What Is Up With These Weather Forecasts?

[Christine]

We are either going to get:

A snow/sleet mix

1-3 inches of snow with some sleet

2-4 inches of snow

4-6 inches of snow

Four different reports--how can they be so different?

 

[kaylajr]

The weathermen are the only people who can be WRONG every single day
and still have a job to go back to

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I don't know, but I wish they'd stick to a story.

 

[Christine]

The weathermen are the only people who can be WRONG every single day
and still have a job to go back to

Very true. My mom works for NOAA and she told me that they have spent billions on satellites and equipment to better predict the weather but they seem to be getting worse!

 

[Hercules10]

In Texas weather forecasters use a dart board followed-up with a "Ya'll be cahful out there now, ya heah"

I wouldn't want their jobs.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Very true. My mom works for NOAA and she told me that they have spent billions on satellites and equipment to better predict the weather but they seem to be getting worse!

Maybe they're affraid of getting buried.

 

[golfgal]

There are just too many variables to predict things long term. Weather patters can shift even just a few miles and dramatically effect how much snow or rain will fall in an area.

 

[lovinwdw]

I have heard 2 different forcasts today. First thing this morning on Fox 5 Mike Woods said we aren't going to get hit as bad as they had originally thought. But, when I got into work, I heard Bill Evans on WPLJ say that we are going to get snow all day tomorrow. To take a snow day or not to take a snow day...what shall I ever do

 

[Kahana-ri]

I love the fact that I can watch our three local news stations and they all have different weather forecast for the day. Its the worst when I am trying to find expected snowfall totals!

 

[golfgal]

Think of it this way, every person on this board has a different opinion on Disney, they like different things they see things differently at the various parks, resorts, etc. The "facts" of Disney are all the same, the layout of the parks, how the rides run, etc. but everyone interprets things differently. Take that over to weather and the weather people look at 20 different computer models all telling them something slightly different. Each forecaster is going to interpret them slightly differently too.

Our last storm was supposed to hit our town the hardest at the beginning of the tracking period. Well, the storm didn't move as fast as predicted at first, then it shifted the track some and the worst hit to the west of us. Weather predictions just aren't that perfect yet.

 

[boomhauer]

In Boston, our 3 major networks all have a different story for tomorrow.

3-6 inches

4-8 inches

6-12 inches

They have no clue.

 

[Christine]

Weather predictions just aren't that perfect yet.

I think what is funny is, is that when it comes to snowstorms, I don't think we are any better at predicting them then we were 20 years ago. Yet, we have spent tons of money on upgraded equipment--and I mean TONS. Granted, I think we are doing a lot better at forecasting other types of storms, but we are severely lacking when it comes to snowstorms.

I'd just like to know when I go to bed at night that, if I'm taking 8 hours vacation because of snow that I really don't have to get up in the morning. The way this forecast is going, I won't know until it's time to head out the door.

 

[chris1gill]

In Boston, we will either get No snow, or we could possibly get up to three inches, or there's the slight probability that we will get between 6-10 with the off chance of getting more than one foot....

Now, see?? You didn't even have to pay me to tell you the forecast for tomorrow.