Stromy weather and TV news coverage - makes me CRAZY!

[Tiny]

Arrrgghhh!! We're in for some potentially stormy weather today... but the "it's the end of the world!" weather forecasts started yesterday afternoon.   I've got a couple of older folks (who watch a lot of tv)  and some slightly neurotic younger folks (who also watch a lot of TV)  in my circle who started getting anxious and nervous YESTERDAY.   Even to the point of suggesting that I NOT go to work today because the Tornados are coming!     

I KNOW stormy weather is dangerous. And I KNOW people need to be prepared.   But, the local news gives generic weather for a  several HUNDRED square mile area.   So, a severe storm warning/Tornado watch/warning for an area 100 miles away will be splashed across the TV screen OVER and OVER and OVER.    The Tornado that touches down 100 miles from my home will be splashed across the news for HOURS on end... making it feel like it happened right next door and the next tornado is setting it's target on our community.    

I tried to comfort/reassure  my 'circle of worriers'  that everything would be ok and that they should pay attention to WHERE the storms are on TV (our county? or someplace else?  A suburb near us or out in the cornfields?)  but it just pains me to see them whipped up into a frenzy of anxiety/fear by the never ending "weather news" coverage that doesn't even effect our area.

I also suggested that today might be a good day for them to watch DVDs or listen to NPR or sports  on radio.   And no, they probably didn't need to huddle around the emergency radio in the basement the whole day - waiting for the world to end.   They could always look out the window to see what their weather was and make plans accordingly.   

Why is typical bad weather so sensationalized?  

 

[Lizard Queen]

Ah yes, I call it the local news station's weather hard-ons.  A friend of mine calls it a weather wood. 
What's the worst is when my mom watches the weather channel on her satellite dish, and freaks out about weather that is on the other side of the country, or happened 20 years ago.    Don't even get me started on my MIL and her weather updates on FB.  (Yes, MIL, I also have a tv/computer/window.  I don't need your updates on top of that, TYVM.)

[Chocolate Lover]

I'm with you! I hate the local coverage of any kind of bad weather. I really don't need to know that the northernmost county in your viewing area is having a hard time, it's bright and sunny here. Stop telling me about for 6 hours straight!!!!!

I live in hurricane country and only worry about those if Jim Cantore shows up in my area.  That and if they're a Category 3 or higher. 

[swamp]

Agreed.

I live in the Northeast. It frequently snows here, anytime from October to May, and very often in December thru March. You don't need to have a conniption about it.

[swamp]

Jun 22, 2016 11:11:19 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I'm with you! I hate the local coverage of any kind of bad weather. I really don't need to know that the northernmost county in your viewing area is having a hard time, it's bright and sunny here. Stop telling me about for 6 hours straight!!!!!

I live in hurricane country and only worry about those if Jim Cantore shows up in my area.  That and if they're a Category 3 or higher. 

If he shows up for a blizzard, we know we're fucked.

[Chocolate Lover]

Jun 22, 2016 11:13:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jun 22, 2016 11:11:19 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I'm with you! I hate the local coverage of any kind of bad weather. I really don't need to know that the northernmost county in your viewing area is having a hard time, it's bright and sunny here. Stop telling me about for 6 hours straight!!!!!

I live in hurricane country and only worry about those if Jim Cantore shows up in my area.  That and if they're a Category 3 or higher. 

If he shows up for a blizzard, we know we're fucked.

That's my barometer of how bad it's gonna be. How far away is Jim Cantore? The further away the better.

[973beachbum]

Our local station got shut down last winter.  Now we get 80 mph sustained winds yesterday and it was maybe 30 seconds on the Phila news. 

But when it rains in Phila we never hear the end of it.

[Deleted]

They are calling for 60 mph winds and possibly hail. Last time a few weeks ago I went to house site and made everyone strap everything Dow, move stuff, etc. and nada. Didn't even rain. Now again. What to do? 

[Tiny]

Jun 22, 2016 11:04:07 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Ah yes, I call it the local news station's weather hard-ons.  A friend of mine calls it a weather wood. 
What's the worst is when my mom watches the weather channel on her satellite dish, and freaks out about weather that is on the other side of the country, or happened 20 years ago.    Don't even get me started on my MIL and her weather updates on FB.  (Yes, MIL, I also have a tv/computer/window.  I don't need your updates on top of that, TYVM.)

Oh man.  My new description for the frenzy on TV... hee hee hee.

[whoami]

Jun 22, 2016 11:22:20 GMT -5 oped said:

They are calling for 60 mph winds and possibly hail. 

LOL...that is like...every single time it rains in Texas.

[Tiny]

Jun 22, 2016 10:54:51 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I'm with you.  It seems (just like everything else) severe weather is sensationalized to the point that it's ridiculous.  It really only accomplishes 2 things; Makes some people think the end of days is upon them or desensitizes others into putting the warnings in the chicken little category.


Can we get back to 'Hey there's bad weather coming,  pay attention to conditions around you and don't be a dumbass'


 

Yes.  and again I know bad weather is potentially dangerous. I know people need to be warned/kept up to date on what's happening in their area.  I just wish the weather broadcasters would emphasize "in your area" or maybe say something like if you live in X area/burb/ name the local highway - something/anything to give the 'forecast' some perspective it would be helpful.

I'm also wondering what happened to "Stop, Look, and Listen" training for pedestrians when they arrive at street corners. I keep witnessing people just keep walking right into traffic (or turning traffic) without blinking an eye.   I have no idea how someone has managed to cultivate so much TRUST in their fellow human - that they believe every driver of every car is looking out specifically for them.

(I do admit - that it fries my hide when I see the crossing guards at the local school just waving a group of kids who are paying 0 attention to what's going on - across the street. I just think it's bad for a kid's "auto pilot" to be "just walk across the street". I would think you'd want their 'auto pilot' to be "stop at the corner" no matter WHAT.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

My MIL gets whipped into a frenzy by every severe weather warning. She'll call us several times to make sure we have flashlights and bottled water.

We go by whether or not bill ranby on channel 7 still has on his blazer. If the blazer us off and his sleeves are rolled up then we know it's time to panic.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Teach the ones who panic to go to weather.com and watch their local radar.  They will know with nearly pinpoint accuracy whether or not bad weather is, in fact, headed their way.  Then, tell them to call you only if the weather is genuinely about to pound on them.  

(Says GRG who spent the winter of 2014-2015 listening to blizzard warning after blizzard warning while the Boston area got nailed with record snowfall.  After we crossed the 5 foot mark whereby a shovel wasn't going to even make a dent, it all became so much background noise.)

[Deleted]

I agree that the endless coverage soon becomes irritating white noise.  I don't know how many times I heard the "breaking news" sound on the tv only to go in the next room and see it applied to a community 50 miles or more away.  A local channel runs the "it's hot as hell and getting hotter" story 5-6 times in 1/2 hour newscast.  Yes it is hot and getting hotter-it's June in Texas and August will be a real bitch.  What's the news is this?  

[NoNamePerson]

Local station was scrolling "Severe Thunderstorm Warning" and listing all the counties in 3 states that might be affected. Then they started listing the "bays - bodies of waters - that were included. They listed our bay as being in another city for a while, then they caught the error and listed it in another state.

I actually was beginning to doubt that the bay is bordered by two counties in my state so I actually did a google search to make sure the bay hadn't sneaked into the Gulf and took a turn and wound up in Florida!!

So now when they start foaming at the mouth about weather I just yawn and make sure they are talking about the correct city/county/state.    

[Value Buy]

Well, in fairness Illinois got hit with a lot of storms, and had something like 14 tornados in the afternoon and over night.

[Value Buy]

It was interesting watching the storms develop in real time, blowing up in power as you watched the screen.

[Opti]

Jun 23, 2016 7:31:57 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Well, in fairness Illinois got hit with a lot of storms, and had something like 14 tornados in the afternoon and over night.

How bad were they and where did they hit? My family is all in Illinois.

[Opti]

Jun 22, 2016 12:42:35 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Teach the ones who panic to go to weather.com and watch their local radar.  They will know with nearly pinpoint accuracy whether or not bad weather is, in fact, headed their way.  Then, tell them to call you only if the weather is genuinely about to pound on them.  

(Says GRG who spent the winter of 2014-2015 listening to blizzard warning after blizzard warning while the Boston area got nailed with record snowfall.  After we crossed the 5 foot mark whereby a shovel wasn't going to even make a dent, it all became so much background noise.)

I love weather.com and check it regularly. However when it comes to developing snow storms, it helps to be able to access local TV coverage or perhaps paid internet coverage. I got caught by surprise twice this winter because weather.com was slow to update. One of those was the record snowfall in CNJ. I forget where the total ended up but it was at least 18" perhaps 2' plus. Since I am required to go to work in all kinds of weather, knowing this late, was a big deal. Sigh.

<--- Adds hard liquor to coffee

[Blonde Granny]

Jun 22, 2016 12:28:24 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

My MIL gets whipped into a frenzy by every severe weather warning. She'll call us several times to make sure we have flashlights and bottled water.

We go by whether or not bill ranby on channel 7 still has on his blazer. If the blazer us off and his sleeves are rolled up then we know it's time to panic.

KFSM, the CBS station in Ft. Smith is currently running a commercial about their "lead" weather guy.  The seriousness of the weather can be determined by how high his shirt sleeves are rolled up...REALLY?? That's my signal to run to the closet?

[Opti]

Jun 22, 2016 10:32:41 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Arrrgghhh!! We're in for some potentially stormy weather today... but the "it's the end of the world!" weather forecasts started yesterday afternoon.   I've got a couple of older folks (who watch a lot of tv)  and some slightly neurotic younger folks (who also watch a lot of TV)  in my circle who started getting anxious and nervous YESTERDAY.   Even to the point of suggesting that I NOT go to work today because the Tornados are coming!     

I KNOW stormy weather is dangerous. And I KNOW people need to be prepared.   But, the local news gives generic weather for a  several HUNDRED square mile area.   So, a severe storm warning/Tornado watch/warning for an area 100 miles away will be splashed across the TV screen OVER and OVER and OVER.    The Tornado that touches down 100 miles from my home will be splashed across the news for HOURS on end... making it feel like it happened right next door and the next tornado is setting it's target on our community.    

I tried to comfort/reassure  my 'circle of worriers'  that everything would be ok and that they should pay attention to WHERE the storms are on TV (our county? or someplace else?  A suburb near us or out in the cornfields?)  but it just pains me to see them whipped up into a frenzy of anxiety/fear by the never ending "weather news" coverage that doesn't even effect our area.

I also suggested that today might be a good day for them to watch DVDs or listen to NPR or sports  on radio.   And no, they probably didn't need to huddle around the emergency radio in the basement the whole day - waiting for the world to end.   They could always look out the window to see what their weather was and make plans accordingly.   

Why is typical bad weather so sensationalized?  

 

I think its because media is desperately looking for viewers/listeners and the OMG panic stuff is working for them.

[Opti]

Jun 23, 2016 7:57:35 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Jun 22, 2016 12:28:24 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

My MIL gets whipped into a frenzy by every severe weather warning. She'll call us several times to make sure we have flashlights and bottled water.

We go by whether or not bill ranby on channel 7 still has on his blazer. If the blazer us off and his sleeves are rolled up then we know it's time to panic.

KFSM, the CBS station in Ft. Smith is currently running a commercial about their "lead" weather guy.  The seriousness of the weather can be determined by how high his shirt sleeves are rolled up...REALLY?? That's my signal to run to the closet?

Someone probably noticed a correlation and the station decided to run with it. Don't you act and dress different at work in crisis mode versus everything is fine?

It might be unconscious, but odds are how high the shirt sleeves are rolled up are a sign of how concerned the lead weather guy is. FWIW.

[Tennesseer]

There are snow storms, ice storms, and even thunderstorms, (some with tornadic activity) during the cold months in the lower 48 states.

During the warm months, there are thunderstorms, tornadoes, and occasional hurricanes.

Unless there are extreme, ongoing severe thunderstorms with tornadic activity, there is really no need for continuous TV coverage of meteorologists going on-and-on for hours at a time reporting what we already know.  The news crawler at the bottom of our TV screens should suffice unless something drastically changes.

And the only reason TV stations and their meteorologists are on TV explaining the mundane, everyday storms for hours is because a competing, local TV station is doing too.  TV ratings and who has better news coverage is important to them but not to most of us.  

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Someone probably noticed a correlation and the station decided to run with it.

Someone commented on it on my Facebook page about did anyone else notice as the weather gets worse the higher Bill Ranby's sleeves get.    So we started paying attention.

It's now a running joke between us.   When MIL called in a panic about the weather once DH told her to turn it to Channel 7 and see if Bill's sleeves are rolled up yet.


We make the actual decision to take shelter based on the radar and sirens course we don't make it based on his shirt sleeves.   That's why I put a behind the comment.

[Tiny]

Well, here's an update: some bad weather went thru in the afternoon and then another line of storms came thru in the evening. I got home around 8:00pm and decided to watch some TV while I ate dinner (goat cheese, honey, crackers, and pears/grapes - my cats like goat cheese too...so they got in some 'quality time' with me.)

Every major channel of 'antenna tv' had a concerned weather person and 2 desk reporters following the storms - they had radar up, they had reporters in the field, it was ARMEGEDDON!!!! Everyone was serious, concerned, reporting on the various warnings/watches as they were posted.   They showed video of cars driving thru rain. They showed kids splashing in flooded streets, they showed a retention pond that overflowed into the auxillery retention pond (OMG! build an ark!!!)  They showed people outside pointing at the stormy clouds.   It was impressive.

After about 10 minutes of continuous coverage (of storms that weren't even in my area) I turned off the TV and did other stuff. I checked back around 8:30 - coverage still going strong! checked back at 9:00pm since it started thundering/lightning (the cats moved from the middle of the living room to under the dining room table - yellow 'caution!' alert (red 'the world is ending' alert is when Boy Cat goes under the bed and Girl Cat goes under the kitchen stove (it's an antique -it's on legs)).

About 9:05pm it rained. I've seen worse. it was done by 9:15pm. The cats moved from the dining room to the living room and we watched some more news coverage of the storms.

There was serious weather and tornados - that effected maybe 250,000 people (as the storms moved) out of the 8 million or so viewers. I don't see why ALL the stations had to have 3 hours of live coverage for this. Can't they just run that ribbon of 'warnings/watches' across the bottom of the screen? Highlight the counties/areas where the problems are on the little area map? Why did I (and millions of other people) need to have non stop storm coverage of areas that didn't involve us? Why?

I did get to watch some interesting stuff on Nazi Submarines from WWII on PBS though. I never realized exactly how crazy it was (the bunkers built with feet and feet and feet of concrete -- and some of the other stuff... I thought that was just comic book stuff).

[Tiny]

Jun 23, 2016 7:40:39 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jun 23, 2016 7:31:57 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Well, in fairness Illinois got hit with a lot of storms, and had something like 14 tornados in the afternoon and over night.

How bad were they and where did they hit? My family is all in Illinois.

 Here's the news:  6 official tornados - some damage to buildings, no deaths, few injuries.  

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-weather-severe-thunderstorms-tornado-threat-20160622-story.html

Sounds like for most of the people involved the threat of bad weather isn't taken lightly  and so they acted accordingly (regardless of how much TV coverage there was last night). 

[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 22, 2016 11:11:19 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I'm with you! I hate the local coverage of any kind of bad weather. I really don't need to know that the northernmost county in your viewing area is having a hard time, it's bright and sunny here. Stop telling me about for 6 hours straight!!!!!

I live in hurricane country and only worry about those if Jim Cantore shows up in my area.  That and if they're a Category 3 or higher. 

We've had Al Roker show up for a bad tropical storm. Situation not made better by Roker's constant commentary shouted from a rainswept balcony while he is trying to maintain verticality.

Our local weather wonks are idiots. A bad rainstorm sets them all scurrying to the Doppler to count lightning strikes and tell us when to the exact second the next storm cell will appear over our street.

[grits]

They are all fighting for ratings, and trying to keep their jobs.  If the public had sense, these people would be in trouble. Well, politicians, celebrities, scandal rags, you name it would be in trouble. 
I live in hurricane alley.  A level 2 or greater is a terrible danger.  Ike was only a level 2. 

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2016 18:39:57 GMT -5 grits said:

They are all fighting for ratings, and trying to keep their jobs.  If the public had sense, these people would be in trouble. Well, politicians, celebrities, scandal rags, you name it would be in trouble. 
I live in hurricane alley.  A level 2 or greater is a terrible danger.  Ike was only a level 2. 

We had a presentation on disaster prep at my HOA meeting last week.  I've lived on the East Coast and Gulf Coast all my life so this was snooze news to me but really important for folks new to the area.  Yes, it's been 8 years since Ike and Ike was "only" a Cat 2.  Our neighborhood didn't have much structure damage during Ike but we were two weeks without power, and before that, worse damage during "just a tropical storm" Allison.  I have the generator, tons of gasoline cans with special spouts for filling the genny, two portable A/C's, battery-powered radios, giant ice chest, blue ice, cases of bottled water, canned foods, more batteries than Energizer, and extra ammo because bad folks come out during the long dark nights without power.  This time of year we always reduce the food in the freezer/fridge, up the pantry contents, make sure we have adequate pet food on hand, and inventory the first aid stuff.  We have the only landline in the 'hood and this time I'm charging to use it when the cell service goes out.  Not nice, but calling me dinosaur ain't nice either.  Show me the coin or the dino ain't playing.  We also have amazing, light-weight, easy to install, easy to store, metal storm shutters for all windows and doors that DH designed and we fabricated. No more last minute dash to the box store for plywood, can't use it anyway because our windows have brick surround, too old to lift huge sheets of plywood, and no place to store during the years between storm.   

[grits]

I've lived very close to the coast and Lake Sabine all of my 57 years. We have to take level 2 storms seriously.  There is no riding one out.  The storm surge alone at Crystal Beach caused unbelievable damage and deaths.  I don't think they ever found all the bodies.  The 24 yr old son of a lady I know went to help them find bodies.  One was a woman who was 8 months pregnant.  When the government tells you if you stay, take a permanent marker and write your ID on your body, you are gambling with your life.
We had Rita too.  The storm had sustained winds on a navy ship for over 8 hrs of 120 mph+. It had gusts over 200 mph. The damage looked like bombs had been dropped everywhere. 
Tornadoes twisted steel power towers like pipe cleaners.