It's Snowing! Heck, it is winter!

I am mostly annoyed and somewhat amused at the on-air pundits and weather forecasters who are quick to jump on the weather related Armageddon that is just a winter in New York. These guys usually set off a major grocery store stampede that leaves shelves stripped of bread, milk, beer, soda and chips...the vital necessities for urban survival.  Because we live so close to the ocean...well, just on the ocean, our temperatures are on average, higher than the rest of New York State and the Eastern Seaboard, so most storms are not as violent here as even thirty miles north. That is not to say that we have never been summarily "dumped" upon by Mother Nature.  We have had our fair share of double digits worth of snow, raining and hailing No'easters and full blown hurricanes...I recall Sandy, Gloria and Carol as particularly destructive. And I do appreciate those meteorologists who temper their forecasts with statistics and constant reminders that their science is not an exact one.

In retrospect, I appreciate the teachers I had in elementary school who took the time while teaching geography to explain and show and diagram for us and with us just how weather and climate work.  I remember designing  "weather maps" in which we colored in the different types of climate: Artic, Sub-Artic, Tundra, Temperate, Continental, Mediterranean, Tropic, and Sub-Tropic. We also learned how to read weather maps with their warm and cold fronts and precipitation symbols. I still like looking at those maps in our local paper.  When I taught Earth Science at the intermediate level, I would use those maps to teach the concept of latitude and climate even using them to track hurricanes and snow storms.  I would also play, "How much snow will fall on Mrs. Swanson's car?" if a storm was predicted or if it began to snow during the school day.  It is interesting what seventh graders will do to get a homework pass. They would bet down to an eight of an inch. It was one fun way to introduce math skills to real world problems.

But, I guess this is not so much a part of the curriculum these days...my teacher peeps can let me know if these skills at still being taught to our children today. It just seems we ,as a society, have become too dependent on the "talking heads" on local networks, cable or on other social media for information they are basically reading to us.  Most of them have experience in broadcast journalism, but very few are meteorologists. They are referred to as "weather forecasters", but not meteorologists. Meteorologists are part of a larger group known as Atmospheric Scientists.  Most atmospheric scientists work indoors in weather stations, offices, or laboratories. Occasionally, they do fieldwork, which means working outdoors to examine the weather. Some atmospheric scientists, like Sanitation workers,  may have to work extended hours during weather emergencies. Their median wage is $92400 per year, nothing to sneeze at, and their employment opportunities are projected to grow by 12% over the next ten years. Most of these folks are employed by private industry.

So, my question is: Why are we listening to weather forecasters who are not the real deal instead of the professionals? Have you ever been "spooked" and then "fooled" by their forecasts?  Shall I count the ways? Okay, so I am now looking at about 3/4 of an inch of snow that began falling at 9am. Maybe the forecast for one to two inches is correct.  Too bad I  haven't played my snow depth game since retirement.  I could have been the big winner today.