TV meteorologists

[Feature/writer]

Is is just me or do West Mich. TV weather folks seem just a bit too eager to promote forecasts of a snow event or two?

[format this]

Well, let’s see… no snow on the ground in early January… no ice on Lake Michigan… I would say they can be eager…


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[sinklair]

Among the worst and most out of control hype machine is WOOD TV. Blake Harm’s “EXCLUSIVE!” Closing Predictor is usually wrong. Instead of waiting until schools actually make the decision to close schools, Blake goes on 24-48 hours to use “fake science” to find the “probability” that areas will see closures or delays… only to have to explain why individual schools chose not to follow his advice. It’s such a waste of time and aimed at scaring viewers.

[dwp49423]

I too have only seen the hype on WOOD-TV8, which isn't surprising. Their "Always alerting, always informing" slogan was dead on accurate on the first part to where my brother changed part two to be "always annoying"

[craig11152]

It is not much different in SE Michigan. On my cell phone I have the Weather Channel app and the WDIV (NBC affiliate) weather app on my phone.
I am comfortable saying when it comes to precipitation estimates, if the two apps don't agree, the Weather Channel is 90% more accurate than the local app.

[andymuskegon]

research. the number one researched reason people watch local news is for the weather. thus, the added fortune in budgets, talent and air time. i was told by an incredibly reputable and long time tenured colleague that at one point, they had to use the word "tracking" a number of times per weather forecast because it was researched that "tracking" was the word that grabbed people's ear the most.

i take nothing away from our talented pool of meteorologists in west mi, but.....it's this kind of idiotic bloviated research that is clearly laid forth by those who bought up all the local media outlets, and didn't have the first clue what to do with them other than collect money.

the bottom has not been hit yet either.

[georgetownt]

Wood tv Storm Team ExaggerEIGHT

[sinklair]

ExaggerEIGHT = true dat

[Feature/writer]

Harms' school closing predictor service is not an open or shut case: It's on a 1-5 scale of probability, so it's hard to say he's "wrong" if a district makes a particular decision on a delay or closing.
So it's subjective depending on the district - it's not totally a weather thing. A school district must figure - how large a geographical area does it cover? How many miles do busses need to travel? rural roads or city streets? How far are students from the particular school they attend? That's why one district may decide to close its schools while an adjacent one does not..

[uncleducky72]

WWMT Will Haenni is the worst at it. His forecasts are totally different from the other 3.

[teetoppz28]

I'm sure Kevin Craig at Fox17 has to change his underwear after every weather segment when there's a storm approaching. That guy gets waaaaay too excited and talks a mile a minute.

[chuck1973]

Among the worst and most out of control hype machine is WOOD TV. Blake Harm’s “EXCLUSIVE!” Closing Predictor is usually wrong. Instead of waiting until schools actually make the decision to close schools, Blake goes on 24-48 hours to use “fake science” to find the “probability” that areas will see closures or delays… only to have to explain why individual schools chose not to follow his advice. It’s such a waste of time and aimed at scaring viewers.

I wish this youngster would cease his whimsical school closure predictions, seemingly driven by a pursuit of ratings. It is concerning to witness the top local media outlet leveraging these forecasts to pressure local superintendents into closing schools. Such actions likely impose an additional stress on officials already grappling with numerous responsibilities. They may feel compelled to align with the top local media outlet because parents watched it on-air. If I was a school official, I'd have a big problem with this weather nerd kid. A shame, other than that, I find Blake to do a fairly decent job on-air and he seemingly enjoys being on TV and forecasting weather, reminds me of a young Bill Steffen with his thirst for it.

I'm sure Kevin Craig at Fox17 has to change his underwear after every weather segment when there's a storm approaching. That guy gets waaaaay too excited and talks a mile a minute.

Respectfully disagree. Kevin has established a lengthy presence in this market and has evolved into one of the scarce TV meteorologists whom one can rely upon nowadays. His on-air performance is impeccable, presenting an engaging show, from my modest viewpoint. Moreover, I've observed him to be among the select few forecasters delivering accurate predictions in this region.

[teetoppz28]

Among the worst and most out of control hype machine is WOOD TV. Blake Harm’s “EXCLUSIVE!” Closing Predictor is usually wrong. Instead of waiting until schools actually make the decision to close schools, Blake goes on 24-48 hours to use “fake science” to find the “probability” that areas will see closures or delays… only to have to explain why individual schools chose not to follow his advice. It’s such a waste of time and aimed at scaring viewers.

I wish this youngster would cease his whimsical school closure predictions, seemingly driven by a pursuit of ratings. It is concerning to witness the top local media outlet leveraging these forecasts to pressure local superintendents into closing schools. Such actions likely impose an additional stress on officials already grappling with numerous responsibilities. They may feel compelled to align with the top local media outlet because parents watched it on-air. If I was a school official, I'd have a big problem with this weather nerd kid. A shame, other than that, I find Blake to do a fairly decent job on-air and he seemingly enjoys being on TV and forecasting weather, reminds me of a young Bill Steffen with his thirst for it.

I'm sure Kevin Craig at Fox17 has to change his underwear after every weather segment when there's a storm approaching. That guy gets waaaaay too excited and talks a mile a minute.

Respectfully disagree. Kevin has established a lengthy presence in this market and has evolved into one of the scarce TV meteorologists whom one can rely upon nowadays. His on-air performance is impeccable, presenting an engaging show, from my modest viewpoint. Moreover, I've observed him to be among the select few forecasters delivering accurate predictions in this region.

I’m definitely not saying he isn’t an amazingly talented on-air meteorologist, I was just pointing out his over-the-top excitement at even the remotest possibility of a storm approaching. Kevin is top notch in the field, and he’s a great guy outside of the station.

[hanson]

The school closing predictions just kill me. The map of the school districts in particular. They need to put up county boundries so you know what you are looking at. Harms is also hard to look at with his monster teeth.

Kirkwood uses so many different slides, he's still talking about one that was up 10 seconds ago.

[dwp49423]

I cannot believe how wrong Blake's School Closing Predictions were. Hopefully NexStar tells him to stop the crap.