Northeast U.S. Broadcast Meteorologists' Use of Climate Services

1
Northeast U.S. Broadcast Meteorologists' Use of
Climate Services

• Matt Noyes
• New England Cable News
• mnoyes_at_necn.com

2
Overview

• Wide Range of Climate Services offered by
  National Weather Service
• Most Readily Available Products from Climate
  Prediction Center via website
• Northeast Broadcast Meteorologists Use Only a
  Fraction of Available Products
• 6-10 Day Outlook has become trademark of CPC
  among N.E. U.S. Broadcast Meteorologists

3
Northeast Viewer Demographics

• Boston/Manchester, NYC and Hartford markets cater
  mostly to city life
• Springfield (MA), Burlington (VT), Maine and
  Upstate NY markets cater to more rural audience -
  Farming/Agricultural Interests
• Surveyed broadcast meteorologists from Bangor,
  ME, to Syracuse, NY

4
Most Commonly Used Products

• From Climate Prediction Center Drought Monitor,
  ENSO Discussion, 6-10 Day Outlook, 30/60/90 Day
  Outlook (dependent on the meteorologist)
• From Local Offices Daily Climatic Summary,
  Hydrologic Observations (CO-OP Reports), Climatic
  Normals and Records for Cities

5
Things to Remember About Broadcasters...

• Varying levels of education and meteorological
  training
• Most useful products and most utilized services
  will be those that are most understood
• Wide Range of Understanding - and therefore,
  utility - observed with Northeast Broadcast
  meteorologists

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Why Does This Work So Well?

• Drought Monitor Easy to Understand and Easy to
  Read - Ease is the key!
• Clearly Defined Classifications for Every Region
  in the Country
• Antecedent Conditions Well Understood by Local
  Meteorologists - Therefore, Assessment
  Classification Clearly Understood

7
Why Does ENSO Diagnostic Discussion Work So Well?

• ENSO Overview Clearly stated observations and
  analysis of current factors and forecasted
  pattern
• Thorough explanation of factors at work,
  considering ocean-atmosphere interaction
• El Nino craze of last several years among
  public has shed much brighter spotlight on this
  phenomenon
• Often, newsrooms receive this data before the
  meteorologists do - stories can therefore be run
  prematurely

8
6-10/8-14 Day Outlook Why Does This Work? Why
Isnt it as Widely Used?

• 6-10/8-14 Day Outlooks The Viewing Public is
  Interested in this time period - close enough
  that (outdoor) plans are being made
• Skill is exhibited and forecast is usually
  reliable
• Two Important Factors Limit Understanding (Usage)
  By Broadcasters
• 1) Quantitative Forecast (estimate of how much
  above or below normal)
• 2) Detailed Synoptic Reasoning not available -
  result is lack of understanding by meteorologists

9
Understanding Breeds Usage

• Broadcasting includes 1) Short Range
  Forecasting, 2) Medium Range Forecasting, 3)
  Specialized Forecasts, 4) Graphics Limited Time
  for Weather Analysis and Operational Forecasting
• Result Turn to source that provides clear,
  concise, but thorough analysis - PMDHMD used to
  provide this source
• Current 6-10/8-14 day discussion focuses on model
  output and variability, but no longer on
  teleconnections and synoptic/planetary
  interactions

10
Seasonal Forecasts

• Obvious Positive Points
• Significant Lead Time
• Public Industry Can Prepare Accordingly
• Greatest Split Found With 30/60/90 Day Outlooks
• Same Interaction of Understanding Usage

11
Of Those Who Use It...

• A Desire for Quantitative Forecast Products
• A Relation of Anticipated Seasonal Pattern to
  Correlated Weather Hazards (Above/Below Normal
  Snowfall, Flooding, Etc.)

12
An Interesting Aside...

• Hazard Assessment Has Tremendous Value on
  National Scale
• Not Being Used by Local Broadcasters
• Too Broad In Scale
• Regional Graphics and Scale Desired

13
Accessibility

• Significant of Products Broadcasters SHOULD Be
  Referencing
• UV Forecast
• Hydrological Conditions/Forecasts
• Heat Index/Wind Chill Products
• It All Comes Back to Ease
• Redesigned (Simplified but Expanded) CPC Front
  Page of Website Would Encourage Far Greater
  Perusal Use of Products

14
Local Climate Products

• Daily Climatic Summary
• Used everyday for Almanac Data
• Stations Rely on Time of Release
• Products Contain Exactly Whats Needed
• Daily Hydrologic Observations (CO-OP Reports)
• Exceptionally Useful - Fills Wide Data Gaps
• National Website to House Data with Archives
  Would Be Exceptional

15
More Local Climate Products...

• Climatic Normals and Records for Cities
• Often Referenced At Beginning of Months
• Referenced Prior to Forecasted Heat Waves Cold
  Snaps
• Substantial City Databases Available
• National Website to House Data Would Be Helpful
  Here Too
• ASOS Quality Control
• Biggest Help is Notification of Limiting Factors
• KBOX (Taunton) Office Especially Good at This

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IN CONCLUSION...

• Unparalleled Array of Climate Products Available
  from CPC Local Offices
• Only a Fraction of These Products Utilized
• Utility Determined By
• Ease Ability to Read Products
• Understanding Ability to Understand the Forecast
• Accessibility Ability to Access the Products
  (Website)

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IN CONCLUSION...

• Private Industry is Enabling Meteorologists,
  Building Dependency
• Detailed Explanations/Discussions of Driving
  Global Patterns
• Easily Understood Graphics
• Quantitative Forecasts
• Correlation of Pattern to Sensible Weather Events

18
Contributions...

• NECN, New England Tim Kelley, Joe Joyce
• WBZ, Boston, MA Mish Michaels, Terry Eliasen
• WCVB, Boston, MA Harvey Leonard
• WHDH, Boston, MA Todd Gross, Pete Bouchard,
  Chikage Windler
• WHIO, Dayton, OH Steve Prinzivalli
• WSTM, Syracuse, NY Wayne Mahar
• WWLP, Springfield, MA Rick Sluben