'storm of the century' and other weather shenanigans...
Discussion
I was hearing on the radio this morning about "the storm of the century" and it got me wondering about our relationship with the weather and how it's changed - probably not for the better (IMO).
Now I'll agree that the weather has changed, but it strikes me that as it's changed our reporting of it has become more and more hysterical: a flurry of snow these days means don't drive unless absolutely necessary; a windy few days is the storm of the century; a few dry days in the summer is the harbinger of doom and anything below the Watford gap will turn into the Atacama desert (and so on).
To a, mildly, old fart these weather warning are perplexing since (IMO) all they're doing is warning of.... well... weather. Is it me that's out of touch or does every ounce (sorry gram) of moisture now get reported with near hysteria?
Now I'll agree that the weather has changed, but it strikes me that as it's changed our reporting of it has become more and more hysterical: a flurry of snow these days means don't drive unless absolutely necessary; a windy few days is the storm of the century; a few dry days in the summer is the harbinger of doom and anything below the Watford gap will turn into the Atacama desert (and so on).
To a, mildly, old fart these weather warning are perplexing since (IMO) all they're doing is warning of.... well... weather. Is it me that's out of touch or does every ounce (sorry gram) of moisture now get reported with near hysteria?
irocfan said:
I was hearing on the radio this morning about "the storm of the century" and it got me wondering about our relationship with the weather and how it's changed - probably not for the better (IMO).
Now I'll agree that the weather has changed, but it strikes me that as it's changed our reporting of it has become more and more hysterical: a flurry of snow these days means don't drive unless absolutely necessary; a windy few days is the storm of the century; a few dry days in the summer is the harbinger of doom and anything below the Watford gap will turn into the Atacama desert (and so on).
To a, mildly, old fart these weather warning are perplexing since (IMO) all they're doing is warning of.... well... weather. Is it me that's out of touch or does every ounce (sorry gram) of moisture now get reported with near hysteria?
Hysteria sells papers, generates clicks and increases discussion (on forums?)Now I'll agree that the weather has changed, but it strikes me that as it's changed our reporting of it has become more and more hysterical: a flurry of snow these days means don't drive unless absolutely necessary; a windy few days is the storm of the century; a few dry days in the summer is the harbinger of doom and anything below the Watford gap will turn into the Atacama desert (and so on).
To a, mildly, old fart these weather warning are perplexing since (IMO) all they're doing is warning of.... well... weather. Is it me that's out of touch or does every ounce (sorry gram) of moisture now get reported with near hysteria?
I agree with you.
It does seem a bit over the top but there seems to be such a lack of common sense these days (see the driving through flood thread), if it means some numpties stay inside in fear of being blown to the land of Oz, the better.
irocfan said:
geeks said:
looks like that was blown out of the local Ann SummersRemembering back to when I was a kid in the '60s, we'd get snow more frequently in winter and winters were a lot colder. We also got more fog. Summers tended to be dry and more consistently warm, and the skies were generally bluer. Of course I may be looking back through rose-coloured glasses.
We seem to have warmer wetter winters and wetter summers now, and the predominant sky colour seems to be grey.
We seem to have warmer wetter winters and wetter summers now, and the predominant sky colour seems to be grey.
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