How do you handle a snow storm?

[PackerlandWx]

I work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and tomorrow will mark the biggest snow event that we will witness this season. I am looking for some feed back. When you make the forecast for the storm, what kind of graphics do you show. Do you cut a lot of time on currents and use a futurecast graphic and a map of how many inches are expected in certain locations?

Then secondly, after the snow event has generally wrapped up, what would you show in your next show? Just looking for some ideas. I want to make my shows interesting and I want make sure viewers know exactly what the forecast holds.

[SureFireWeather]

Packerland,

Whenever I watch those who I see as 'the greats' of today, I get a little inspiration for graphics and layout of my shows.

Philly is one of the best markets for weather outside of the Plains / Midwest, away from blockbuster severe weather territory. At least that has always been my opinion as a native of the Philly 'burbs (now living 1000 miles from home). Maybe I'm biased. People in Philly have an attitude problem (which I love)-- and they either hate or love the snow -- and there is a tremendous amount of pre-storm hype at the water coolers, on the school busses, and around town with even the mention of snow in a forecast. Before I begin to REALLY ramble, I wanted to toss out two excellent examples of pre-storm coverage from Philadelphia. The storm was about 30 to 36 hours from PHL when these weathercasts were recorded.

Here are two great examples of ways to address a winter storm in a forecast.

.... http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=190847 Glenn 'Hurricane' Schwartz, NBC 10 ... more of a 'classic' style, starting with watches / warnings. (I tend toward Glenn's style of show layout, but that may just be my personality or whatever.)

.... http://weather.kyw.com/US/PA/Philadelphia.html Kathy Orr, KYW 3 .... Excellent transitions in graphics (Note -- go to right side of screen to CBS 3 video... Mouse over tabs above viewer to "Kathy Has the Stormy Weekend Forecast") ... If I had a weather producer -- which I couldn't be farther from, since I am a small-market weekend guy -- I might tend more toward this type of format. With several shows and two different channels, I don't have the resources, on my own. I don't have the time to customize every show quite like this.

On the other side of the coin, I get a little more time than they do for some of my weathercasts, and I am able to show a few more current conditions due to that extra time -- but as Glenn Schwartz does -- TIE THE CURRENTS IN TO THE FORECAST. Everything you show should tie into the forecast (don't fall into the 'status quo of .. here are the temps.... here are the winds... etc., without tieing EVERYTHING in to the upcoming storm).

If you're a weather-weenie like me, you may tend to naturally get excited about current temps, winds, radar, sat, etc. When I started, 2/3rds of my weathercasts were currents and past weather (sat / radar included), leaving only a minute or so for a quick futurecast & tonight / tomorrow / 5 or 7 day. My chief has worked with me and really encouraged me to balance that out more -- beefing up the forecast, and only including the most important 'currents.'

DURING the snowstorm (or especially severe wx outbreak), is the time to 'play' -- in my opinion. Severe weather -- radar, radar, radar, to the best of the technology you have. Winter storm -- let loose with plenty of currents / radar / satellite, but make sure you give enough time to the storm's exit, and additional accumulations.

I seem to have hijacked this thread, and the only healthy thing at this point would be for me to click "submit reply" -- and for your sake, I'll stop typing.

[rdale]

If you're Miguel - just bury your head in the sand and it won't snow :D

[MIguel W foX]

If you're Miguel - just bury your head in the sand and it won't snow :D
Good idea! Beach, here I come! :cheers:

[Bureau Chief]

If I had my druthers, I would handle it from the beach in the bahamas. Also, HOW DO YOU KNOW that tomorrows action will be the biggest of the season??? Or did you mean "so far"? I got plenty of snow planned for you guys to my north. By sacrificing virgins to the snow gods, I have successfully steared most of the snow well away from here and pushed it north. The NWS and accuweiner have been calling for all kinds of LES here the last week...and its been sunny everyday.

[Nyquist]

Road conditions are very important also. People tend to try to travel, so you need to get things like accident reports out along with the state of major highways and access roads. I've had several people e-mail me who thanked me for focusing on roads quite a bit as it kept them from traveling and having trouble.

If you have a chance to, see if you can get DOT data somehow. Being able to show pavement temperatures on air rocks.

[Ping-Pong Ball]

Road conditions are very important also. People tend to try to travel, so you need to get things like accident reports out along with the state of major highways and access roads. I've had several people e-mail me who thanked me for focusing on roads quite a bit as it kept them from traveling and having trouble.

If you have a chance to, see if you can get DOT data somehow. Being able to show pavement temperatures on air rocks.

Excellent point! But if you happen to work at a station that constantly tells viewers to call a 5-1-1 number or go to a state run website for the last road conditions, and you have never called the number yourself or gone to the site during a snowstorm, you might want to check them out for yourself at least once.

I discovered these sites and number sucks! I've worked in several states and they are not frequently updated when the weather is bad.

Do what Nyquist says and you'll blow the competition away, especially if the other stations simple tell folks to call 5-1-1 or go to some DOT website for the latest.

[nywx10]

1st, I wouldn't dwell on the NWS Winter Weather WATCH/WARNING/ADVISORY

crap....often times my forecast is totally different from theirs.

Why "promote" their stuff/products?

It is like giving your competition a plug.

Are you following their lead/forecast?

The winter wx crap from NWS is also confusing especially when you get into the advisory stuff.

What is an advisory anyway? The public doesn't know it is an inane term to them.

I often say, for example we will have a 3 hour period of ZR tomorrow AM, during the morning drive into to work, so you might want to set your alarm clock several minutes earlier than you usually do because we could see a tough morning commute.

I don't want to waste my very precious time on why county A is in a WSW but county B just to the east or north or wherever is in an advisory.

Sometimes our news dept goes nuts when the local NWS issues a watch, warning, or advisory.

They will sometimes write and organize their shows according to an NWS issuance and not that of what their own mets are saying.

Here's what I and my colleagues do:

One quick table setting on where the storm is and how it will move.

Futurecast showing p-types, duration, etc.

2nd map- forecast snowfall amts for your DMA, also delineate where mor of a mix or even ice will occur.

Do a headline or what to expect graphic- i.e. show when the storm will start, stop, when will it be at its worst, etc.

Emphasize WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN.

Lastly, ask for your viewers help by soliciting their storm reports in addition to those of your "more trusted" spotters.

ETA: Post-storm

LOTS and LOTS of who actually got what in terms of snow, ice, rain, etc.

[Mayhem]

I need to disagree with the dwelling on the watch/warning/advisory. I always lead with that. Whether we like it or not, the NWS is a government agency, and their products are official and what drive other official agencies. I have no reservations about stating if I disagree with a certain watch, warning, or advisory, but I always will lead with it.

During the storm, the most important thing going on is right now! Radars... where the heavy snow bands are. How much is on the ground, how the roads are. Then you can transition into a short term. I do a shortened futurecast here, just for the duration of the storm. How much more will we get? When will it end?

Another good graphic is a daypart. 7am, here's what's happening and how much will be on the ground, noon, here's what's happening and how much is on the ground, 3pm, 5pm, etc. etc.

Everything is about now and the rest of the storm. Beyond that is immaterial.

[SureFireWeather]

1st, I wouldn't dwell on the NWS Winter Weather WATCH/WARNING/ADVISORY

crap....often times my forecast is totally different from theirs.

Why "promote" their stuff/products?

It is like giving your competition a plug.

Are you following their lead/forecast?



This is true -- I agree with you, that my forecast is often different from NWS's.

However, when their fcst is 'in line' with yours, do you mention the warning or watch just to hammer home your point?

I do, because I think some people like to know that they're under an "official" watch or warning, even if that's not what is driving our forecast ... just my two cents.

(By the way, Packerland, nywx10 posted some winter storm forecast graphics he cooked up last winter, and I thought they were among the best.)

[nywx10]

I need to disagree with the dwelling on the watch/warning/advisory. I always lead with that. Whether we like it or not, the NWS is a government agency, and their products are official and what drive other official agencies. I have no reservations about stating if I disagree with a certain watch, warning, or advisory, but I always will lead with it.

During the storm, the most important thing going on is right now! Radars... where the heavy snow bands are. How much is on the ground, how the roads are. Then you can transition into a short term. I do a shortened futurecast here, just for the duration of the storm. How much more will we get? When will it end?

Another good graphic is a daypart. 7am, here's what's happening and how much will be on the ground, noon, here's what's happening and how much is on the ground, 3pm, 5pm, etc. etc.

Everything is about now and the rest of the storm. Beyond that is immaterial.

Media Outlets are NOT OBLIGATED or MANDATED to disseminate NWS winter weather watches, etc.

[nywx10]

(By the way, Packerland, nywx10 posted some winter storm forecast graphics he cooked up last winter, and I thought they were among the best.)

Thank you SureFire! Those graphics are a team effort created by everyone.

As for the using NWS stuff when it agrees with me...I used to use it/show it...and it is tempting to still do so...but as a matter of consistency...since I don't use it when I think NWS winter wx stuff is unnecessary or useless...I won't use it even if it more or less agrees with my forecast.

BTW- Mayhem, interesting first potential BIG STORM for us, eh?

[rdale]

However, when their fcst is 'in line' with yours, do you mention the warning or watch just to hammer home your point?

If there's only one specific warning for your area, then I'd at least throw it a line. Right now my DMA has a Winter Storm Warning, Winter Weather Advisory, Winter Storm Watch and Snow Advisory in effect. No reason to mention those to anyone - it'd take my whole 2:30 just to explain what they mean :>

I didn't mention one NWS product this morning.

[BSUStormChase]

Something I learned after a major snowstorm in our area... Make sure you check out wind gusts and visibilities from ASOS sites. You can usually make a graphic that displays this. If you get to white out conditions, you can get a good sense of this by looking at both the gusts and the visibilities.

If the storms gets bad, few people will be out moving around. Getting information from "remote areas" is often difficult. So lean on what you can from the ASOS sites (but not the weather type i.e. R, S, IP, etc).

I usually always look at visibilities and wind gusts, but on this specific event I forgot about looking at those specific numbers. I didn't notice (as well as the NWS) what became white out/near blizzard conditions. But the key is learning and not making the same mistake twice. :)

[The Fedora]

I haven't looked at forecasts, it's football day for me, is NYC gonna get hit? if so, how hard?

[TVS]

I totally agree with nywx10. Your viewers will remember YOU, not the NWS. At our station, we aren't allowed to mention the NWS. If I'm on the air and a TOR warning comes out, we don't say "The National Weather Service has issued a..." we just say "There's a Tornado Warning for xxx county until 10:15,...etc." In the world of internet and so many channels, our consultant and GM came up with this years ago. I disagreed at the time, I'm kind of old school, but I totally agree with this way of thinking now. It has really help us in the market to become the go-to station in severe wx. Meanwhile, if there is severe wx, another station automatically goes out to the NWS to interview one of their mets. I like the NWS guys, I'm not trying to drive them out of buisness, I don't issue my own warnings, but why promote the NWS and not our mets/station?

And from BSUStormchase's comments. If you are in an ice storm situation and the event is just beginning, watch for ASOS/AWOS sites going CALM even when you know there's wind. Could be significant ice on the cups. Also, watch for ASOS/AWOS sites going offline, could be power failures. I was once working a fz rain event and within an hour or two, every observation site in the northern half of our viewing area stopped reporting. It took me a little bit to figure out what was going on. It was a massive power outage due to severe ice.