Do you trust your local met?

[mobilebay]

I trust them to tell me exactly what the NHC issues. Where I'm at we get zero insight. They don't tell you anything that is going on with the Hurricane, such as shear, dry air, etc. It's just coordinates, and a few Satellite images.

[stormcloud]

If you're talking TV mets, there is a good reason why you don't hear them talk much about shear, dry air etc. 99.9% of the viewers could care less. They only want to know- "is the storm is heading my way?" The only time I find it valid to talk about shear etc is if there is a high amount of uncertainty in a forecast. Even then most of the audience is beginning to find their remotes.....

[mobilebay]

Thanks for the reply. Even when they are in hurricane warning mode (on the air continuous) they will not talk about the steering environment, or weakening and strengthening phases, just coordinates and Sat., and radar images. However, I do understand what you are saying, and it makes since.

[stormcloud]

Also to be a good teacher, one must understand the subject. Some (not all) of the TV mets don't understand the subject well enough to explain it. There's the rub......

[mobilebay]

Also to be a good teacher, one must understand the subject. Some (not all) of the TV mets don't understand the subject well enough to explain it. There's the rub......

I agree 100%. Some are very smart, while others don't seem to understand the Tropics at all.

[HURAKAN]

John Morales, trust him 100%.

[mobilebay]

The mets around here explain the Tropics like everyone is in the first grade..

[TampaFl]

The tv mets here in the Tampa Bay area are very good especially when hurricanes are threating. Steve Jerve & John Winter @ News Channel 8 are very good along with Mike Clay & Alan Winfield @ Bay News 9. Also Dick Fletcher @ Channel 10 and Dennis Phillips @ Channel 28 are also very good.

Robert

[vbhoutex]

Also to be a good teacher, one must understand the subject. Some (not all) of the TV mets don't understand the subject well enough to explain it. There's the rub......

And in our market we have both ends of the stick!! Your coworker, Dr. Neil Frank is who I turn to when I want more than the fluff. Some of the rest in Houston are pretty good, but some are just fluff, like anywhere. We are quite fortunate to have Dr. Neil.

[LaBreeze]

I am a firm follower of both Rob Perillo and Dave Baker on TV3 out of Lafayette. Rob explains everything and does a really good job. Both know their subject matter and the tropics very well.

[The Big Dog]

When it comes to hurricanes, I think I'll be watching Mike Lyons on Channel 25 from now on. The on-air flame war between Chs. 5 and 12 during Erin in 1995 still stinks to this day -- One says "Don't watch that other channel because they don't have the REAL Doppler radar." The other responds with "Don't watch those guys because they are telling people this when they should be telling them that."

Then during Jeanne last year, one of them -- don't remember which station -- couldn't put down his telestrator pen during an emergency managment briefing and felt the need to highlight the screen with "POSS. CAT 4!!" Thought he was John Madden or something. Lyons was just telling it like it was, not sensationalizing, trying to incite panic, or proclaiming that Palm Beach was about to be returned to the Atlantic.

[AussieMark]

I watch Fox News for their cane info how do they rank in the overall scheme of things

[depotoo]

our channel 5 was the best duirng the threat of approaching frances and jeanne. i don't watch them the rest of the time but they really came thru in my opinion where the others did not during that time. when the evacuations still had not been ordered and should have for jeanne they were telling everyone that normally does to please get out which was a good thing.

[BayouVenteux]

And in our market we have both ends of the stick!! Your coworker, Dr. Neil Frank is who I turn to when I want more than the fluff. Some of the rest in Houston are pretty good, but some are just fluff, like anywhere. We are quite fortunate to have Dr. Neil.

Yes, you are fortunate. IMHO, Dr. Neil was the best on-camera representative the NHC has ever had. Always plain-spoken and concise, quick to correct the (I'll put it kindly) "less than knowlegable" newscasters interviewing him, and a great presence of authority on camera...not to mention a walking meteorological encyclopaedia. It's no wonder he quickly became the "go-to guy" in Houston.

[dhweather]

First and foremost, I trust myself when it comes to storms and what to do.
Right now, I will give you a disclaimer - the overwhelming majority of
folks need to listen to local mets and emergency officials for guidance.
I'm not a met (should have done it, but computer science won out in my choice of majors).
I don't play one on TV, and didn't even stay at
a Holiday Inn Express last night. But I have read and studied the tropics
obsessively for well over 20 years.

I greatly value the opinions of the pro mets here - they provide great
input, knowledge, and reference. They'll even answer questions for anyone.
That's a great service they provide.

There's a lot of others here that have great historical knowledge, and
they too provide a lot to this community.

I do watch TV mets for their take. Bob Breck with Fox 8 in New Orleans
and Mike Reader with WLOX in Gulfport/Biloxi are my two TV mets.

[Roxy]

Dr. Neil Frank is the best, I always tune into him come hurricane season!

[westbury]

Mobilebay - As stated in an earlier reply, most TV mets are limited by consultants on how technical to be during their broadcasts. However, this does not mean that the mets themselves do not understand tropical weather. There are 2 good mets in Mobile, Sealls (CBS) and Glenn (NBC). I'm sure they would chat tropical weather with you more in depth if you spoke with them.

[AL Chili Pepper]

The less technical and detailed they get, the more people they get the message to. I know a lot of people who, once you get past the high and low for tomorrow along with the chance of rain, will just roll their eyes at you.

[Rainband]

Our locals tell it like it is and they are very informative. Guess we are lucky!!

[jlauderdal]

I trust them to tell me exactly what the NHC issues. Where I'm at we get zero insight. They don't tell you anything that is going on with the Hurricane, such as shear, dry air, etc. It's just coordinates, and a few Satellite images.

I trust them more than Rob Marciano, Orlen Sydney or anybody on fox. Our mets in miami are actually very good. The reporters that provide information leave alot to be desired.