WIND CHILL and TV weather

[jymbee]

The NWS Windchill Temperature (WCT) index uses advances in science, technology, and computer modeling to provide an accurate, understandable, and useful formula for calculating the dangers from winter winds and freezing temperatures.

Bottom line: If it's cold and the wind's blowing-- IT FEELS COLDER!

The TV weather nerds just love to make weather sound as dramatic as possible. They plaster those dire wind chill numbers all over their maps-- as if there's people out there running around naked. Your average 5 minute weather report could easily be summed up in 30 seconds. In fact, I speed through our TiVo to get to the 30 second "summary" which tells me all I need to know.

And nothing sends them over the top more than even the threat of a SNOW STORM! Multiple "reporters" stationed all over their coverage area with breathless accounts of the first few flakes falling. Of course in keeping with their need for drama-- even if completely contrived-- they seek out and climb that 3 foot drift created by plows clearing a local shopping mall. And if they're fortunate enough to come across some tree branches down or heaven forbid [GASP!] a power line down-- they can barely contain themselves with excitement.

Finally, is there anything sadder (or more pathetic) than the intrepid reporter that has been stationed for hours where they thought there would be a major weather event such as a snow storm or hurricane-- only to learn that the storm somehow managed to take a different path and miss them altogether. Oh the humanity... :duh:

 

[rekees4300]

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The weather reporters are occasionally beneficial but the one thing that really ticks me off is when they interrupt regular programming for so-called "warnings" that turn out to be nothing. They just love all those pretty colors on the radar and the techie terms nobody understands.

 

[Terrydt100]

Here in Oklahoma you have got to have a reporter standing on side of highway . The reporter has to wear a black coat,so they can point out the tiny snow particles., during the summer when there are showers they have to break into normal broadcasting to let us know there is no sever weather.

 

[randy41]

these guys are weather guys because they love it. you get excited about your tractor? they get it on for weather events.

 

[oosik]

Ha,ha - Two winters ago, wx girl standing along major highway, trying to expand upon how truly bad the wx was, all of a sudden she stops talking, her arm fly up in the air as she rapidly looks all around her, too late, the blast from the passing snow plow knocks her flat on her butt.

The truly humorous part, this segment is shown over & over, all evening long.

 

[deerseeker001]

I think i might have seen that clip.

Ha,ha - Two winters ago, wx girl standing along major highway, trying to expand upon how truly bad the wx was, all of a sudden she stops talking, her arm fly up in the air as she rapidly looks all around her, too late, the blast from the passing snow plow knocks her flat on her butt.

The truly humorous part, this segment is shown over & over, all evening long.

 

[coobie]

The real question is HOW DUMB is it for the weather channel to give every winter storm a name now?

 

[fishheadbob]

TV weather reporters do tend to hype absolutely every possible snowfall or cold weather event as potentially the end of civilization. I think it all has to do with ratings as anything more than a snow flurry is reported with crawls during programming and promos anyplace they can sneak one in. "Life threatening event on the way. Be sure to watch us at 6 and 11 for details." Yeah, be sure to watch them to keep their ratings up so they can charge the personal injury lawyers even more for the never ending message to sue the bxxxxxxs for everything. More ratings = more advertising revenue = more profit for the station = more pay- maybe- for the reporter. In Buffalo senior weather anchors are a big, big deal and frequently make more than the news anchor.

 

[NativeSon]

Yellow Journalism is still alive and well with Weathermen. My favorite is "Dangerous Lightning"........DUH!

Charlie

 

[Thomas]

Bad news sell that's a fact,and some..some of those reporters out there are good actors.