What do you think about TWC coverage of the tropics?

[Dave C]

I heard that Lisa Mozer was joining Steve Lyons with Tropical update coverage . Another problem they have is when the regular mets do the tropical update segment. There may be no action in the Atlantic yet a big typhoon in the pacific, one met will show it, then the next met who follows will show nothing but useless sat. pics or they try to be "talking heads" and run out of time . They need to coordinate each day and follow some kind of uniform coverage from one person to the next IMO. Maybe if any typhoons threaten Guam this year they could do live shots by video-phone or something, and maybe show the Doppler radar pics that Guam has available (I must be dreaming)

[Steve]

I agree with the masses. I remember when they'd go to "Code Yellow" or "Code Red" back in the 80's during a threat.

John Hope was a great forecaster, and we'd usually watch the updates at x:50 whenever there was something close by.

Nowadays, I'd say their on-site coverage is pretty good. Seidell, Cantore and the other guy they have out there do a good job reporting from affected areas. I give them an A on that portion.

But the updates with Dr. Steve just aren't that good. He knows what he's talking about, but he often downplays situations where any rank amateur can see development in process. He's decent at forecasting California surf effects from EPAC storms (and will tell you which directionally-facing beaches will have the high waves), but you don't get much more from Steve than what you can get yourself from the NHC site. I think he's decent, but he tows the so-called company line. Every now and then he'll draw in a windfield or something, but the TU's aren't what they were in the early and mid-80's. And frankly, neither is The Weather Channel.

Steve

[Anonymous]

I still watch the weather channel alot infact probably to much. One thing is and this is just my opinion here is that storms can be washing Texas away, blowing us away and they will stand right in the center of Texas forecasting days on sun for New York for like 10 minutes and have spent only about a minute talking about Texas. I hate it when they stand if front of Texas can't see but the can reach way over pointing at New York. I want to yell at the T.V. and tell them get out of the way please!Is it just me or has anyone else noticed this?

[robag]

I loved the tropical update with John Hope. He was awesome during Andrew. Steve Lyons is a very adept forecaster, but he lacks the enthusiasm of Hope. Personally, I wish Cantore would take over the tropical section. He has a lot of personality. Is Dave Swartz still there? He was good as well. I hope Moser has learned her geography by now.

[Thunder44]

It's best with Dr. Steve Lyons. Jim Cantore and some of the other "enthusiastic" mets be would be good also. I only had TWC for the last few years so I didn't really didn't see a whole with John Hope but he wasn't bad when I saw him.

[CocoaBill]

We have to remember what The Weather Channel really is..... it is not a scientific research center, it is not a university providing technical knowledge and learning for weather gurus -- it is a business that wants to make money by appealing to the masses and advertisers. Most of the public barely pays attention to what they should concerning the tropics -- so TWC give them the mediocrity the general public is expecting. Mediocrity, unfortunately is sufficient because it pays the bills and the public expects no more.

[Downdraft]

Since John Hope passed away frankly it's not worth watching. Steve Lyon's just doesn't inspire confidence like Hope did. All they really do is mirror the NHC anyway. Lyon's is all NHC while Bastardi at InAccurateWeather is totally the other way. You'll learn more here in one day than Lyon's will give you in a week.