Storm of the Year 2008: Winner - Hurricane Ike

[KWT]

Can't believe Nargis didn't win!

Whilst Ike was severe, its quite unreal that Nargis hasn't won...

May as well just turn the contest into America storm of the year because no global storm will ever win it if Nargis didnt win it!

[CrazyC83]

There is definitely a bias towards US events, since many less-active members are probably not as aware of world events since they don't get a lot of media attention. But there is NO comparison between Ike and Nargis (even though Ike was definitely devastating). Nargis's death toll was over 1,000 times that of Ike!

[Category 5]

From now on we should post facts and statistics from each storm. That way we can avoid gross mistakes like this one.

[vbhoutex]

From now on we should post facts and statistics from each storm. That way we can avoid gross mistakes like this one.

I was just going to suggest the same, except to propose more open discussion of what one expects the storm to do. Much of the discussion of the non-US storms is just cut and paste of official watches, warnings, etc. as opposed to open discussion which we see when there is a US threat. This is not of much interest except to the more technically oriented weather afficiondos on the site. Perhaps a more "educational" approach to each storm, no matter where it occurs is in order. Another suggestion to go along with this is that after landfall(s) be sure that the true effects of the aftermath of the storm are posted. I think this would go a long way towards "correcting" what some perceive as "wrong".

[Chacor]

The only way there will be anything other than official advisories (and this goes even for EPac storms) is if people get involved. If it's always the same few of us then we just go "what's the point, the only people who will see this are the same few guys anyway".

It's a vicious cycle.

[vbhoutex]

The only way there will be anything other than official advisories (and this goes even for EPac storms) is if people get involved. If it's always the same few of us then we just go "what's the point, the only people who will see this are the same few guys anyway".

It's a vicious cycle.

It doesn't have to be that way. You can either give up or try something new to enhance the threads to make them more interesting to the general board population. The staff cannot make others become interested in or read the threads concerning international TC's, but those with knowldege of and interest in them can make an effort to make it a more viable and interesting part of the experience here at STORM2K.

As an example, we have strived for years to make this a "year round" weather site with no lack of posting during the winter months. We have made some progress, but are far from other sites in the amount of posting during the winter months, due mainly to our tropical bent here. But we haven't thrown up our hands and said "oh well it is a viscious cycle". We are constantly looking for ways to enhance that part of the experience here at S2K. I am constantly on the prowl for more pro-mets, especially with winter weather expertise.

Another expample is the amount of pro-mets we have registered here at S2K. There are a lot of them. You don't see all that many posting, but they are registered here. I could throw up my hands and ..., but I haven't. I just keep on trying and we keep on registering them and we do get more adding their knowledge here to help those of us less knowledgeable about the weather.

Sometimes you have to work harder for something you want that isn't just happening. JMHO

[Typhoon Hunter]

What a sad reflection on this website that the deadliest tropical cyclone in years, responsible for over 100,000 deaths is outvoted by hurricane Ike.

[vbhoutex]

What a sad reflection on this website that the deadliest tropical cyclone in years, responsible for over 100,000 deaths is outvoted by hurricane Ike.

Why is it a sad reflection on this website? How many people know how deadly it was? It is something that was not widely reported in the news, at least that I saw, and those on this website who did know about it apparently did not do a lot to bring those facts to others attention here. See my posts above.

[southerngale]

Good grief, guys. As already posted in this thread, those who don't follow the weather worldwide, likely don't even know about the devastation caused by Nargis. It wasn't covered by the news in America very much, as far as I know. While we're always adding new members from various parts of the world, the majority of the members are from America. They may not even know about Nargis!

What I find sad is all the whining. It's a poll on Storm2k, not a scientific poll by Gallup. 38 people voted and that is somehow a sad reflection on this website? Come on. Most people are going to vote for what they know about, what affected them, what affected others they know, etc. That's just normal.

[Chacor]

Shall I point out for the record the thread on Nargis at viewtopic.php?f=54&t=100816 reached 37 pages? It was also widely covered by CNN.

Next time please provide a link to each of the storms' threads in the archives/respective winter or USA weather forum, at least people will take their time, hopefully, to click and read.

[CajunMama]

How much more "Captain Obvious" can you get with Active Storms-All Basins having its own forum on the main index page? No need to provide links within other forums.

[Chacor]

How much more "Captain Obvious" can you get with Active Storms-All Basins having its own forum on the main index page? No need to provide links within other forums.

You're missing my point. I mean provide links to topics. For example, I might not know where to find the topic on the New Orleans snow event. Providing me a link directly to that topic will help. People are lazy by nature and may not be willing to take the extra few seconds to find the right forum. If you provide them a link right to the topic, they can see for themselves the past discussion on it.

[CajunMama]

so clutter up the board with links to everything?

[CrazyC83]

Maybe just give damage and death toll numbers (if available), but nothing more detailed. We shouldn't be trying to sway people into voting one way.

[Chacor]

so clutter up the board with links to everything?

How would it clutter up the board? For example, the Nargis thread is at viewtopic.php?f=54&t=100816.

All you'd need to do in the post with the storm of the month poll is run down the options in a list, like:

January - January 7-10 Outbreak
February - Super Tuesday Outbreak
March - Atlanta Tornado
May - Cyclone Nargis
June - Typhoon Fengshen
July - Hurricane Bertha
August - Tropical Storm Fay
September - Hurricane Ike
October - Hurricane Omar
November - Hurricane Paloma
December - Houston-New Orleans Winter Storm

Just with the appropriate links directly to its discussion topic. Remember a lot of the TC links will be buried in the archive, and not many will bother to search for it.

[vbhoutex]

Maybe just give damage and death toll numbers (if available), but nothing more detailed. We shouldn't be trying to sway people into voting one way.

Obviously some others think we should be trying to sway others votes by their reaction to the results of what was posted as a legitmate poll without anyone trying to influence anyone one way or the other.

[AJC3]

Gang, no matter how many stats and the like are posted about each storm, a poll of this type is still going to be subject to both "U.S. - centric" and regional biases based on the location of our members.

I'm sure a portion of the voters were well aware of the damage and casualty statistics were for each storm, including Nargis, and chose to vote for a system that impacted them personally. Are you going to tell them they made the wrong choice?

"Storm of the Year" means different things to different peeps. I didn't vote for Nargis, and I didn't vote for Ike either.

I voted for the storm that dumped nearly two feet of rain at my house in 24 hours. Someone want to step up to the plate and tell me why that wasn't the "right" choice?

[Ed Mahmoud]

Gang, no matter how many stats and the like are posted about each storm, a poll of this type is still going to be subject to both "U.S. - centric" and regional biases based on the location of our members.

I'm sure a portion of the voters were well aware of the damage and casualty statistics were for each storm, including Nargis, and chose to vote for a system that impacted them personally. Are you going to tell them they made the wrong choice?

"Storm of the Year" means different things to different peeps. I didn't vote for Nargis, and I didn't vote for Ike either.

I voted for the storm that dumped nearly two feet of rain at my house in 24 hours. Someone want to step up to the plate and tell me why that wasn't the "right" choice?

You were the sole vote for Fay?

Not how I would have voted, but very original.

ETA: 5 days w/o electricity, missed Cowboys/Eagles game and USC/OSU game, my wife's grandparents beach place in Galveston ruined, and I still managed to vote for Nargis.

But to each his own.

[AJC3]

You were the sole vote for Fay?

Not how I would have voted, but very original.

ETA: 5 days w/o electricity, missed Cowboys/Eagles game and USC/OSU game, my wife's grandparents beach place in Galveston ruined, and I still managed to vote for Nargis.

But to each his own.

Exactly, Ed.

This wasn't a poll for "Most Impacting Storm of the Year", "Most Intense Storm of the Year", "Most Damaging Storm of the Year", or "Storm with the Most Casualties of the Year".

It was "Storm of the Year". Nothing more, nothing less.

Many peeps likely used one or more of the criteria listed above in making their choice. That's all well and good. Their choice was theirs to make.

I chose a storm that: 1) impacted a large portion of Florida, 2) produced probably the highest volumetric rainfall total ever to fall over the Saint Johns River drainage basin during a single weather event, 3) flooded many people out for months, and 4) dumped two feet of rain at my house, creating a very surreal environment to live/commute in for a few days.

Fay was my personal choice for "Storm of the Year", and is no more or no less valid a choice than any of the others made in the poll.

[Category 5]

I think another thing is that different people have a different definition of "Storm of the year". Some look for impact, some look for the strange, some look for personal impact, and others just vote for what they know.