Sunday, April 1, 2012

"A"gainst Weathermen in General

I'm big on knowing what the weather is going to be for tomorrow.  I like mentally planning activities.  When it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow I sleep better.  I've got the weather app.  I'm neither super trendy or ultra techy and "app" is one of my least favorite words... but it came on the device.
And it stinks. 
Sure you can pick any no name city in the world and it'll tell you what the weather is, but I am of the persuasion that all weather predictors (men, women, machine, other) just generally don't know what they are talking about. 
I noticed this last spring while I was still living in Idaho.  I'd check the weather report.  It'd have sunshine balls for every day of the week.  With temps in the mid 50s to low 60s.  Warmed the cackles of my heart just seeing those glowing orbs.  I'd head to the garage and pump up the bike tires, consider unpacking summer clothes, and gear up for opening the windows to let some of the fresh Spring air in.  *inhale.......BIG exhale*  Things were looking up.  Monday comes around and it is sunny until like 10am.  Then it starts raining.  I re-check the weather.  Still sunny according to their dorky Doppler predictions.  I'd give it 20 minutes and bam.  The next three days changed from sunny to rainy.  And I am left to think, "How did you not see it coming... before it actually happened.  I mean I saw the clouds rolling in."
This weekend weather predictors have proved to be at their worst.  According to my Apple Weather App, Saturday was supposed to be 79 and sunny.  They were off by about 10 degrees and cloud cover.  (And immense winds... but I know that's hard to come up with a graphic for.  So no apologies needed there.)  Today was supposed to be 55 and overcast.  It's snowing/hailing and might be 30 degrees out there. 
I get that it's just a prediction.  Which is a guess.  It's what they think will happen.  But my guess is that with billions of dollars of super fancy equipment (not actual statistic) they should be able be a little more accurate. I get the feeling they go to work roll up their sleeves, put their feet on the desk, and forecast "SUN!"

Maybe they can get a refund on all that equipment and just install a window in the laboratory.  That seems to be how they "predict" it anyway.

7 comments:

SkippyMom said...

I don't even think they could be bothered to look out the window.

We have a forecaster here who touts his Doppler doohicky-knows all- weather machine, about how it can predict weeks [months! even] and how ACCURATE it is.

The same guy who, when he was called out by viewers for missing forewarning us about snow, got on TV and was so, so defensive. He whined "Predicting weather is not as easy as it looks people. It isn't an exact science, but I went to school to be a weather man and I know more than any of you blah, blah, blah" Then he went on to say it was the Doppler dohicky thing's fault for not telling him. Which is it? Because my DOGS do a better job of weather forecasting than you.

Usually they use the weather here for scare tactics. Mention "snow" in a teaser for the evening news & their ratings skyrocket [I wish I were kidding] Then they wait until the last 30 seconds of the news to announce that 4 feet of snow has fallen in Anchorage & aren't we glad it isn't us? Grrrrr

Yes, I feel your pain. It IS a waste of time to watch/read the weather so I just open my door in the morning & dress appropriately.

Juli said...

It was supposed to be sunny all day here. And it was. Until my son puked all over the car and I had to return home to clean it.

Then the sky opened up and it started to pour.

Good times, good times. :)

Unknown said...

Weathermen are as reliable as the weather in Singapore, which is where I live--rain now, and sun again.

Look forward to your challenge posts!

Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge

---Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

DoublClik said...

Lol Steve Carrell!
Monterrey weather is highly unpredictable. I have the Weather Channel app on my iPad but have never checked it really for the forecast. Its an HD App so when I open it up it has the most beautiful, sharp, picture of a field...at dusk..and the blades of grass sway. It says the temp in Monterrey. Then I slide to the left and I have it programmed to tell me about Rexburg. Just to feel a little closer to home. Its graphic is an abandoned highway....

Julie DeMille said...

Last year, our weathermen predicted 'the storm of the century'. People went crazy getting ready for feet of snow. We had a dusting. It was funny, but a frustrating reminder that they get paid a lot of money to be wrong.

Kar said...

Hooray! You started your A-Z thingey! Fun, fun, fun! Yeah, I stopped looking at weather forecasts ages ago. I'm like Skippy Mom. I open my door. In addition, I step out into the sun, put out my arms experimentally, and twirl around slowly. To get a real feel for it. :)

Haddock said...

You can't blame them.
The weather is always unpredictable :-)