Rant: TV Weather reports

[GearHd6]

We can go to our local DPW and get buckets of sand and salt or even shovel it into our truck if we need it for home use. I'm not sure if that's an option for you or not. It will all be melted by the end of the weekend I assume.

[ThunderCycle]

Since it was brought up that I'm on this forum, I thought I'd share some insight from the other side of camera concerning weather reports. Research shows weather is the #1 reason people watch local news. Good for me as it helps feed the racing beast. Even the networks are latching on to this phenomena. NBC owns the Weather Channel and ABC will lead with weather any chance they get. CBS not quite so much. I find it troubling how a storm "..is burying the East Coast" when really it's New York City getting a little snow. I've had our network put me on standby to talk about the weather when there is NOTHING happening in Boston. A good example was the Philly football game a few weeks ago. It looked dramatic on TV, but it had little impact on us or anywhere outside of Philly.
If you watch the local meteorologist, and I can only speak for Boston, they really are trying to give two things; the amounts and timeline. Where it becomes tricky is the promotion of those basic facts. If weather is the #1 reason people watch the local news, then how do you bring those people to their TVs and more importantly watch your station?
We can't treat viewers like idiots, it's New England and it snows. Viewers are tired of the old..."will it snow?" promo. Of course it's going to snow, why else would I be mentioning it? Our station (WCVB) is trying a different philosophy. We're not 100% there but we are trying. We'll give you all the facts we have and then to keep you around for the main weather try to find something beyond the obvious. Maybe a particular area will have a worse commute or break down the details of the next 12-hours, or show you some insight into why I think it's going to snow this amount. Stuff you can't find on a smart phone app.
We do put a lot of reporters out in the snow. People like to see what it looks like outside. For fun, during the next "normal" snowfall check out how the reporters handle it. The newbies think it's "snowmageddon", the seasoned reports often have a lot of fun with it. A Jack Harper live shot is not to be missed. An incredibly funny-quick witted man.
We do pay attention to viewer comments and try to get better. Stop by Garage 17 sometime, I'll be happy to visit about the weather.
Have a safe off-season and we'll see you in the Spring,
-Mike Wankum
#938

[xrocket21]

[Garandman]

Since it was brought up that I'm on this forum, I thought I'd share some insight from the other side of camera concerning weather reports. //

Thanks for the update. Here's the latest video of yourownself, from Dec. 12.

[carsick]

-Mike Wankum
#938

Hey, I know that guy! No idea you wuz famous. I thought maybe you were a dentist or a real estate agent. Thanks for the inside perspective.

[dontpanic]

-Mike Wankum
#938

Thanks for the insight. BTW, you're my wife's favorite meteorologist (and she watches all of the local stations).

Yeah, goofy, I know, but I had to say it.

[nhbubba]

Our friend Doug; definitely not from Boston.

[Chippertheripper]

I figured since you were off duty enjoying the races the weather would be the LAST thing you'd want to talk about, mike.
Keep your eyes on this guy. If he's switching to rains, ya'all should be too.

[Garandman]

Since it was brought up that I'm on this forum, I thought I'd share some insight from the other side of camera concerning weather reports. Research shows weather is the #1 reason people watch local news. Good for me as it helps feed the racing beast. Even the networks are latching on to this phenomena. NBC owns the Weather Channel and ABC will lead with weather any chance they get. CBS not quite so much. I find it troubling how a storm "..is burying the East Coast" when really it's New York City getting a little snow. I've had our network put me on standby to talk about the weather when there is NOTHING happening in Boston. A good example was the Philly football game a few weeks ago. It looked dramatic on TV, but it had little impact on us or anywhere outside of New York...
Have a safe off-season and we'll see you in the Spring,
-Mike Wankum
#938

Alright, NOAA is talking about some snow starting New Year's Eve so do your stuff!

But I have a legit question: seems lik e in the last year or two forecasters have been increasingly referencing the "European Model" as being more accurate for snow forecasting in the Northeast. How does this come to pass?

[Stromper]

20% Blizzard Warning Thursday Friday

[R7]

Alright, NOAA is talking about some snow starting New Year's Eve so do your stuff!

But I have a legit question: seems lik e in the last year or two forecasters have been increasingly referencing the "European Model" as being more accurate for snow forecasting in the Northeast. How does this come to pass?

Never once saw a chance of snow in the forecast here for New Years Eve?

If you want accurate weather, just watch The Weather Channel, and you'll get away from all the hype and BS to draw you into watching the next news report.

The Weather Channel often gives both European forecasts, along with the GFS forecast. The European forecast from what I've seen is more accurate at forecasting larger storms, and if you remember correctly, European models predicted Hurricane Irene in 2011 perfectly, Hurricane Sandy Perfectly (which was amazing seeing the sharp turn forecasted to New York..and the storm taking the exact track) , and the Big Blizzard last winter..which in our area, the forecast was spot on.
I know if the Euro model says big snow for this coming storm, I'm planning on big snow no matter what the local weather stations say

[MaRce1o]

Always confused me on the precipitation thing...i mean isnt 50% chance same as flipping a quarter and being anyones guess?

[luukasama]

They do it every first major storm. They tell us the snowpocalypse is coming, we're all gonna die.

Maybe it has to do with how reporters are often from other parts of the country? We've got some recently imported asshole from Sunnyside, FL telling us how bad the snow's going to be? When they start crying about the impending doom during February, I actually start caring. By caring, I mean charge up my batteries and make sure my shovel is fully operational. Visual inspection only.

You're not the only one. And then those who easily get wound up by whatever the news is squawking about scare everyone else by talking about it in a panic-y, frantic way. "You got your generator charged up? Those 2inches are going to be turrrrable. I've got my bathtub full of water, and I cleared out the shelves at Shaws. You know, in the blizzard of 78...."

OMG, don't even get me started on that. We had a bad storm like a year or so ago (tornado/hurricane related, I think), I don't remember fully, and we thought that we should come by Walmart and just take a look at their portable propane stoves. It wasn't even that bad in MA, but the shelves were fully cleared out of all batteries, flashlights, propane stoves. Total, flipping panic. Those who hang onto the newsies' every word have got themselves hung by their balls.

[Imbeek]

Always confused me on the precipitation thing...i mean isnt 50% chance same as flipping a quarter and being anyones guess?

You think that's confusing...last summer while hiking a section of the AT in mass with my wife, I re-checked weather channel on my iPhone, just to make sure it still said 0% chance of precipitation, like it did when I didn't bother to pack rain gear...sure enough, it did say that, but it was hard to read in the downpour and fortunately I turned it off before the lightning started.

What to do with metal hiking poles when you are in the middle of a field and the 0% turns into certain violent thunderstorm?

[carsick]

What to do with metal hiking poles when you are in the middle of a field and the 0% turns into certain violent thunderstorm?

Lash them together to form a Faraday cage to huddle under. And throw your phone out there as a sacrifice to the Gods.

[Garandman]

You think that's confusing...last summer while hiking a section of the AT in mass with my wife, I re-checked weather channel on my iPhone, just to make sure it still said 0% chance of precipitation, like it did when I didn't bother to pack rain gear...sure enough, it did say that, but it was hard to read in the downpour and fortunately I turned it off before the lightning started.

What to do with metal hiking poles when you are in the middle of a field and the 0% turns into certain violent thunderstorm?

In the Army at Eglin AFB we stacked the M16's, radios etc and moved off 50-100 yards.

I've seen some boats that were hit by lightning, and our old house was hit a couple of times. I'll pass, thank you.

[Stoneman]

For the record: *I'm* the most accurate when predicting weather around here. Just ask anyone that's paid attention to my NHMS forecasts...

BTW-Is this the first time we're hearing of Mr. Wankum amongst our masses? *IF* that's his real name...

[Chippertheripper]

No. He's been 'round a bit.
And spotted at nhms a few times. But I'm not really a "regular" up there currently.

[OreoGaborio]

Wankum & I are Facebook friends.... we homies. we be like tight. We like THIS: *crosses fingers*

[Garandman]

Haha your bread and milk are belong to us!

Mike's Channel 5 bio.

[nhbubba]

Caught Mike's evening forecast last night on NYE. Couldn't help but tell everyone in the room: "That dude races motorcycles at New Hampshire! Pretty cool uh?!"

There may have been some eye rolling.

[MaRce1o]

Caught Mike's evening forecast last night on NYE. Couldn't help but tell everyone in the room: "That dude races motorcycles at New Hampshire! Pretty cool uh?!"

There may have been some eye rolling.

Mike is my girls fathers idol. Worked for the Quincy DPW all his life and always only watched him lol

[Garandman]

Accuweather geekfest explanation of storm.

NOAA snowfall prediction.

[Garandman]

On the radio this morning, they were talking about how every kind of weather has a name. So be prepared for an "Arctic Blast" later in the week.

[MaRce1o]

I depend on the weather people (snow plowing). Weather is literally the only part i watch of the news.

Always used to watch NECN, then i met Mike, and started watching both since they are usually the closest ones

The main thing for me aside from accumulation is times. When wil it start on my routes and when will it end. My trucks usually go out 1-2 hours before its over.