this looks like a texas storm

[Portastorm]

Here is one reason why folks in the Houston area are keeping an eye on Dennis ... this is from the morning forecast discussion out of Houston NWS:

THE UPPER TROUGH THAT IS FORECAST TO CAUSE THE CURVING OF (DENNIS)
THE FORECAST CURRENTLY POORLY SAMPLED AND NEAR THE ALEUTIANS...
FOLKS ALONG THE GULF COAST SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE FORECASTS FOR
DENNIS AS WE MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

[melhow]

You mind backing up the "should be fired" statement with some reasoning?

Sure thing. Could you imagine how people would be reacting here in FL if all of the forecasts suddenly had a big "DENNIS???" posted over the Sunday and Monday slots this early out? I have a feeling it would be kind of a panic, especially after last year, and ESPECIALLY since most folks don't drop onto weather websites to find out for themselves the dynamics of how storms work and instead depend on the local weather stations to tell them when and where a storm is going to hit.

You and I and lots of other people on this board know, yeah, Texas *might* be impacted (probably not), but the local person watching that station in Texas now is being told, WATCH OUT, you could be next, time to freak out. Maybe the local guy/gal on the station backed up his/her cutsy graphics with a nice, well thought out, responsible, descriptive forecast...maybe. But my guess is that they simply flashed the graphic up for a 30 second spot for everyone to see before they left for work and to talk and worry about all day long until they got home for the six o'clock news.

All I'm saying is that it seemed kind of dumb and really irresponsible to throw a graphic up like that when Texas is not even in a 5 day cone according to the NHC. My feeling is that the station probably did the graphic more for effect than for information, and that's bad journalism.

[Roxy]

You mind backing up the "should be fired" statement with some reasoning?

Sure thing. Could you imagine how people would be reacting here in FL if all of the forecasts suddenly had a big "DENNIS???" posted over the Sunday and Monday slots this early out? I have a feeling it would be kind of a panic, especially after last year, and ESPECIALLY since most folks don't drop onto weather websites to find out for themselves the dynamics of how storms work and instead depend on the local weather stations to tell them when and where a storm is going to hit.

You and I and lots of other people on this board know, yeah, Texas *might* be impacted (probably not), but the local person watching that station in Texas now is being told, WATCH OUT, you could be next, time to freak out. Maybe the local guy/gal on the station backed up his/her cutsy graphics with a nice, well thought out, responsible, descriptive forecast...maybe. But my guess is that they simply flashed the graphic up for a 30 second spot for everyone to see before they left for work and to talk and worry about all day long until they got home for the six o'clock news.

All I'm saying is that it seemed kind of dumb and really irresponsible to throw a graphic up like that when Texas is not even in a 5 day cone according to the NHC. My feeling is that the station probably did the graphic more for effect than for information, and that's bad journalism.

You don't know Houstonians very well at all. I doubt most of them are even paying attention or realize what a big storm this could be. Better to get some warning in now, or else get stuck with a bunch of stunned people later if it comes this way.

I think your assessment is totally off base.

[MannyG]

Right now I expect the Dennis??? to be on all forecast along the Gulf Coast (they put it in the New Orleans forecast before Cindy hit). Just a reminder to keep an eye on it. I don't expect anybody to freak out because of that graphic.

[gboudx]

The local mets here in DFW have mentioned the possibility that Dennis could affect our weather, depending on the track. The local NWS even mentioned it in this mornings forecast discussion. If the putting that graphic up on TV only gets people in the Houston area aware that a hurricane could affect the area, then maybe they watch the news more and keep a closer eye on things and can prepare in advance if it does pose a threat down the road.

[GalvestonDuck]

You mind backing up the "should be fired" statement with some reasoning?

Sure thing. Could you imagine how people would be reacting here in FL if all of the forecasts suddenly had a big "DENNIS???" posted over the Sunday and Monday slots this early out? I have a feeling it would be kind of a panic, especially after last year, and ESPECIALLY since most folks don't drop onto weather websites to find out for themselves the dynamics of how storms work and instead depend on the local weather stations to tell them when and where a storm is going to hit.

You and I and lots of other people on this board know, yeah, Texas *might* be impacted (probably not), but the local person watching that station in Texas now is being told, WATCH OUT, you could be next, time to freak out. Maybe the local guy/gal on the station backed up his/her cutsy graphics with a nice, well thought out, responsible, descriptive forecast...maybe. But my guess is that they simply flashed the graphic up for a 30 second spot for everyone to see before they left for work and to talk and worry about all day long until they got home for the six o'clock news.

All I'm saying is that it seemed kind of dumb and really irresponsible to throw a graphic up like that when Texas is not even in a 5 day cone according to the NHC. My feeling is that the station probably did the graphic more for effect than for information, and that's bad journalism.

That's a sad assessment. You're assuming that we have irresponsible mets who simply throw up a graphic to panic Houstonians and don't talk to us and explain what they're forecasting?

Here's what they have on the Click2Houston website. I'm sure they said basically the same thing on air:

Houston Metro Forecast
TROPICAL STORM CINDY HIT LOUISIANA OVERNIGHT & TROPICAL STORM DENNIS STRENGTHENS IN THE CARIBBEAN!

WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY: Dangerous & near record breaking heat continues with highs in the upper 90s. Rain chances the next few days stay right around 20%.

THIS WEEKEND: No real changes for us, but Dennis enters the Gulf, most likely as a strong Hurricane. Right now it looks to be an eastern Gulf of Mexico storm, but a westerly turn could spell trouble for Southeast Texas so we will keep a very close eye on this storm!!

[Stratosphere747]

I agree with you GDuck. Even though I don't like CH2 so much because the quote accuweather to the T, they do explain their reasoning.

Would not surprise me if forecasters from Brownsville to the Keys has a ? as far as Dennis goes...

[thetraveler]

I am not taking up for one side or the other whether this storm will hit the great state of Texas. When I saw the graphics of which tv station it was, that explained it all. The "we're all gonna die" programming there is why me and my family dont watch that station's news. Sensationalism seems to be their method of providing news. Just my honest opinion.
As far as Dennis is concerned IF and that is a big if, it strikes the upper Texas Coast as a major storm, lots and I mean LOTS of people will have to get out. All of the local news media will need to be cohesive in their information.
Personnally, I hope it dies in the grave yard of the Carribean and we get to go back to wandering where the next one comes from.
GLTA
The Traveler

[loon]

You have to listen to CH2....they have a dog don't they? How can you deny a dog......

[Roxy]

You have to listen to CH2....they have a dog don't they? How can you deny a dog......

Ok, that's just too funny.

That dang dog, gotta be the stupidest idea I've ever seen.

IMO, all of Houston's media is ALWAYS turning things into the end of the world. When I watch local news, I laugh. They suck.

[GalvestonDuck]

I prefer ABC13 myself, although Radar the Weather Dog is adorable!

[HouTXmetro]

I prefer ABC13 myself, although Radar the Weather Dog is adorable!

Adorable? I DON'T THINK SO!!

But yeah, every story on Ch2 is "Breaking News". They kill me. I perfers CBS 11 and Fox 26

[Johnny]

After reading this thread I've come to one conclusion. No one knows where Dennis is going. Could Dennis effect the upper Texas Coast? Yes. Could Dennis effect the central gulf coast? Yes. Maybe Florida? Yes.

Texas is now being mentioned because of the westward trend which started yesterday morning I believe. I mentioned yesterday that I believed that Dennis would not go north of Jamaica but rather skirt it just to the south and I'm sticking with this because of what past storms have done with similar tracks. If this holds true then this should move the forecast track even more westward. How far westward I don't know but I know that Texas has a very long coastline so yes, Texas should be mentioned as a possibilty along with the other gulf coast states. I for one do not want Dennis to pay me a visit because I am gong on vacation to the Hill Country Monday next week. If we are threatened as of late Friday then I will have to cancel my much anticipated vacation and that would suck. I plan on being on the banks of the Blanco River come Monday afternoon.
Now with this said, it's been a long time since we have had a major hurricane on the upper Texas coast. Most residents in this area (including me) can't even imagine a major hurricane effecting us. When I think of Dennis hitting the upper Texas coast it just doesn't seem possible. I just won't and can't happen. I know that it can happen but these are my thoughts. This is the way I think and I'm a very big weather nut. I know that if I'm thinking this way then the majority of us here in Southeast, Texas must think this way. I even bet Texans on this board think this way. With that said, Dennis isn't coming here.

[melhow]

I prefer ABC13 myself, although Radar the Weather Dog is adorable!

Well, I take it all back. The folks that are relying on "Radar the Weatherdog" for their up-to-the-minute accurate and non-sensationalist weather forecasts probably need the graphics.

[GalvestonDuck]

I thought it was kind of funny myself when 13 came up with their own mascot, Doppler the Weather Dog (a Chia pet):

[Roxy]

I thought it was kind of funny myself when 13 came up with their own mascot, Doppler the Weather Dog (a Chia pet):

I agree, that was just TOOOO funny!

[JenyEliza]

You mind backing up the "should be fired" statement with some reasoning?

Sure thing. Could you imagine how people would be reacting here in FL if all of the forecasts suddenly had a big "DENNIS???" posted over the Sunday and Monday slots this early out? I have a feeling it would be kind of a panic, especially after last year, and ESPECIALLY since most folks don't drop onto weather websites to find out for themselves the dynamics of how storms work and instead depend on the local weather stations to tell them when and where a storm is going to hit.

You and I and lots of other people on this board know, yeah, Texas *might* be impacted (probably not), but the local person watching that station in Texas now is being told, WATCH OUT, you could be next, time to freak out. Maybe the local guy/gal on the station backed up his/her cutsy graphics with a nice, well thought out, responsible, descriptive forecast...maybe. But my guess is that they simply flashed the graphic up for a 30 second spot for everyone to see before they left for work and to talk and worry about all day long until they got home for the six o'clock news.

All I'm saying is that it seemed kind of dumb and really irresponsible to throw a graphic up like that when Texas is not even in a 5 day cone according to the NHC. My feeling is that the station probably did the graphic more for effect than for information, and that's bad journalism.

You don't know Houstonians very well at all. I doubt most of them are even paying attention or realize what a big storm this could be. Better to get some warning in now, or else get stuck with a bunch of stunned people later if it comes this way.

I think your assessment is totally off base.

I can confirm that statement...having just spent 5 days North of Houston and driving 15 hours from Houston to Atlanta yesterday. We got all the way to Baton Rouge before we even KNEW there was tropical weather of ANY kind in the works--much less Cindy AND Dennis.

We drove straight into the first rain bands of Cindy before I got curious and tuned into one of the "weather stations" posted on the highway signage. Only caught the tail end of these broadcasts so didn't get much info. Finally, in desperation, called back to Houston and asked my sister what was going on and she said "Oh, there's two Hurricanes...one going for Louisiana and one for Florida". Grrr..

My take on Houstonians and weather right now: They want RAIN...and they want temps below 100 degrees. I don't think they're as much concerned about panicking over a Hurricane as wanting relief from these early drought and high heat conditions. I actually took a picture of my sister's outdoor thermometer reading 104 in the shade over the July 4th weekend.

Jeny

[southerngale]

melhow, if putting the words "Dennis?" below the forecast 6 days out causing ANYONE to panic and they perceive it as time to "FREAK OUT", I believe the problem lays with the individual, not the weather forecaster.

[jasons2k]

agreed

[jasons2k]

sorry about the blank - just wanted to say I agree w/ southerngale