So what about 2010? Well, the Met Office has abandoned long-term forecasting, but Positive Weather Solutions, an independent forecaster that correctly predicted the washout last summer and the big freeze this winter, is saying the summer is going to be warmer than average, with some extended periods of great weather.
If this is correct, it’s great news, as sales of beverages usually increase when the weather’s good. On top of that, in case you didn’t know, the World Cup starts in June and will almost certainly provide an additional boost to sales.
It’s not all good news, though. If the weather’s good, it can have an impact on water resources.
In the UK, water shortages are not unheard of. We have a lower availability of water per person than some countries in the Middle East. Generally speaking, the situation across the country is good at the moment, with groundwater and reservoir stocks at normal levels, so even a hot, dry summer shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
The situation gets more critical if we have a dry winter as well, but that’s a long way off yet and there are hopefully plenty of barbecues to be had before then.
I’ll end with this slightly cynical observation … While Positive Weather Solutions’ record is good, it does include a link to a barbecue manufacturer on its website.
Dr Ric Horobin is water & environment director at Zenith International. You can contact him here or view his FoodBev.com profile here.
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