Winter Driving Suck

[Kristev]

It used to be said (and quite accurate) that a tarot reader or a psychic can better predict the weather than most meteorologists.

[sms001]

most local news forecasters actually don't hold degrees in meteorology at all.

I don't know if it is mandated by law or regulation, but now that I think about it, most of them are acknowledged as one or the other --- "staff meteorologist" or "weatherman."

And I can see why it'd make a difference. I'd read the stat before, but took me a while to find.¹ Weather is the number one reason people decide on a local news channel. Which kinda explains that intense "SuperMega DopplerTwelve PinPoint Bringsyouanumbrellaifyoullneedone" competition you see all the time.




¹"The most popular local topics are weather (89% of people get it), breaking news
(80%); local politics (67%) and crime (66%)." [Pew Knight Local News Report, p. 4]

[WoodenSunshine]

On the topic of weather forecasters: I recently learned in my meteorology class that most local news forecasters actually don't hold degrees in meteorology at all. Which might also help explain why some (though certainly not all) of them seem to get everything wrong.

On winter driving: Last winter I spun out and hit a guard rail in a in an SUV with snow tires and four-wheel drive while driving under the speed limit. Lucky enough to not damage the car (drove it away with only minor damage) or anyone else, not lucky enough to see the icy-slush I was driving into as I took the corner until it was too late.

About the local weather forcasters, that makes sense. I'm not going to tease them too much, because weather forcasting is not where near an exact science.

I'm glad you're okay! I suppose I'll appreciate the fact that I didn't hit anything.