re: Weather - realistically, how far can you look ahead in the week(s) for accuracy?

My guess would be that on a general level, pretty well in advance with reasonable accuracy. As in, mid week next week looks like a cooling trend. Or going to be in a wetter pattern about 4-5 days out.

I've always though it was pretty ridiculous when people are mad that the weatherman said it would rain tomorrow but instead it was just overcast all day and barely rained at all. Or more apt to the OT, we were told there would be severe storms or tornados but none of the cells went right over my house so it stayed partly sunny all afternoon.