The first of June marks the start of another weather season and things can get a little wacky.
Every radar blip of a low pressure system or wave of thunderstorms will be graphed, analyzed, and plotted as a potential epic disaster. We will be commanded to prepare for every storm coming off the coast of Africa. As each new wave of low pressure meanders out in the ocean we will get hourly updates and bulletins. The general public will be scared by the media at every turn and feel compelled to purchase a lot of stuff and extra food. Names will be affixed to the tropical typhoons and weather talking heads will be dispatched to stand in the floods and wind so nobody can deny the dangers of heavy rain and strong winds. Advertising rates will be increased by every network so they will all scramble to show the most destruction and human misery. Scientists and politicians will wave the flag of global warming or weather change as the reason for the storms. They will shout down anyone with a different view and cluck like so many crows until federal grant money flows like sweat on a torrid August day in Mississippi.
Anyone living from the coast of Texas to the rocky shores of Maine knows all about Atlantic hurricanes. Many terrible storms have destroyed billions in property and killed thousands of people since meteorological events have been recorded. I have witnessed storms from Hazel to Isabel along the Mid Atlantic and they can be wicked unpredictable monsters.
But, it seems in recent decades the hype has often exceeded the reality of bad summer weather. Being aware, prepared, and alert are smart things and modern forecasting techniques are great. However, in my opinion, using hurricanes and tropical storms to further political purposes or as a hook to increase network advertising or government funding is not in the best interests of the public and downright dishonest.
Every radar blip of a low pressure system or wave of thunderstorms will be graphed, analyzed, and plotted as a potential epic disaster. We will be commanded to prepare for every storm coming off the coast of Africa. As each new wave of low pressure meanders out in the ocean we will get hourly updates and bulletins. The general public will be scared by the media at every turn and feel compelled to purchase a lot of stuff and extra food. Names will be affixed to the tropical typhoons and weather talking heads will be dispatched to stand in the floods and wind so nobody can deny the dangers of heavy rain and strong winds. Advertising rates will be increased by every network so they will all scramble to show the most destruction and human misery. Scientists and politicians will wave the flag of global warming or weather change as the reason for the storms. They will shout down anyone with a different view and cluck like so many crows until federal grant money flows like sweat on a torrid August day in Mississippi.
Anyone living from the coast of Texas to the rocky shores of Maine knows all about Atlantic hurricanes. Many terrible storms have destroyed billions in property and killed thousands of people since meteorological events have been recorded. I have witnessed storms from Hazel to Isabel along the Mid Atlantic and they can be wicked unpredictable monsters.
But, it seems in recent decades the hype has often exceeded the reality of bad summer weather. Being aware, prepared, and alert are smart things and modern forecasting techniques are great. However, in my opinion, using hurricanes and tropical storms to further political purposes or as a hook to increase network advertising or government funding is not in the best interests of the public and downright dishonest.
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