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Stormy weather

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Why you can trust SCMP

When Typhoon Nuri hit Hong Kong on August 22, there was much controversy over which signals should have been raised. It ended up being a No 9, but the day before that signal was hoisted the much derided Hong Kong Observatory had doubts it would need to put up the No 3.

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What our beleaguered meteorologists need are incentives. Hongkongers being fond of gambling, it seems logical to permit the authorities to run a typhoon sweepstake. The weather forecasters could offer odds on the strength of the typhoon, the amount of rainfall and how large a surcharge cab drivers will demand for braving the elements.

If the forecasters lose money on the typhoon stakes, that will confirm a common suspicion - most meteorologists know less about weather prospects than a blind soothsayer who uses chicken bones to divine the future.

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