katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448 
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Post by katybee on May 25, 2015 20:50:52 GMT
Shit.
There. I said it.
We don't get a lot of severe weather around here. We've been in a major drought for the last five or six years. The weather is usually sunny and hot. So I get why some storms might get them excited.
And now they have all of this new fancy equipment that will detect the tiniest possible rotation in the atmosphere. So they report on every single one like it is a major EF 5 tornado blasting our way.
We've had a line of thunderstorms move through this afternoon. And they have been reporting nonstop. I've been told to take tornado precautions on at least three different occasions. But it always fizzles out.
I am very grateful that we have this new technology that can save so many lives. But I am feeling a little like they are boys crying Wolf. I'm starting to not take any of this seriously…
For crying out loud, they just showed a storm chaser video that had some "gray clouds, possibly some rain". I kid you not! And they keep bringing up a tornado from about 20 years ago that killed 27 people in this area. The storms aren't anywhere near the magnitude of those storms. So I feel like they are just doing it to rile people up . And for ratings. And because it's the most exciting thing to happen to them in a long while…
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Gravity
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on May 25, 2015 20:55:53 GMT
My DH and I were just talking about this very thing. If the wind is blowing over 30 miles an hour, the weather people are breaking in telling everyone to take cover. They just broke into programming to tell us that my town is receiving hard rain. It's not even hard enough to spill over my gutters. I completely agree they are crying wolf. Sadly, when a big one hits, everyone may ignore them.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on May 25, 2015 21:00:40 GMT
We don't get a lot of severe weather around here. We've been in a major drought for the last five or six years. The weather is usually sunny and hot. So I get why some storms might get them excited. And now they have all of this new fancy equipment that will detect the tiniest possible rotation in the atmosphere. So they report on every single one like it is a major EF 5 tornado blasting our way. I haven't been in a 6 year drought and severe weather still causes our local weatherpeople to go nuts with their technology. They do the same thing with the rotation graphics. Last summer, they kept interrupting primetime (like, the important parts of Elementary!!) to show where there was some lightning and some rotation that didn't amount to jack. Yes, please come back when there is a DOPPLER INDICATED TORNADO, because that's what I need you for, but I do not need you OR the radar to tell me that it's raining and that nothing of consequence is happening. (Also, here's a hint, if the other major TV networks have not interrupting programming, you don't need to, either.) There's no award for most annoyingly unnecessary TV interruptions. |
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on May 25, 2015 21:28:32 GMT
I don't even watch the news, just the radar on my weather app. I have had loud tornado warnings coming over my phone all afternoon though. I know I need to appreciate that we actually have this kind of technology (and I do), because it really does save lives, but it starts to take on a "crying wolf" feel after a while.
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Post by nurseypants on May 25, 2015 21:32:10 GMT
I call this phenomenon the "Meteorologist Circle Jerk." It's far too common in my Midwestern city.
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by M in Carolina on May 25, 2015 22:13:33 GMT
In the late 90s my mom and I stayed through Hurricane Bertha because the weatherman predicted the eye would hit Wilmington, 2 hours South.
The storm was much worse than predicted, and the eye passed right over Atlantic Beach. By the time the weathermen admitted that the storm was tracking too far north, it was too late to leave the island because the winds would blow your car right over the high rise bridge.
There were a lot of tornadoes in the hurricane, and one cut a path right beside our house. There was no way for us to know about the tornadoes because the winds and rain are so loud it's almost deafening.
I absolutely think that weathermen are over predicting and being ridiculous, but after that experience, I would rather them over report than under report.
I'm so thankful that there are storm warnings sent by cell phone. Right after Dh and I moved back to NC in 2011, we were struck by several bad tornadoes.
Our area installed tornado warnings, but they've not been on for over a year now. Any hard rain causes our Direct TV to go out, so if we didn't have the phone alerts and internet, we wouldn't know about the warnings at all.
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Post by Prenticekid on May 25, 2015 22:18:07 GMT
It is all about ratings, and we are in sweeps month, which makes them all the more hyper.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 19:39:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2015 22:37:05 GMT
Heh, having grown up in Houston, I feel your pain. They got fancy equipment fairly early b/c it was such a huge market, and they constantly lost their shizz, since we get so many hurricanes, tornadoes, and then all the coastal flooding. I can only imagine how bad they are since I've been out of state for a few years.
Aren't you in central TX/the hill country?
If so, not sure how long you've been there, but I remember years ago (when my kids were little so it was probably 15+ years ago) and there was some terrible flooding in Central Texas and the weathermen in Houston and your part of the state were beyond silly like this.
They can definitely make you nutty with how overboard they get. Are they doing the 5+ weather updates per newscast?
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on May 25, 2015 23:09:20 GMT
I don't even watch the news, just the radar on my weather app. I have had loud tornado warnings coming over my phone all afternoon though. I know I need to appreciate that we actually have this kind of technology (and I do), because it really does save lives, but it starts to take on a "crying wolf" feel after a while. But there wouldn't be a warning if there wasn't a tornado, either doppler indicated or actually spotted. So that doesn't really strike me as crying wolf. |
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,757
Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on May 25, 2015 23:14:45 GMT
Not a meteorologist (not even close!!), but I am a trained spotter and have access to some weather sources that the general public does not. I started going to spotter classes due to a phobia - I'm absolutely terrified of tornadoes, have had dreams about them all my life, and the more I learn/more information I can gather, the better off I am. I've been following things off & on this afternoon.
Not sure where you live, but if you're in TX or OK the threats this afternoon were/are legitimate, both tornado and flooding.
It's a very difficult balance between pulling the trigger too quickly on a warning, and taking a chance at waiting too long and ending up with preventable injuries - or worse. There is a lot of discussion that goes on behind the scenes before a warning is issued. I know sometimes it seems like overkill (and in the media a lot of the time it is, there's no question about that), but the NWS is pretty good about weighing safety vs crying wolf.
That being said, this:
made me laugh out loud. Forbes is the worst (TWC). I once asked my meteorologist friends about the TORCON and they just sort of laughed.
My local NWS office is currently dodging tomatoes for NOT issuing tornado warnings today. There have been instances where the media has picked up on something posted on social media (especially pictures of scary looking clouds) and told people to take cover, even when the NWS has determined a warning is not necessary. That does indeed cause a lot of "cry wolf" problems. A few weeks ago someone was posting a picture on FB saying "THIS IS A TORNADO" when actually it was a streak of rain on the windshield of the car in which the chaser was riding. Even when the chaser himself came on FB and stated that it was NOT a tornado, people still piled on. 
I hope the weather is over for your area now, and you can relax and enjoy the rest of your holiday.  |
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Post by salem on May 25, 2015 23:20:52 GMT
Well I hope you are safe.  Sounds like New England this past Winter. At a certain point another foot of snow was just no big deal KWIM? The weather people lost their minds over all the storms. After awhile I had to just shut it off. |
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on May 25, 2015 23:24:37 GMT
I don't even watch the news, just the radar on my weather app. I have had loud tornado warnings coming over my phone all afternoon though. I know I need to appreciate that we actually have this kind of technology (and I do), because it really does save lives, but it starts to take on a "crying wolf" feel after a while. But there wouldn't be a warning if there wasn't a tornado, either doppler indicated or actually spotted. So that doesn't really strike me as crying wolf. Indeed. If the warning is NWS-based (i.e. weather radio, most weather apps), there is reason to be concerned.
I've been told there are 3 criteria that are looked at - Radar, Environment & Spotters. If 2 of the 3 point in the direction of a threat, then a warning will be issued. Exceptions to this include an obvious tornado report (if there is a large tornado on the ground being reported by a legitimate source they're going to go ahead & warn), and darkness/heavy rain (reduces visibility of spotters, so they rely more on the radar & are quicker to warn). The text of the warning will usually tell if it's a confirmed tornado, radar-indicated, etc.
Especially in a case like today, when the atmosphere is so unstable, it's certainly possible for multiple touchdowns to occur in the same area over an afternoon.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448
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Post by katybee on May 25, 2015 23:39:16 GMT
I don't have a problem with the tornado warnings. I fully understand those are legit. Any watches or warnings from the NWS should be reported immediately.
But the weather people here are absolutely sensationalize the situation. Just like the regular news media, they speculate and hypothesize before the actual facts are in.
Turns out the storms here today were quite bad. Not from tornadoes necessarily, but from flooding. Parts of Downtown Austin are completely flooded. Turns out that's the real story...
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on May 25, 2015 23:42:52 GMT
I don't even watch the news, just the radar on my weather app. I have had loud tornado warnings coming over my phone all afternoon though. I know I need to appreciate that we actually have this kind of technology (and I do), because it really does save lives, but it starts to take on a "crying wolf" feel after a while. But there wouldn't be a warning if there wasn't a tornado, either doppler indicated or actually spotted. So that doesn't really strike me as crying wolf. I understand that. I was watching the radar and the vortex signals today, and storm chasers on Twitter. We did have a small tornado that could be seen from my town, so it was close. I spent several years on Ft. Hood, and their post-wide tornado sirens seemed to go off all the time, this time of year, even for just watches. I guess they just kind of felt like a non-event after a while. But I am grateful we have the technology, and those willing to understand storms better and follow them. |
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
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Post by TXMary on May 26, 2015 0:11:46 GMT
I do understand what you are saying and they certainly can be way over the top sometimes, but I am grateful for them honestly. My little area had a tornado touchdown the same day as Jarrell. I'm assuming that's the one you are referring to with the 27 deaths. It was the scariest day this life-long Texan ever lived through. Our community center, pool and marina were destroyed and they were right down the street from our house. It was the first time that I had ever taken cover during a bad storm. I had no idea what was happening right down the street but I knew it was bad. Our warning sirens were not working. We didn't have the technology that we have today to keep people informed. It was crazy scary and storms don't usually scare me. So, yes, they are over the top but I would rather they do that than wait too long to warn people in a serious situation and I believe today was a serious situation that could have been a lot worse.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on May 26, 2015 0:59:37 GMT
Weird and a little disconcerting - I just read closer and found out the tornado that hit nearby Killeen, in a neighborhood only about 10 miles from me, happened on Thursday. We received no tornado warnings that day, just occasional tornado watch signals. On the other hand, all the tornado activity today was about 30 miles northwest of us, but I was receiving tornado warnings every five minutes for a while. So even that technology can be spotty. I'm still glad we have it.
That sounds absolutely terrifying, Mary. I'm glad you were OK. We didn't live here then, but everytime I pass Jarrell I think of their tornado.
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Post by librarylady on May 26, 2015 1:57:37 GMT
I live in Dallas, and this is what is happening in our market. Katybee, I think we must be neighbors. What I find just as annoying--the noon news begins with a weather forecast-every day. Then, at 10 minutes into the program, a weather forecast....followed by an update at 12:25. Sheesh.... this happens everyday even with nothing eventful happening from the weather. |
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Post by doesitmatter on May 26, 2015 2:07:35 GMT
We have been in a severe drought too and had rain fianlly the last few weeks on and off and our weather people have tried to make it into a big newstory too.
However, I had to laugh at the 30 mph winds being news lol, here they'd better be a few times that to get any attention.
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Post by Merge on May 26, 2015 2:16:52 GMT
Well I'm a little freaked out sitting here in Houston right now ... about ten blocks from where some apartments were destroyed by an F1 tornado the other night ... for which there was no warning.
Those storms are moving through our area now.
Growing up in Nebraska on a night like this, we'd just sleep in the basement to be on the safe side. But no basements here. Everyone else is asleep, so it's just me and the dogs watching the weather.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on May 26, 2015 2:21:12 GMT
Well I'm a little freaked out sitting here in Houston right now ... about ten blocks from where some apartments were destroyed by an F1 tornado the other night ... for which there was no warning. Those storms are moving through our area now. Growing up in Nebraska on a night like this, we'd just sleep in the basement to be on the safe side. But no basements here. Everyone else is asleep, so it's just me and the dogs watching the weather. It's looking very nasty for you right now. Hold on and stay safe! |
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Post by austnscrapaddict on May 26, 2015 2:39:20 GMT
I kind of enjoy the enthusiasm that the weather men show, I agree it can be over the top, but at least they are passionate about their jobs and that means our safety. After seeing the news pic's of the flooding in the Austin area today I don't think it was one bit over "advertised" When we stop to think how densly populated the area is these days, there are a lot of lives on the line and if word gets out to half of them, that's no small feat.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,957
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Post by TXMary on May 26, 2015 2:56:36 GMT
Well I'm a little freaked out sitting here in Houston right now ... about ten blocks from where some apartments were destroyed by an F1 tornado the other night ... for which there was no warning. Those storms are moving through our area now. Growing up in Nebraska on a night like this, we'd just sleep in the basement to be on the safe side. But no basements here. Everyone else is asleep, so it's just me and the dogs watching the weather. Oh man... I thought it was over for the night. Didn't realize Houston was still getting hammered. Stay safe! |
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conchita
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Jul 1, 2014 11:25:58 GMT
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Post by conchita on May 26, 2015 4:13:10 GMT
We had a tornado in Kempner today. Just a 10 minute drive from where I'm at. And this is what it looked like in Temple a few hours ago when the newscasters we're going crazy issuing out warnings for everyone in Temple, Belton and Salado. It got really ugly very quickly and it could have been worse. Most of those areas are dealing with flash flooding right now. And there's still a lot of rain in our forecast this coming week. Even with all the reporting we still lost some people in floods, some lost their lives, many lost their homes.
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Southern Side eyed Pea 
