So, yeah, it's pretty official now: We're in a drought. It's pretty severe. And we're now heading into Summer where when it gets hotter and water consumption is higher and will only make matters worse. The weather, outside a few sprinkle hiccups, has been consistent: dry. There's no surprise spring storms on the horizon. The weather people are repeating themselves again which has become a rather ridiculous sport here. Even though it may fill time the repetitious, constant same-old-story "forecasts" bores the heck out of viewers who don't pay attention anymore because they're simply used to it. Here's a radical idea: why not, weather meteorologists, take a detour from the excess nothingness of your usual reports. Get the "weather vans" out into the field. Talk to water people. Interview some climatologists and ask about El Nina, El Nino, La Nina, Nina Winga, whatever. In other words, don't stick to the playbook. How many times does one hear this: "Coastal fog in the morning; it'll break away further inland; sunshine away from the coast." That's your forecast even without a drought during the Bay Area Summer. I love it when there's a chance of a 'disturbance which at most provides heavy mist and most of our weather people go ga-ga. It's not only foolish, it wreaks of desperation. WE HAVE NO WEATHER!
Be creative, weather people. Like I said, do your forecasts because we all know that God forbid, a newscast devoid of a weather report is akin to wiping away the inevitable live shot from the Walnut Creek fountain interviewing kids eating ice cream cones during the first heat wave.
We're not talking radical ideas here just a break from the local TV News minutiae --it's a complete waste of time. I watch Steve Paulson on KTVU because he gives me honesty and creativity. He takes his viewers seriously and doesn't dumb down the idea that the weather isn't changing anytime soon. Same deal with Paul Deanno at KPIX and Christina Loren at KNTV both of whom have gone outside of the box and provided something different. If you have a " mobile weather lab" on the premises then why the hell not use it! Go out to Stinson Beach, for example, when the tide is high and bring along some weather geek from the NWS and ask him if there's any connection between ocean tides and 7-day forecasts. OK, so it's different --pardon me for offering a bit of creativity and newness from the same old visual malaise. At the very least, you have a beautiful picture and something different. It's not going to cost anymore and it'll pump up the volume. What a revolution!
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Hey great idea...our weather report/coverage is boring compared to how they present the weather out of the east coast stations.
ReplyDeleteGet into a "mobile weather van" to go interview water people and climatologists. Oh yeah, that would be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteIn many west coast markets it's not about the weather anymore. Unless the weather is the lead story, it's really about the Weather Model" and her fashion blog.
ReplyDeleteErica Kato never vetted her blog properly
Take a look at Amy Carabba from KMAX/KVVU/KSWB
It's all about ME!
Out here it's either the "weather model" or the weather gadget (like Doppler 7000) where they try to make you think that they have the latest and greatest whiz-bang forecasting tool compared to those other oh-so-old 2014 stations.
DeleteNow if you'll excuse me, I have to go find the matching sandwiches or the sushi pix.
How about some pictures of the reservoirs of the Bay Area counties? How about explanations of how water bill is higher and higher even though using less water and of course it will never go down. I don't water outside and my water bill is over $80 per month in my 1000 sq ft house. Should be a way for minimal water users to not be hit with larger bills as many of us are on limited incomes to start with.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor went away for over a month and no one else lived in his house and he got a $100 water bill when he returned. They said water use was the same. He said that was impossible, no one was home. They actually asked if he was sure someone didn't come into his house and use his water.
DeleteI miss that none of the local weather people ever tie in the drought to other local effects like a biologist would or somebody into natural sciences. Like the thousands of people who go to or volunteer at nature centers would want to know or see told. Sure,they only have a short time..but if they have something worthwhile to add the weather news could last a minute or two longer.
ReplyDeleteI mean,Niles Canyon water level is lower then I have ever seen it in half a century. Its end of summer low,only LOWER then that.
How do these meteor men and woman go to college and have no idea of what the weather does on local flora and fauna?
"How do these meteor men and woman go to college and have no idea of what the weather does on local flora and fauna?"
DeleteBrilliant question Stan!
If you think Bay Area weatherpersons bad, try Los Angeles. There is absolutely no weather there and several weatherpersons moonlight as stand up comics.
ReplyDeleteJackie Johnson comes to mind as a weather standout.
DeleteSo is Evelyn Taft.
DeleteOverpopulation is a big part of the drought. Too many people using limited resources.
ReplyDeleteOkay, move away.
Delete90 percent of the water in CA goes to AG or is wasted for the now non-existent delta smelt and othe feel-good enviro projects. Over 1 trillion gallons go to producing almonds which are mostly sold over seas. Millions of gallons go to the production of alfalfa which is sold overseas to saudi camel farmers. Most farms in the central valley are not on water meters. The drought is manufactured and big-farm biz is to blame.
Delete(source ABC News)
Was born and raised here 5:48.
DeleteEven if a lot is going to agriculture, that goes to providing food for people and building the economy. It is irresponsible and NOT environmentally friendly to allow more folks here who come illegally, or to condone overbreeding by anyone. Overpopulation IS the biggest threat to the environment as a whole, and people having more than 3 kids are contributing the most to the problem!
6:30 and 10:59
DeleteWow, just wow.
10:59
DeleteWell to solve this problem due to your dense points you're an obvious surplus to requirements in California. Please exit stage left .
Did not they try this on Nightbeat with no ties?
ReplyDeleteThat new guy Drew on KGO7 mixes in some scientific nuggets in his weather casts. I like him. He's cute too.
ReplyDeleteAccording to National Geographic, the greenhouse effect and global warming are every bit as bad as they say it is.
ReplyDelete