When did routine bad
weather become such big news?

Several years ago, the Alarmists decided they were losing the climate battle because they needed better PR (NOT better science). The network media was quick to respond by adding a nightly scary weather story. They DON'T point out the science that, in general, this "BAD" weather is actually pretty typical. It shouldn't be surprising that there are regularly tornadoes in "tornado alley". Yes, lots of damage is done, some people's lies are upended, and some, unfortunately die. It IS a problem and solutions for better warning systems are being sought, but it is common. The same for severe thunder and wind storms, snow and ice storms, hail storms, wildfires, droughts, occasionally very severe hurricanes, the occasional erupting volcano, and other events. And, yes, there are outliers that are unusually bad. That's how records get set and they happen all the time. Note that the reliable records are only for a couple hundred years and that is more "weather" than climate. They also invent extreme terms for descriptions of weather, like "BOMB!!!" cyclones. It is also true that, for the most part, their PR campaign has failed. Climate is not rated as their most important concern by most people. In some polls it barely makes it onto the list. Also, when you ask if people are willing to spend trillions and upend their way of life to "save the planet" the answer is a resounding "NO!". That lack of belief in the Alarmist religion is frustrating to them and they tend to become even more zealous in their efforts. Meanwhile, the REAL science tends to undermine their declarations. Rising CO2 has NOT lead to all the catastrophes they predicted. Observed changes, like periods of drought are NOT scientifically linked to climate. The rate of sea level rise is stubbornly steady. No hockey stick temperature explosion has occurred. Early and excessive Arctic sea ice keeps embarrassingly trapping expeditions that are trying to study it's demise. The sun, cosmic rays, and clouds and may have more effect on global temperature than CO2 and the cycles of those "forcers" are far removed from man's influence. But MOST of all it should be noted that the science is nowhere near "settled" on the matter. People that say so are proving they are not serious scientists. Nor should we be surprised because one of the common aspects of scientific study is that it is rarely settled and we shouldn't expect it to be. But the media has their scary stories to keep them warming at night.

I call it fake weather, they have been wrong for the last 4 years. Maybe they have toooo many employees who want attention or climate change has gone to their brains. It used to be called seasons now they relate any weather change to global warming.

FTA ‘Al Roker bounding among the weather maps” Perfect description of his chaotic approach with barely a coherent thought. So distracting. We have weather. It happens. They have weaponized it to fit their narrative. Too bad for them that the weather can’t be controlled.

It's called, 'Hype...'

Nowadays "news" equals > All mayhem - All the Time. The MSM is enemy - Never forget it!

Global instantaneous electronic communication has convinced one and all, including media, that any event no matter how small or insignificant should be broadcast worldwide and debated worldwide. Weather obviously affects a large swathe of people, is unpredictable, is disruptive and may have tragic (or comic) results. It's catnip to a bored, cynical media who also will not hesitate to make it political.

I like the change in radar image colors in the past few years. Lots of dark red and purple colors in a thunderstorm where in the past they would have been yellow. Also, the description for a storm heading your way always has to include "death" in the sentence. People need to relax about a storm and realize they have been rolling through from the beginning of time.

Until they can actually get a 24 to 48 hour forecast correct (let alone 7 days) they have no credibility with me with their forecasts let alone climate change. By the way, I believe the climate has been changing since the formation of our planet.

It sort of started with Katrina in the gulf. Democrats learned that they could use a storm to cause harm to Republican politicians. Even though the horrors were the result of the untalented Democrat mayor and Democrat governor. Now when we get two days of rain...the press starts asking why a Republican office holder hasn't corrected the calamity.

When I was a youngster, before mass media, we would go the movies on Saturdays afternoons and watch a double feature for 25 cents. It included a western, a drama or musical, a cartoon and there would always be a newsreel. In fact, I loved watching them because they would be a composite of what was happening across America and the world. I especially remember the tornadoes, the hurricanes and the floods. Having grown up in NJ, we had record snowfalls and an occasional Nor'easter storm. None of this weather is new. It's been like this as long as I can remember. Also, I was living in Ohio in 1977 & 1978. Anyone here remember those years for snowfall? The newsreel of the 40's & 50's was the precursor of the the 24 hour fake news of today.

Ah, Climate Change. Is there nothing it can’t do? Example: Heat Wave — we are all gonna be crispy critters!! Example: Cold snap, “bomb cyclone, arctic express” — we are all gonna be crispy critters!!! See how it works. Climate change — all powerful, covers everything, anytime, anywhere.

It all went downhill when they started giving every fricking snowstorm a name!

A lot of blame can go to the U.S. Weather Service and the Weather Channel. Any Storm that covers more than 3 States now gets a name. This allows them to create the new MMGW statistic of Yearly Named Storms. You'd think they would know better, with "Weather" in their name.

I have noticed that the normal weather forecasts have gotten very unreliable lately. Yesterday in my area the forecast called for zero percent chance of rain. Guess what, it rained. I think that they have screwed up their forecasting models so bad in order to try to create global warming evidence that they have screwed up their normal weather forecasting models. The bottom line for me is, if they can't tell what the weather is going to be like in the next 24 hours, why should I have any confidence in global warming predictions. Predictions I might add, whose sole purpose seems to be to extract money from hardworking Americans.

A little while back Al Gore came out of hiding to make more predictions about Global Warming, And, like clockwork, we get hit with a major snow storm. I call this the "Gore Effect." When Al Gore makes a public declaration about Global Warming, we get hit with a cold front.

It should not be news or a surprise to everyone who has an ounce of common sense, that it always has started snowing as the Winter season approaches, and continues from time to time, all the way up to beyond the start of the following Spring season. That’s the way the climate has always changed.

The useless weather industry has been overblowing forecasts for at least the past ten years in an obvious attempt to stay relevant. I don't even watch the programs or glance at the weather news any more because they are usually wrong. The harm is in causing watchers to cancel plans or delay trips because of the false scare tactics.

It started the same time when news stopped being news, and became a platform for political views. Stop watching the talking heads, folks! They are a waste of time. Traveling in bad weather? Plan accordingly. Is that so hard? I'm always surprised that the 'bad weather' holidays aren't celebrated during a different time of the year. Most people would get used to it.

Allow me , once again, to quote the honorable Richard B Cheney: "We used to call it 'weather'.

The forecasters spent the entire past week getting the forecast wrong for SW CO/NW NM. The cataclysmic snowstorms that were supposed to come marching through one after another barely happened. And earlier in the week a snowstorm that wasn't supposed to happen nailed NW NM. Go figure huh. It's WEATHER.

Why on Earth is this article a Must Read?

This is a huge pet peeve of mine, especially locally. I live in Nebraska and often wonder what our ancestors would think about the babies we have become. Every, single, solitary piece of weather that is not a perfect, sunny, 72 degree day is treated as if Armageddon is approaching. People are so susceptible to this hysteria that they hole up in their homes if there is even a threat of snow, much less actual snow. I have had many conversations about this with people who make their living by doing service work with clients, and this wreaks havoc on their businesses.

Several years ago I canceled a motorcycle trip to Pigeon Forge, TN where I was going to meet a group of friends that I hadn't seen in a few years. The forecast claimed four days of heavy thunderstorms for that long weekend and they enjoyed four days of sunshine. Haven't paid attention to weather forecasts ever since.

I drove over 1000 miles round trip the last 3 days, from Nebraska to Oklahoma and back, and had no problems. If you put down your phones and pay attention, it's not a problem to drive out here in the winter!

# 20 - add OK to your list. We were going to get lots of rain and possibly snow showers. Uh, nope. Just fog and mist. No big rain, no snow. When I lived in Florida, they used to interrupt TV to tell us about rain coming our way. They actually listed the streets to be hit and the exact time they would get there. Unbelievable,

When you turn on the tv and see these network clowns reading what they’re told to say by the DNC it reminds you of what? That’s right! SOCK PUPPETS!!!

No. 10: I was attending OSU during those years. I do remember. The first time in university history they had to shut it down due to area-wide ice storm.

Many years ago, we had a surprise snow storm in Seattle. None of the professional weather forecasters saw it coming.....and they want to talk about global warming?

The latest weather scare term making the winter rounds is the 'bomb cyclone'!! Sounds scary, huh??

I remember when I was a kid there were two sayings we just don't hear anymore. "There aught to be a law" and "everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it". Apparently the commies decided to make every law they could think of and that they were the ones to do something about the weather. God help us.

'Climate change' is indeed part of this weather hyping. The more scary and exaggerated weather they run gives the impression that the weather on this planet is getting worse every year. It isn't but they have their marching orders to promote AGW at every opportunity. The other factor is the ratings. Everybody is interested in the weather to some extent but when nothing much is happening, it's almost comical to watch the forecasters try to pad out and hype a boring weather forecast. They need viewers and they need the advertisers to make a profit. I am sure the consultants have told management to blow up every thunderstorm as a life-threatening disaster in the making.

I just watched the Wisconsin/Minnesota football game, played in Minneapolis. By the end of the game, they had intermittent white-outs on the field. In short, it's snowing in Minneapolis in the winter. Who'd of thought it?

Two things driving this. First is the con game on MMGW which was failing, so rebranded and relaunched as "Climate Change", but still just a con job. Second is the weather channel and several others whose whole existence is due to hyping the weather into some sort of a huge, important, life-or-death big deal. They need RATINGS, so screaming about "You're about to DIE!" three times a week seems to be their default mode. And that it helps sell the climate con job works for the ones who buy that BS. Filtering out the BS and climate con is a PITA for those of use who just want "the weather report". Getting harder and harder to find just the weather.

Good points, #10, but the newsreels were a week's or a few weeks' compilation of news and weather, now they try to do it every hour of every day.