Delaware News

Mega-storm next weekend? National Weather Service Says Don’t Believe It

Delaware Emergency Management Agency | Date Posted: Friday, January 31, 2014



(Smyrna) – As an illustration of how quickly information, whether correct or erroneous, can go viral on the internet, social media sites been buzzing in recent days with rumors that a massive snowstorm will paralyze the mid-Atlantic region during early February.

Gary Szatkowski, Head Meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mount Holly, New Jersey has received inquires about the rumored storm.  Here is his response: “To our emergency management and other key partners, many of you have been asked about a possible monster snowstorm about 10 days from now.  A graphic has also been going around about the same storm showing huge amounts of snowfall in the region.  I have responded on this topic to one state emergency management agency, as well as three county emergency management agencies, who in turn have been dealing with inquiries about this storm.

                                                                                                     

I have been sending the response below regarding the graphic and am sharing it with all of you now to help you deal with any inquiries.  It’s simply a graphic showing long-range model output.  When you say ‘is there any truth to this’, it depends what you mean.

 

If you’re asking if it is an accurate depiction of the information contained in a computer model, the answer is ‘yes’.  If you’re asking if you should bet your house on the forecast being right that far out in time, my answer would be ‘only if you wish to be homeless’.

 

If you’re asking my opinion, it’s a highly inflammatory action on the part of irresponsible people. Although the science of meteorology has made great strides, we have not suddenly developed the ability to forecast blizzards 10 days out.  It’s been a difficult winter for many people.  Exploiting people’s emotions regarding the weather to drive web site visits or Facebook likes is highly unethical & unprofessional.

 

That’s what’s going on here.

 

I went on one of the weather discussion websites referenced in the graphic, and that person has already posted an apology with appropriate caveats similar to above.”

 

The National Weather Service and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) monitor weather conditions.  No one can responsibly or accurately predict, at this time, any weather condition that may occur a week or more from now.

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Mega-storm next weekend? National Weather Service Says Don’t Believe It

Delaware Emergency Management Agency | Date Posted: Friday, January 31, 2014



(Smyrna) – As an illustration of how quickly information, whether correct or erroneous, can go viral on the internet, social media sites been buzzing in recent days with rumors that a massive snowstorm will paralyze the mid-Atlantic region during early February.

Gary Szatkowski, Head Meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mount Holly, New Jersey has received inquires about the rumored storm.  Here is his response: “To our emergency management and other key partners, many of you have been asked about a possible monster snowstorm about 10 days from now.  A graphic has also been going around about the same storm showing huge amounts of snowfall in the region.  I have responded on this topic to one state emergency management agency, as well as three county emergency management agencies, who in turn have been dealing with inquiries about this storm.

                                                                                                     

I have been sending the response below regarding the graphic and am sharing it with all of you now to help you deal with any inquiries.  It’s simply a graphic showing long-range model output.  When you say ‘is there any truth to this’, it depends what you mean.

 

If you’re asking if it is an accurate depiction of the information contained in a computer model, the answer is ‘yes’.  If you’re asking if you should bet your house on the forecast being right that far out in time, my answer would be ‘only if you wish to be homeless’.

 

If you’re asking my opinion, it’s a highly inflammatory action on the part of irresponsible people. Although the science of meteorology has made great strides, we have not suddenly developed the ability to forecast blizzards 10 days out.  It’s been a difficult winter for many people.  Exploiting people’s emotions regarding the weather to drive web site visits or Facebook likes is highly unethical & unprofessional.

 

That’s what’s going on here.

 

I went on one of the weather discussion websites referenced in the graphic, and that person has already posted an apology with appropriate caveats similar to above.”

 

The National Weather Service and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) monitor weather conditions.  No one can responsibly or accurately predict, at this time, any weather condition that may occur a week or more from now.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.