0:00:03 > 0:00:07"Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it" -
0:00:07 > 0:00:10a witticism attributed to writer Mark Twain.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14And we do talk about the weather a lot, but there's a good reason -
0:00:14 > 0:00:17the weather affects our lives every day,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19from the clothes we wear to the games we play,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22and while we can't do anything about the weather,
0:00:22 > 0:00:24we can certainly do things with it.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48My granny used to say it was a "good drying day".
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Before we had tumble dryers, she put the washing out on the line
0:00:51 > 0:00:53to allow the wind to do its thing.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Today, we harness the energy of wind
0:00:56 > 0:00:58to power our businesses and our homes -
0:00:58 > 0:01:01a good drying day 21st-century style.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06The first wind farms appeared in Northern Ireland in the 1990s,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08and since then, they've become a familiar sight
0:01:08 > 0:01:10dotted around the countryside.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13This is Gruig Wind Farm in County Antrim,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16and this ten-turbine farm provides enough energy
0:01:16 > 0:01:19to power over 14,000 homes.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26In one year, a single wind turbine can generate enough electricity
0:01:26 > 0:01:30to make 230 million cups of tea.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33A good excuse, if one was needed, to put the kettle on.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39There's not another human being around, but with the turbines,
0:01:39 > 0:01:43a gentle wind and a warm sun for company, I'm content.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00County Down has its own fields of gold.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06I'll never underestimate the importance of why people
0:02:06 > 0:02:09get in touch to find out what our weather's going to do
0:02:09 > 0:02:13should they be trying to organise a barbecue or paint the garden fence.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16But for some, their livelihoods depend on it,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20so I've come here to find out how important an accurate forecast is.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30This is Allan Chambers and his farm is on the Lecale peninsula.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36We're surrounded on three sides by water, so we're quite mild,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38we don't get heavy frosts.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40But probably the most important thing is that we have
0:02:40 > 0:02:43probably the lowest annual rainfall in Northern Ireland,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and that's between 28 and 30 inches.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47Why is that?
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Well, we're on the sheltered side of the Mourne Mountains,
0:02:50 > 0:02:51so the Atlantic troughs,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53the Atlantic fronts that bring the weather,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56the showers and the rain in, tend to deposit most of the rain
0:02:56 > 0:02:58on the far side of the mountains from here.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04It's an arable area, and Allan can grow crops
0:03:04 > 0:03:08that most of Northern Ireland's farmers find difficult to do.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12We're growing three crops - wheat, barley and forage maize.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16All those crops need to be drilled and sown in dry conditions
0:03:16 > 0:03:18when the ground is suitable.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20And when it comes to looking after them,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23we have to have low wind for doing spraying,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25good ground conditions to get machines on the field...
0:03:27 > 0:03:28Today, we're harvesting the wheat.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32We've been watching the weather carefully because we want to get
0:03:32 > 0:03:35the machines in when the grain is at its driest.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37And quite a spell of good weather is needed
0:03:37 > 0:03:40to get the wheat ready for harvest.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Sunshine ripens the grain.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47So, four or five weeks ago, this was quite wet, quite mushy.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Today, because of the sun and the wind,
0:03:51 > 0:03:52this has dried out
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and I've got a little sample of grain here which will...
0:03:57 > 0:03:58..crunch between my teeth.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01That means, basically, it's about ready to harvest.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02What has got me there?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Sunshine and wind.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Well, I've been an arable farmer now for 50 years, and basically,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15my life has been ruled by the weather.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17I need to plan ahead,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21I need to know when I'm going to get these windows that will open for me
0:04:21 > 0:04:25to get big machines into the fields, or get my crops sprayed,
0:04:25 > 0:04:26or get my fertiliser on.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29So, I watch the weather forecast every day,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31sometimes four or five times a day,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34not only to see what it's going to do the next day,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36but, say, in four or five days' time.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Allan's going to be under a bit of pressure to get the harvest in
0:04:40 > 0:04:43before the weather breaks.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Two days ago, it looked like we were going to get four dry days.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Yesterday, there seemed to be a change coming about,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and this morning, we were told that there could be very heavy rain
0:04:51 > 0:04:53by Friday afternoon.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58We'll try and get this grain harvested and the straw baled up
0:04:58 > 0:05:01and looked after before the weather breaks.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05That might mean working until 11, 12 o'clock tonight,
0:05:05 > 0:05:06one o'clock in the morning.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10If the breeze keeps up and there's no dew, we can work away.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13So, everything going well, a couple of days,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16three days and we will have the grain safely in store
0:05:16 > 0:05:20and my year's work will have reached its fulfilment.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30I'm glad the weather was kind to Allan, and all farmers.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Another worry over for another year.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Let's get the latest on the weather forecast now...
0:05:39 > 0:05:42While Al's looking at the bigger picture and what the weather
0:05:42 > 0:05:43is doing out in the Atlantic...
0:05:45 > 0:05:48..most of us want to find out what the weather is doing closer to home.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53People no longer want just a forecast, they want a now-cast -
0:05:53 > 0:05:56an immediate, real-time report on the weather.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00And YOU already help us do that by posting photographs on Twitter,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Facebook and on the BBC Weather Watchers website.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08It looks like a great day in the Orchard County of Armagh.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15'Well named. Today, more than 4,000 acres of Armagh is dedicated
0:06:15 > 0:06:18'to apple growing, and I'm at one of the orchards today
0:06:18 > 0:06:20'to meet up with Philip Troughton.'
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Philip, looking around, it seems summer's been kind to you.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Is this a normal crop?
0:06:26 > 0:06:28This is a late-flowering variety
0:06:28 > 0:06:33and it has actually cropped reasonably well, in fact, very well.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36There's really two reasons why we can grow apples in County Armagh,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38or why we do grow apples in County Armagh.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39One is tradition,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41there's a tradition of apple growing in the area.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45The other is climate, and because of the influence of Lough Neagh,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49there's a smaller area between the rivers Blackwater and Bann,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53where we get slightly less early spring frosts,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56and early spring frost is what totally determines how many apples
0:06:56 > 0:06:58or what crop we grow.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00So, it really is that weather-dependent for you?
0:07:00 > 0:07:02It is totally weather-dependent.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Could you do this anywhere else in Northern Ireland?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08There's no apples grown any further north
0:07:08 > 0:07:10than the southern shore of the lough.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14In the UK, there are no apples grown north of Birmingham
0:07:14 > 0:07:19and we're at a level with Stranraer or southern Scotland.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21So we're probably 200 miles further north
0:07:21 > 0:07:23than apples are grown in the UK.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25So, literally, its own little microclimate?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27It's a very little microclimate,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29which just happens to suit this area.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33How does the weather influence the taste of your apples?
0:07:33 > 0:07:38The sunshine will increase the sugar levels in apples
0:07:38 > 0:07:42and the increased sugar levels allow us to make cider.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44It's the sugars in the apples that make the alcohol.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48So these eating apples will be pressed into juice
0:07:48 > 0:07:50and that juice can either be pure apple juice
0:07:50 > 0:07:54or then it can be blended off and will be made into cider.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57That process takes us about six months.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58There's other by-products.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59Whenever we make the cider,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01we can change that into apple cider vinegar.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Whenever these apples are pressed, the by-product of that
0:08:04 > 0:08:09is basically dry apple, and that we can send for cattle feed.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12That actually increases milk production?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15In a dairy herd, apples will increase milk production.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18It would be a bit like the spring flush of grass.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24'If an apple a day does actually keep the doctor away,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26'then I've come to the right place.'
0:08:39 > 0:08:44Weather affects everything we do... in work and play.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49Clouds, clear skies, wind, rain and sunshine
0:08:49 > 0:08:51all have their part to play.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54What we really need now is a perfect day.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Put your elbows on it and watch your toes.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01HOT AIR GUSHES
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- This is why you have no hair, it's burned off!- Occupational hazard.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Ah!
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Hands off, one second, hands off. Hands off, hands off.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21And we're off. Fantastic.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27We're just going to gently float down here, we'll see what's happening with the winds.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- It's remarkably smooth, isn't it? - Yeah, it is.- Wow.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41It's just so peaceful up here, you can barely hear a sound.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42BURNER BLASTS
0:09:42 > 0:09:45In fact, the only sound is from the flame-thrower
0:09:45 > 0:09:46that's keeping us up in the air.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56This is a lovely, smooth ride,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58but you can't help but feel a little bit helpless.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Yeah, well, to a certain extent, we are.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03The wind's taking us a direction, but I'm controlling the height
0:10:03 > 0:10:06and that's the important thing, so we're still off the ground.
0:10:06 > 0:10:12# Somewhere over the rainbow
0:10:13 > 0:10:16# Way up high
0:10:17 > 0:10:23# And the dreams that you dream of
0:10:23 > 0:10:28# Once in a lullaby... #
0:10:28 > 0:10:30It's not often we get perfect weather like this.
0:10:30 > 0:10:31What do you look for?
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Weather conditions in Northern Ireland maybe aren't the most suitable,
0:10:35 > 0:10:37but we need steady, still conditions like tonight.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Winds - eight knots maximum,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42five's ideal, like we're having here tonight, and no rain.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46So, our typical unpredictable Irish weather is not great for you,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48why would you want to balloon here?
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Well, they always say if you learn to balloon in Northern Ireland,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53you'll be able to fly anywhere.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55You know, if you look down around you, the fields are small,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58there's a lot of electric wires, there's a lot of animals about,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00so it's fun and it's a good activity
0:11:00 > 0:11:03because there's a wee bit of thinking needed,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05rather than having big 40-acre fields
0:11:05 > 0:11:06that anybody could put the balloon into.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11# So let's spend the afternoon in a cold, hot-air balloon
0:11:11 > 0:11:13# Leave your jacket behind
0:11:13 > 0:11:16# Lean out and touch the tree tops over town... #
0:11:16 > 0:11:18So, now we're drifting down, but you're controlling this.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Yes, I'm controlling the descent down and we're actually going to go
0:11:21 > 0:11:23over the forest here and what you'll find,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25we've picked up on speed slightly
0:11:25 > 0:11:26because it's a bit cooler over the forest.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Because one thing about the weather and the temperature is,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32the sun warms up the ground at different rates, so a ploughed
0:11:32 > 0:11:36field would be different to a grass field, to an actual forest.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41# I see skies of blue
0:11:41 > 0:11:45# And clouds of white
0:11:45 > 0:11:48# The bright blessed day
0:11:48 > 0:11:50# The dark sacred night... #
0:11:50 > 0:11:51Well, tonight is great.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54If you look at any of the trees, even the wind turbines,
0:11:54 > 0:11:55very little movement on them,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58but there's enough movement here to actually move us across the air.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Your ideal fight time, then, is around dawn and dusk.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Yeah, if you're in there ready to take off in the field
0:12:03 > 0:12:07just as day breaks in the mornings, it's perfect timing,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10and then, in the evenings, now, you have to be down by sunset.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12So, you're talking the hour, hour and a half before sunset.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15It's because the thermals during the day can cause you problems.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Yeah, the thermals are literally unpredictability to a balloon
0:12:18 > 0:12:21because it'll move from one thermal to the next thermal
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and that's not good because you're losing full control of the balloon.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25At the minute,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29we've control because we're going with the wind in the one direction.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32# Yes, I think to myself... #
0:12:32 > 0:12:37From this height, I can appreciate Mother Nature in all her splendour.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43# ..what a wonderful world
0:12:46 > 0:12:51# Oh, yeah. #
0:13:05 > 0:13:10Anywhere in our part of the world can make your senses dance or sing
0:13:10 > 0:13:11if the weather's right.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Take a walk in the hazy sunshine, but enjoy it,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18because the clouds floating above might not have a silver lining.
0:13:18 > 0:13:19Till next time, bye-bye.