Watching the weather forecast, booking annual work leave

I check the Met 7 day and long range forecasts pretty much daily, waiting to book time off work for a week off or a long weekend. Still for all that effort, I often end up with poor weather when I’m off, only for it to be perfect just before I go and just after I return. Waste of leave, and waste of money if staying somewhere away.

Part of the problem is I like riding in places prone to bad weather, i.e. mountainous areas of northern England, Scotland. I don’t mind a few days in the woods when it’s wet or cloudy, but it gets boring. The real joy is in adventures into the wilds and the hills. Those suck if it’s a battle of you against the weather, or you don’t see any of the views.

I can book a Friday off on Monday, and at that distance the forecast is fairly good but still a gamble. A week however needs 2.5 weeks’ notice, just about within the Met’s long range forecast, but it’s not very accurate at that distance, you may as well roll a dice.

Then there’s accommodation for staying away. Hard to find at 3 weeks’ notice, even more so if you want somewhere to store a bike. The ultimate arsehole move might be to book a hotel somewhere every single week over the summer, on a free cancellation basis with no upfront payment. Due to the work notice thing, I can’t see that a van to sleep in would be a great deal of help.

How are you getting on with the weather and freedom from work to enjoy it? Tips for making the most of it?

I don’t trust the weather forecast more than about 24 hours ahead (and even then…)

I appreciate that a couple of soggy days riding can be pants, so I find it’s better to have a range of other activities too. I fend that running, swimming and, especially, walking are all “better” than riding if it’s truely minging. I’ll happily don a set of waterproofs and go for a long hike, often looking for old buildings, tracks and paths, landscape features and waterfalls. I can even be content sitting in my van reading, listening to the wind and rain outside and taking in the views on occasion.

Can you negotiate the 2.5 weeks for a week now and again? Does it actually have any impact on your team / role?

I’m happy people booking off on the day in quiet times if they are not mid-project or going to block anyone else’s progress and don’t mind picking up a call in an emergency. Definitely not in the middle of a sprint or project.

I would rather take last second holiday from a team member in quiet times than holiday booked 3 months in advance that hits in the middle of a high stakes project.

I don’t bother about the weather…if I’m not working I can always find something to do.

I have to book leave 6 months+ in advance, all mine is booked up until April next year so I have no chance planning around a weather forecast.

If you live and holiday in the UK you just have to deal with it unfortunately. I suppose we’re quite luckily that a lot of our trips are in a camper van so can try and change plans to follow the better weather but we still get pretty unlucky at times, but what can you do, it’s still better than being at work 🙂

p20 has to book his holiday in August of year 1, for leave from April year 2 to March year 3. And therefore by virtue my holiday is booked that far in advance too. We just go with whatever comes our way in terms of the weather.  Never had that level of flexibility in 17 years so never crossed my mind to worry about it. Just enjoy not being at work.

On that note, no-one book anything in Wales, weekend July 20/21. I’ve booked a room and I’m heading out for mostly off road so have jinxed it – expecting 7C, hail, rain, and unrideable bridleways from hell

More than five days in advance, weather forecasts are at best 50:50. Worse so in hilly/mountainous areas where there are microclimate issues.

Minimum of 4 weeks notice for a day off or any holidays here. In practice I need to book any holidays months in advance.
That said long term weather patterns over decades are more useful to me than weather forecasts. Also I take holidays in wet and windy areas so some days are best spent reading a book

Can you negotiate the 2.5 weeks for a week now and again?

Not really unfortunately. It’s a policy specifically to ensure consistency and fairness, to avoid people agreeing things on a case by case basis like you mention, or there being different rules depending who approves your holiday.

I have to book leave 6 months+ in advance, all mine is booked up until April next year so I have no chance planning around a weather forecast.

Ok you and the others like this do put my predicament in perspective!

I take ’em when I get ’em. No choice.  OK so it’s school holidays but last year we had 4 weeks where it rained almost every day in the holiday.  Actually had some sort of pissed off depression lite by the end.  June hasn’t helped this year.

Usually good odds of nice weather in early to mid September in southern England, just after the kids go back.

Usually good odds of wet weather around England Bank Holiday weekends.

Annual leave arrangements at royal mail delivery offices can be a bit of an eye opener, 4-6 weeks are picked in early to late October (ideally, but often overrun into November at least), for the following financial year. So potentially booking a week off in late March ~18 months in advance.

I too have to book well in advance, and being married to a teacher means school holiday weeks only.

Now we have the camper van I appreciate how much being able to ‘go with the weather’ in direction is great. Usually there’s a direction that’s better on the day/week.

School holidays start soon in Scotland, so predicting 6 weeks of $hit weather – based on this year’s weather, you should have taken your hols in May 😎

On the plus side it’s usually cracking flags in June. Then rubbish for the hols. I predict rubbish June July and first half of Aug.

“Part of the problem is I like riding in places prone to bad weather”

Me too. It’s called England.

You would think the week of the summer solstice would be a good bet for hot weather but here we are in our tent expecting 7degC overnight! I don’t think there’s really a solution to it other than saving some holiday days for a long weekend if a heatwave is coming.

We are really struggling to book a euro holiday .
Last year one of our staff had forest fires the other one had floods.

At least if it pisses down for a week in this country we are equipped for it.

So potentially booking a week off in late March ~18 months in advance.

Ooft, I thought I had it bad 😲

Tbh I don’t mind doing it in advance, I get plenty of leave which makes up for the lack of flexibility.

Book holidays to places with better weather, or have a backup plan.  I’ve been burnt enough times in N Norway to only assume a 30% chance of decent weather.

I’d also recommend not having a job where you have to look forward to a week off for your everyday life to have meaning.

My approach is book enough short-ish breaks and some of them will get decent weather.

Recent wet week in the Highlands was still great.

I’d also recommend not having a job where you have to look forward to a week off for your everyday life to have meaning.

I like my job, I’d go as far as say I love it sometimes but I’d still rather not have to be there.

TBH there may be some advantages to holiday taking when you live in Spain 🙂

We can get really odd weather and this year seems to be windy, so it’s sunny and very windy with warnings of damage to life and property.

Sat in my pants , having just returned from a week in Mojacar, effectively 30 miles down the road or a  1 hour drive.

Was about £450 for 5 nights with 1/2 board (breakfast and evening meal)  for 2 people in a little apartment

Chakaping makes a good point.  Its very possible to get a week of solid rain.  Lots of short breaks, likely to get some good ones, or book three weeks or a month, and it’s statistically unlikely to rain the entre month, or you just replan where