy as you're nipping to the outside.

Quite a chilly start so, again, you might be out there with the old ice-scraper [scraping gesture].

It's still going to be a cold day, a day for your old parka.

With this one, it wasn't so much what he said, but how he said it:
These are the highs, [gestures to map, raises eyebrows] if you can call them that.

BBC Radio 4
Thanks to Em, who alerted me to this audio slideshow on the BBC News website, in which Dan features:

Unusually for October, snow has been falling across large parts of the UK - and readers of the BBC News website have been capturing the wintry scenes on camera.
Here - with the help of BBC weather forecasters on Radio 4 and Radio 5Live - take a look at some of the pictures we have been sent, from northern Scotland to Hampshire.

No snow at TTWFN Towers, unfortunately.

Dan Corbett links #16

Long overdue, here's another set of Dan-related links for your amusement.

Facebook
To start, let's get the inevitable out of the way; the latest crop of Facebook groups:

Daniel Corbett is my favourite weatherman
Eccentric, slightly Kraftwerk style arm action and very very excited about the weather, what more could you want from a weatherman?

And a comment on the group's wall;

What a hero!! Truly the best weatherman out there. His enthusiasm and passion for lucid communication of the week's meteorological status is legendary and inspiring!

Exactly.
And now, yet another Daniel Corbett Appreciation Society, but with a slight difference;

Daniel Corbett Appriciation Society
THE best weatherperson, like, evurrrrr

'Appriciation'? Sounds nasty.

Next up, the delightfully named,

When I watch BBC weather with Daniel Corbett I feel Comforted and Reassured
Daniel Corbett, one word, legend.

On the group's wall you are advised to watch this YouTube video 'all the way through as you will feel severly [sic] reassured by the end.'
Alas, this group is only for people in the Birmingham network, or I would have joined like a shot.

Still, his popularity isn't waning; that's sixteen different Dan-related Facebook groups now.

RaccoonAndCo
Tu parles Français? This is another site linking to a YouTube video, but this time the comment is in French. I used to be quite good at French, but I can't really make out what's being said here. Babelfish wasn't much help either.
UPDATE 16/04/11: This page no longer exists. Such is the transient nature of the internet. Ah well.

BBC News: How Tornadoes Form
More video now, this time from the BBC News website; Dan talking about how tornadoes form. See, why does the next edition of The Weather Show need Peter Gibbs? They already have a perfectly good explanation from Dan.
Gah!

Twitter
This next link comes from Twitter, (a bit like Facebook's 'status update'). @lewiswebb said:

Dan Corbett is the best BBC weatherman... and I'll fight anyone who disagrees.

Ursa Medium
Not only is he the best BBC weatherman, but also 'the singular happiest man on television', by this account.

Daniel Corbett Watch
Lisa (who had a mention on this blog in the first collection of Dan-links) now has a category on her blog devoted to Dan; Daniel Corbett Watch:

What was Daniel on last night? And I quote, "and almost like having bollards in a car park and having to drive 'round them" Then, later in the same forecast "almost a summersault or a backflip" Is he okay? I'm guessing he's been working too hard and needs a holiday as he's rambling and saying these random things.

Erm, rambling? Random? Those are finely crafted Dan-isms.
Anyway, surely the opposite would be true; stress level high = Dan-ism count low.

BBC Points of View message board
Moving swiftly on, here's further proof that Dan Is Always Right;

Congratulations to BBC weatherman, Daniel Corbett.
The other day he warned that it was going to be cold at night, and we might want to 'reach for the central heating'...
...well - I've just switched mine on. chilly down here in the wells.

In true messageboard style, the discussion goes downhill after that first post.

Wild About Britain
On the Wild About Britain weather forum, there's a discussion about favourite BBC weather presenters that doesn't degenerate into nonsense. Chris says,

I'm obsessed with BBC weather forecasts. Here are my top three forecasters:
1. Daniel Corbett (number 1 by a long way)
2. Rob McElwee
3. Nick Miller

Obsessed with BBC weather forecasts?! Who ever heard of such a thing...?

BBC Tour
And to finish, kind of off-topic, but... somebody I know and two of her weather-obsessed friends (cough) went to London last week and did the tour of BBC TV Centre.

The most interesting part of the tour was, of course, the Weather Centre, where the walls really are lined with images of the Gods.

A webcam-type shot allowed a peep inside the teeny-tiny weather studio where one of The Others was recording something. There was also a short demonstration of why weather presenters can't wear certain colours (due to the green-screen), then the tour guides roped one of the blokes on the tour into having a go with the graphics.
And although that's something you know I would never have volunteered to do in a million years, my friend and her companions thought they could've done a better job of it.
For starters, they would never have missed the golden opportunity to utter those immortal words; 'that's the weather, for now'.

Beijing Olympics

A BBC News Magazine article today about Beijing's poor air quality;

BBC Weather forecaster Dan Corbett says meteorological patterns in Beijing over the summer are not conducive to dispersing pollution, with high pressure and inversion layers common.

"It is like taking a pan of soup off the hob. It steams, but put a lid on it and everything just sits under the lid."

Good to see he slips the Dan-isms in wherever he can.

forecast forecast

Looking at next week's RT, there's still no sign of Dan. It looks like the new format of only reporting the News as Ten presenter is here to stay.
Gah!

UPDATE: 1/9/11
Just found this video dated 27th May 2008 of Dan explaining how tornadoes form.

UK weather review - 22nd June

There's not been much any activity in the 'weather reviews' category since the format changed at the beginning of April, but I notice that yesterday's UK Weather Review was titled 'A good day for the wellies'.

Good to see he squeezes 'em in wherever he can ;-)

13th March

If there ever was a day to tape Dan's forecasts and watch them over and over again in a state of bliss, today would have been a great day to do so. It's certainly what went on at TTWFN Towers this evening. Absolutely classic.
See if you can spot today's theme...

BBCi UK Forecast
A fine-looking day, almost the sort of weather when you want to dust off the picnic basket.

The high pressure sitting to the south keeping things fairly quiet, think of it like a big sponge, so all the weather fronts that try to nose their way in just really get sucked apart - and that's the case.

16:29 BBC News 24
Well, I tell you, Jon [Sopel], this is the sort of weather where you almost sort of maybe dust off the picnic basket.

16:56 BBC News 24
After a story about Elephant Day in Thailand:
Jon Sopel: We've run out of pictures. Dan Corbett, just take it away before I get even more surreal.

Dan: Well, I tell you, Jon, if the elephant came to our picnic this afternoon he'd probably eat all the sandwiches and the picnic basket. We've had some pleasant weather and you almost want to think about some fine trips to the park and things like that.

[Big smile] A chilly one as well with the clearer skies. Look at Newcastle, you'll probably want to grab the warm coat as you head to the outside.

17:55 BBC News 24
At the news desk with Louise Michin, after a piece about a Las Vegas hotel demolition:
Louise : And the lights went out.

Dan: pfff [with accompanying collapsing-building hand gesture].

I saw some people with picnic baskets today and, you never know, there could be a few more.

The people who are out with their picnic baskets today, I don't think they're moaning too much [gets up and moves to N24 pod].

Think of it [the high pressure] like a big sponge, just sucks up all the moisture.

Then our weather front, brrrm, slip him through [sweeps it through with arms].

Friday might be a picnic basket day [laughs]. Ten to fourteen as we finish off the day and, remember, eight to ten is typical. And again, warmer than where we should be for the things as far as things. As always, more details on the website, if you are planning a picnight [?] but some very pleasant weather over the next few days.

Bows to Louise, not a sign-off in sight.

18:26 BBC One and News 24
I think some people have actually started dusting off those picnic baskets, I wouldn't be surprised.

Just the contrast between cloud and no cloud.

18:55 BBC News 24
Some of us might even be notching up the old central heating [gestures turning up heating].

That's the weather [raises left eyebrow], for now.

UK Weather Review
Just to make sure we fully understand today's theme, his UK Weather Review is titled 'Where's the picnic basket?';

This was the latest in a string of sunny and warm days that might have tempted you to dust off the picnic basket?

This man is a genius.

4th March

BBCi UK Forecast
Hello there. It's certainly been a soggy old Sunday.

Quite a mass of blue on the map, like I've gone mad with a lump of blue paint and gone [throws the 'lump' at the map] like that.

16:26 BBC News 24
It's been a wash-out day today and tonight as well. No telescopes tonight, it's wellies and umbrellas.

Quite a weather system, a slow-moving thing, look at this thing, just curling round, like you pull a lawnmower string [gestures pulling string - see photo], vmmm! and it just winds up. Very strong winds on the back edge of that weather system just working in, that's just been plodding its way through [screws up face and shuffles along like an old man] just like that, taking all day.

16:57 BBC News 24
Hello there. It's probably a good day for the wellies, the raincoat and we start off tomorrow back to work, I think we need that umbrella as well.

One of those mornings where you just grab the umbrella [gestures holding umbrella] as you head to the outside.

This next clump of blue just works its way through [pushes it in], not a night for the washing on the line, Monday night into Tuesday.

UK Weather Review
A great opening Dan-ism in today's UK Weather Review:

It was the sort of day that even ducks in the local duck pond would be reaching for the raincoats. That is, if they wore them.

3rd March

16:30 BBC News 24
Hello there. How are you? It's not been a bad day, Peter [Sissons]. It's going to change tomorrow, you'll be grabbing the umbrellas tomorrow. But quite pleasant today, a day for the outside. Maybe you managed to get out, a trip to the park.

Not a bad night, maybe a telescope night.

17:56 BBC News 24
Hello there. It's been a fine-looking day for the outside today - a trip to the park, whatever it was. A different sort of day tomorrow - a day with the umbrella and probably the raincoat as the weather system works in.

And then for Tuesday, that system that was here, boom! Bring it on [sweeps it in], here it is.

UK Weather Review
It's 'A day for a walk in the park' in today's UK Weather Review.

23rd February

16:29 BBC News 24
Hello there. Well, if you've got big plans for the weekend, you look at the ball [gestures to the weather globe] and you say, 'oh no, some wet weather'. Not a wash-out but you might need that wet-weather gear just through the weekend.

I think the umbrella will come in handy as well for the next couple of days. That's the weather, for now.

16:56 BBC News 24
You'll see it looks a bit of a mess, like you've taken some plaster [gestures holding some plaster] and gone brrm! [throws it at the satellite map] like that.

Maybe you're out early. Perhaps Saturday shopping, something like that.

[Gleaming eyes, grin] In-between the showers there will be some dry spots. Maybe you're thinking of getting out a trip to to the park. I think you'll still manage OK as far as things go.

17:27 BBC News 24
After a pre-Oscars interview with Helen Mirren:
Peter Sissons: Let Dan Corbett make his bid for the weather Oscars.

Dan: [laughs] Well, I tell you, I don't think we'll be getting any Oscars for the weather - if we do it would be a very, very small one [gestures height of statue]. Yes, there'll be some wet weather for the weekend and even for the night as well. It's the same low pressure just spinning around [spinning gesture] almost like a car that's been stuck in the mud.

You heading for the outside tomorrow? Just grab the raincoat just in case. A mild day but some showers. That's the weather, for now.

17:57 BBC News 24
After 'Film 24':
Hello there. Got plans for the weekend with some wet weather on the way? Maybe it's films, perhaps it's a weekend of indoors and watching some sport.

A bright-ish start and maybe dry somewhat across parts of Northern Ireland. Six as you head to the outside, say, in Belfast. Maybe it's just a, an extra, er, lie-in.

18:26 BBC One and News 24
Jon Sopel: Right, Dan Corbett, the red carpet of the weather. What's it like?

Dan: Well, if they were giving out Oscars for the weather it would be a very, very small one. I think as far as the weekend weather is concerned, you are still going to need the wet-weather gear if you're heading for outdoor plans.

18:56 BBC News 24
Could be a damp start. Maybe you're out early, sort of walking the dog [lead-holding gesture] or whatever Saturday morning chores are.

UK Weather Review
From today's UK Weather Review:

The middle of the day was mainly cloudy for those venturing out for a Friday lunch. A few scattered showers even made the umbrella come in handy.

The sun did manage to make an appearance in a few places but in some cases if you blinked you missed it. Cromer (Norfolk) took the prize with 5.5 hours.

21st February

See if you can spot today's theme.

16:29 BBC News 24
Julia Caesar: ...it's looking a bit gloomy, but I'll try and bring you a ray of sunshine in the next ten minutes...

Jon Sopel: ...Well, on the subject of rays of sunshine, here is Dan Corbett.

Dan: Hello there. Well, I'll bring you some rays of sunshine. It's been a good-looking afternoon, one of those where you just sort of almost head out through the lunch and just sort of enjoy the blue sky.

A wet old night. It won't be the washing on the line, no.

A few drier spots here and there but, yes, you'll probably be like this [gestures holding an umbrella] at the platform with the rain.

16:56 BBC News 24
A wet old start, grab the umbrella say, for north-eastern parts of Scotland.

A few drier spots, but it's just a soggy old head-off to work. A little bit of extra time, easily, on the roads.

More details, as always, on the website, but I think, over the next few days, the umbrella in hand. That's the weather, for now.

17:58 BBC News 24
You head to the outside with the umbrella in hand, say, for Aberdeen.

18:26 BBC News 24
Staying mild, but keep the umbrellas handy.

18:57 BBC News 24
And don't be surprised tomorrow morning, you're probably heading to work with the umbrella in hand.

To me, the 'umbrella' is the best of all Dan-isms, the classic original.
Impossible to have too many umbrella mentions. More!

UK Weather Review
Today's UK Weather Review is littered with Dan-isms.
Hooray!

It was the sort of day beckoned you to the outside. It was a day with bright blue skies, scattered clouds and afternoon highs in double figures. Not bad for a day in the middle of February!

The fine day was the filling in a sandwich between two weather systems (The bread).

Overnight cloud did not stop Aviemore (Highland) from taking the cold spot prize...

The sunshine and mild air from the Atlantic certainly made a fine day for the outside. It was the sort of day that if you did not know it you might think it was Spring.

The cloud thickened up across Northern Ireland during the afternoon and rain had moved into Belfast for the trip home from work.

14th February

16:56 BBC News 24
Bloody George W Bush, talking over the 16:27 forecast!

Never mind, Dan is back on our screens at last, looking tanned and smiley. He was a bit trigger-happy with the button; more than once did the next graphic appear while he was still in the middle of talking about the previous one.

Could be quite a chilly start as we perhaps head to work and even in some spots you might scrape the car.

Grab the umbrella as you head to the outside in Glasgow.

Temperatures double where they should be in some spots... it won't be really the middle part of, er, J-February [looks at watch]. No, quite different.

The weather front just kinking [moves arm in an angular manner] like a little piece of spaghetti wiggling on the plate.

Grab the extra blanket tonight; it's going to be a chilly one.

17:57 BBC News 24
It's all very well transcribing his Dan-isms, but sometimes words fail to capture the essence of Dan. There was something indescribably delightful about his facial expression when describing how the cloud over Scotland and Northern Ireland 'doesn't help the temperatures further south'.

It's bright, it's chilly; one of those mornings where you'll probably have the mittens on [looks at hands].

And yes, the wet weather just nosing in [thumbs over his shoulder at the rain over Ireland].

This weather front, just kinking about, like it's just stuck to the map, really.

18:27 BBC One
After a piece about tonight's Brit awards:
Natasha Kaplinsky: Pretty chilly on the red carpet tonight, I think, Dan?

Dan: I think it will be, they'll probably need those extra-warm coats.

Look at parts of the Midlands to East Anglia; six to eight was typical, how about eleven and even London at twelve?! You don't know whether it'll be the warm coat or perhaps just the, er, light, er, jumper, maybe.

18:27 BBC News 24
So, for some of us it might be the night for the extra blanket on the bed.

Quite a chilly, [eyes sparkle, eyebrows raised] frosty start... standing on the platform in London, the warm coat will come in handy.

That weather front there [over Northern Ireland and Scotland], let's put him down here for Friday [gestures moving the weather-front over the Midlands].

And our weather front; think of it like a piece of chewing gum, just stuck. And the weather front just sticks there, wiggling about. Maybe you're gonna move, depending on where it sits you will have wet weather or dry weather.

UK Weather Review
Shocking, shocking typos in today's UK Weather Review:

The cloud and rain still made it a wet trip out for lunch with your valentine from Tonbridge wells up Norwich. Good sunny spells made it a pleasant afternoon for a stroll in the park in spots to the north and west.

Whatever would Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells make of that?!
;-)

UPDATE: 22:25
Typo corrected!

a quieter day

Hmm, sounds like the title of a UK Weather Review. Speaking of which, the opening sentence of today's UK Weather Review contained the words 'warm coat'.
;-)

The 'warm coat' index was right down in today's forecasts. They still had the occasional mention here and there, along with opening floodgates ('whoosh!') and taking care in the coming wintry weather, but, on the whole, today was low in Dan-isms.

18th January

16:56 on BBC News 24

Who hell he?

Nice suit BTW. Pinstriped and looking very new.

17:57 BBC News 24
In the News 24 studio with Huw Edwards. Considering the news-worthy weather, it was a surprise that there's been no chat at the desk today.

The speckles of white? It looks like snow. Well, it is.

As the cold air works in, just like oozing some cold treacle down.

For Sunday, grab the warm coat.

18:25 BBC One and News 24
George Alagiah: Now we promised you more on the weather with Dan Corbett, and what a day you've picked to be talking about the weather.

Dan: You could say it was quite a busy day in the weather office.

We might even be digging out the coats over the next few days as well.

London Heathrow; bear in mind there's people flying.

You can see Aberdeen jumping out blue.

Some body-popping moves in some of his broadcasts tonight. Very impressive.
Makes up for the lack of Dan-isms.
Almost.

UK Weather Review
It was 'a very stormy day' in today's UK Weather Review.

It was the sort of day when Mother Nature threw everything at us, including the kitchen sink!

He's giving out prizes again. Today Prestatyn won 'sunniest place'.

30th December

16:27 BBC News 24
Hello there. Well, I tell you, if you're going to be going out even this evening and for the New Year's Eve, grab that umbrella, that raincoat and probably [gestures] two hands on that umbrella as well.

16:56 BBC News 24
And still the breeze as you head to the outside, it might be one of those hat-flying mornings, you never know.

Watch where this blob of blue goes as we go through the day. It works in to parts of Northern Ireland and then it really gets its act together, and just goes whum! [makes expanding gesture with hands] Like that.

New Year's Eve, you're going to be heading out? This is the problem; look at this thing winding up like taking a lawnmower and going vrmmm! [gestures cranking the engine].

UK Weather Review
According to today's UK Weather Review;

The weather for the day was like two bookends on a shelf.

A Disappointing Day

Not a single Dan-ism to blog about today.
Not even in today's UK Weather Review.

2nd December

16:28 BBC News 24
Some very strong winds for the first part of the morning. Do take some care if you're out early morning Sunday morning, or maybe just sort of sleeping late.

16:55 BBC News 24
Tim Willcox: Dan, how's it all looking?

Dan: Well I tell you, Tim, it's one of those nights when you probably just want to just sit inside, huddled next to the fire.

Before you can say 'hello' the showers already working in to south-west areas of England and Wales.

Quite a windy old Sunday, even the kite-fliers will be struggling [tugs at imaginary kite string] really, with some very strong winds.

Do hold on to the hats. As I say, quite a windy day.

A fourteen for the south-east in early December [looks at watch]; yeah, that's mild.

17:45 BBC One
Don't be surprised if you hear the window panes rattling [wiggles hand].

Maybe you're heading perhaps on the M1 or down the A1 later on; watch out in northern England for those strong winds.

How about a quieter day? Monday's the one. Tuesday; grab the rain coats again. That's the weather, for now.

Tie: horrible pink, green, white and black diagonal stripes.

And watch out, there be monsters in today's UK weather review!

25th November

16:28 BBC News 24
The forecast started off very seriously, hardly a smile in sight, when suddenly...

This weather system tomorrow, not as mean, not as nasty as the one today, and as it works its way east through the day - notice the area of blue - it just becomes a bit more bitty, like you sort of pull it apart and it's almost just sort of like that [leans back] by the end of the day.

After that system slips away for the course of Sunday, another weather system - look at this thing - a big octopus of sorts - a big line of some rain.

17:27 BBC News 24
There'll still be some heavier downpours, particularly first thing during the evening hours, maybe you're out for that dinner or something like that.

Wow! How did he know I was going out for dinner?
He is good.

UK Weather Review
Charmingly titled, 'A day for the wellies':

A broad area of low pressure made it a less than perfect day for being outside. It was a better day for splashing in the puddles in your wellies.

UK Weather Reviews

I've only just discovered the UK Weather Review section on the BBC Weather site - and there are a couple of classic contributions from Dan. Here's my favourite from the archives:

29th October 2006
A great day for a picnic especially for late October

In late October you would probably think of warm coats and central heating not picnics and short sleeves but that is what the day brought for much of Britain.

31st October 2006
Great title:
A day for the warm coats.

Ernesto

There's a video of Dan reporting on Tropical Storm Ernesto on the BBC News site.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to link directly to it.