The difference, according to this leading futurist, is that prediction augurs specific events, while forecasting outlines a range of possibilities and their likelihood of occurring.

FORBES: Forecasting Amid Rapid Change: Paul Saffo On Cultivating Business Foresight

Mr McCallum admitted in a news conference in April that seasonal forecasting was still in its infancy - a cross between climate change prediction and tomorrow's weather forecast.

BBC: Met Office cools summer forecast