Christmas Weekend Possible Snow Event

Jonas Pilot · 12-23-2010, 10:13 PM

I’m guessing that one of the toughest things you had to accept when you decided to make weather your field was the fact that weather evolves very slowly. I bet you are like every body else. We feel we need to know right now what’s ahead. We want to know what is going to happen, Now! We are so used to instant gratification. I think we are setting ourselves up for unattainable expectations when we approach the future weather that way.

This'nThat · 12-23-2010, 11:25 PM

I just checked Weather.com again. Big, BIG differences in their current wording and headlines from earlier today. Not as much hype; and more reasonable discussions. And that's because their "single model" is now vearing away from Scenario 1 -- the hyped "dangerous" storm. Here's the current headline:

Possible Christmas Weekend Winter Storm

See? They're using the words "Possible". And have removed "Dangerous".

Reading further, here's what they say:

another major winter storm could potentially create a holiday travel nightmare for millions

Much different. Use of the word "Potential". And being a bit more specific, like "holiday travel" -- but still very general, and with hype. But overall, more reasonably presented.

Maybe someone complained. Or maybesomeone at Weather.com wised up a bit. Whatever -- they need to tone it down a lot untill they have real data to work with. But I still think they have little credibility. Weather predictions are tough -- and they shouldn't be pretending to have all the answers before they have all the data.

Rose · 12-24-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

I’m guessing that one of the toughest things you had to accept when you decided to make weather your field was the fact that weather evolves very slowly. I bet you are like every body else. We feel we need to know right now what’s ahead. We want to know what is going to happen, Now! We are so used to instant gratification. I think we are setting ourselves up for unattainable expectations when we approach the future weather that way.

I actually was torn between studying plate tectonics and meteorology, so comparing the two, meteorology is fast.

I do get frustrated waiting for the next model run to come out when there's the possibility of a major storm. And even more frustrated when it goes out to sea!!!

12-23-2010, 10:13 PM	#1
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Question to Rose. I’m guessing that one of the toughest things you had to accept when you decided to make weather your field was the fact that weather evolves very slowly. I bet you are like every body else. We feel we need to know right now what’s ahead. We want to know what is going to happen, Now! We are so used to instant gratification. I think we are setting ourselves up for unattainable expectations when we approach the future weather that way. Last edited by Jonas Pilot; 12-23-2010 at 10:53 PM.

12-23-2010, 11:25 PM	#2
This'nThat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 534 Thanks: 19 Thanked 134 Times in 61 Posts	Weather.com has modified it's predictions I just checked Weather.com again. Big, BIG differences in their current wording and headlines from earlier today. Not as much hype; and more reasonable discussions. And that's because their "single model" is now vearing away from Scenario 1 -- the hyped "dangerous" storm. Here's the current headline: Possible Christmas Weekend Winter Storm See? They're using the words "Possible". And have removed "Dangerous". Reading further, here's what they say: *another major winter storm could potentially create a holiday travel nightmare for millions* Much different. Use of the word "Potential". And being a bit more specific, like "holiday travel" -- but still very general, and with hype. But overall, more reasonably presented. Maybe someone complained. Or maybesomeone at Weather.com wised up a bit. Whatever -- they need to tone it down a lot untill they have real data to work with. But I still think they have little credibility. Weather predictions are tough -- and they shouldn't be pretending to have all the answers before they have all the data.