Response from local tv station in regards to AccuWeather.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Recently I sent an email to the chief meteorologist of my local television station (not in PA) in regards to using AccuWeather as a source.

ada5011 wrote:

> Name: Adam Arnold
> Email: ada5011
> Phone:
> Message: I would just like to make a suggestion that W discontinue the use
of AccuWeather for a few reasons, and switch to NWS forecasts. First and
foremost, AccuWeather's forecast history is not as good as the National Weather
Service. AccuWeather has very poor forecasts, in my opinion, and I know
several other people who do not use W's forecasts for that reason.
Secondly, the recent political ploys that AccuWeather has been using to try to
force people to pay for NWS products has been very disconcerting (Ref: recent
email by AccuWeather in regards to SB 786).
>
> Please consider doing this. By using NWS forecasts, WEAR can become much more
accurate in their forecasts, which people will be able to trust. Thank you.
>
> Adam Arnold
> Gulf Breeze High School Alumnus
> Penn State Meteorology Student



Here is the response I received:

Adam,

Thank you for your note about weather from W. I agree with much of what
you're saying. Using AccuWeather is not a choice made by me or by W. It's
made by our corporate headquarters.

The Santorum bill is ludicrous and likely will not fly. Many of our AccuWeather
products depend on the NWS.

The forecasts that you see on our air are created by the mets here. Many of the
maps however are created by AccuWeather staff. We depend mainly on AccuWeather
for graphics. All tropical forecasts and information come from the National
Hurricane Center and not AccuWeather.







Very interesting.....



Post edit note: I don't think it would have damaged him personally.....mainly because although he disagrees with his corporate office, he respects the decisions they make.

[fwbbreeze]

wow Doc thats interesting stuff....Glad to see they do not totally rely on Accuwx for their forcasting!!

fwbbreeze

[vbhoutex]

I will probably do the same here in Houston wiith Channel 2 which uses Accuweather. I will be interested in their response. One thing you might do is send the same letter to the General Manager of the station Adam.

[drezee]

I am sure he didn't want that email on the Internet though...

[SkeetoBite]

I am sure he didn't want that email on the Internet though...

Yeah... I'd redact his name/email, and yours too ASAP before a spider or the dude attacking this site picks them up or this guy gets in trouble for wacking his corporate office.

I had a favorite corporate email address picked up by a spider and placed in the search engines. I haven't been able to use it for over 3 years due to the spam and filth sent there.

[Skywatch_NC]

Wonder why some news stations can't make/use their own homemade graphics for forecasts considering today's computer technology?

[yzerfan]

It was good to strip out the names. I've heard that WEAR's parent company doesn't like their local stations showing too much independent thought.

[Radar]

Unfortunately many mets are being forced to use such sites as Accuweather not because of personal choice but because they are mandated too by their employers.. It is a sad day for Meterologists and their audience when corporations control how life saving information is dispensed. I'm sure the corporate side of this is not looking at the human side of their decisions but rather the business side... And some say this is progress

[Radar]

Wonder why some news stations can't make/use their own homemade graphics for forecasts considering today's computer technology?

Many news stations are small and may not have the man power to do the weather grapics that is why may utilize these options. Also it may be a money thing, it may actually be cheaper for them to "purchase" the grapics from such sites as Accuweather rather then employ an extra computer programmer or two to do it... What it boils down to is dollars and cents and BIG business!

[CFL]

I'm glad you posted that. I've often wondered if it was AccuWeather or our local mets creating the forecast.

[jdray]

Unfortunately many mets are being forced to use such sites as Accuweather not because of personal choice but because they are mandated too by their employers.. It is a sad day for Meterologists and their audience when corporations control how life saving information is dispensed. I'm sure the corporate side of this is not looking at the human side of their decisions but rather the business side... And some say this is progress

Channel 4 WJXT here in Jacksonville is an independent. George Winterling has been forecasting for over 40 years here. They use their own choice.
No big corporation to make them choose otherwise.

Ever wonder how much of a kickback happens in corporate america?