Why does the Weather Channel suck at making forecasts?

Question

They said my town was supposed to get 4-8" of snow, we got 2". And they always get the temperature wrong as well.

Answer 1

They concentrate more on "global warming" than actually spending time making real, accurate forecasts. TWC is a crock of crap. If you want an accurate forecast go to http://nws.noaa.gov

Answer 2

Like all the forecasters, predicting the weather is an inexact science. So don't expect 100% accuracy. Forecasts are often based on models and probabilities. So it's a game of chance.

Answer 3

They all get their weather information from the National Weather Service who runs the computer models which are re-initialized daily (and more frequently) with data. Some of this data includes soundings reports (weather balloons) that are released around the country.

While the weather models keep getting higher fidelity- there are so many constantly changing variables (i.e. the butterfly effect) that we're still a long way off from predicting every cloud formation.

let me guess.... you live in Pennsylvania?

Answer 4

2 reasons.

1. Making precise predictions as to snowfall amounts, rainfall, or temperatures is an in-exact science at best. They are only a little better than the Old Farmers Almanac. They're pretty good at predicting when it might start and when it might end within a 1/2 a day or so but that's about it.

2. They spent their entire R&D and equipment upgrade budget promoting the war against capitalism and it's connection to global warming.

Answer 5

All I can say is 'better than you could ever do'.

Day, in day out. The things we collective do not understand about meteorology and forecasting still exceed the things we do understand (and can use).

http://www.stuffintheair.com/what-is-meteorology.html

We're working on it.

Answer 6

Snow storms are very hard to predict overall. If the main storm system moves by as little as 20 miles, that will effect who gets heavy snow and who gets far less.


for exaple, Chicago Ohare had 10.2 inches of snow yesterday while not far away on the nw side, it only had 7.5 inches.

Answer 7

I'm happy to say that the local satellite doesn't carry them, and that (thank God) I haven't had to shovel snow in over 10 years and wear only short sleeve shirts :-))

Answer 8

Call TWC and ask them. Being a Meteorologist isnt really easy. They dont get paid 150,000-200,000 a year for just guessing for nothing

Answer 9

Because most of them are too busy on their knees under somebody's desk.