TV weather

[antennafarm]

Are the TV weather boys and girls going a bit overboard with their nifty digital radar toys and causing unneeded panic amonst viewers/listeners??? We all know listeners/viewers see and hear what they want...not what is being generated during severe weather. Refering to the severe thunderstorms that sprouted up on June 6th across the region, it seems a bit much to say "dopler radar indicates a possible tornado in Saratga Springs" when there was no NWS Skywarn spotter confirmation to back it up. Gets ratings though. Are broadcasters going too far with "severe storm" coverage??? Thats the question.

 

[johnny05]

The Mational weather service issued a Tornado Warning for Saratoga County that day... EAS alerts were sent out over every radiostation,and every tv station in the coverage area.. Wouldnt you rather be safe then sorry? I think the local stations provide EXCELLENT coverage... You never know.... until its too late...
Those types of storms can be so localized it can be terrible over your street, and partly cloudy on the other side of town... I know, I've experienced it..
The coverage may not be useful to you, but it may save someone elses life...

 

[antennafarm]

> The Mational weather service issued a Tornado Warning for
> Saratoga County that day... EAS alerts were sent out over
> every radiostation,and every tv station in the coverage
> area.. Wouldnt you rather be safe then sorry? I think the
> local stations provide EXCELLENT coverage... You never
> know.... until its too late...
> Those types of storms can be so localized it can be terrible
> over your street, and partly cloudy on the other side of
> town... I know, I've experienced it..
> The coverage may not be useful to you, but it may save
> someone elses life...
>
good point...thanks.

 

[DavecCT]

>... it seems a bit much to say "dopler radar indicates a possible tornado
> in Saratga Springs" when there was no NWS Skywarn spotter
> confirmation to back it up.
>
Radar likely indicated rotation within the storm cell. That doesn't mean a funnel was actually sighted, but indicates a tornado may be starting to develop. Even if there was no funnel, you can bet storms with rotation are going to be very severe with high winds, hail, and lots of lightning. Better safe than sorry.

 

[MotherTrucker]

Re: TV weather - OVERBOARD

> > The Mational weather service issued a Tornado Warning for
> > Saratoga County that day... EAS alerts were sent out over
> > every radiostation,and every tv station in the coverage
> > area.. Wouldnt you rather be safe then sorry? I think the
> > local stations provide EXCELLENT coverage... You never
> > know.... until its too late...
> > Those types of storms can be so localized it can be
> terrible
> > over your street, and partly cloudy on the other side of
> > town... I know, I've experienced it..
> > The coverage may not be useful to you, but it may save
> > someone elses life...
> >
> good point...thanks.
>

It is not a good point, TV weathercasters across the country are getting toy happy. And the problem is when it really matters for a viewer, they will be desenatized to the coverage and switch to cable or a book, and tune out altogether.

Wouldn't it be better to roll a crawl about storms so people actually have the chance to see it, while they watch your regular programs that they WANT to watch? You still can hype your radars and 15 minute advantages or whatever crap you want, and you CAN actually make a difference because people will get the info instead of watching OC or Gilmore Girl reruns on cable/satelite TV.