I'm not getting into the debate about global climate change, but you can make your own arguments over the U.S. Department of Agriculture's updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
It's the map that shows you what agricultural zone you live in, and it's very handy when you're ordering plants or buying them at a nursery or big-box store. Many growers mark information on the plants, telling you what zones they can grow in.
The news is that the updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map moves the boundaries a bit northward for a number of zones.
That is in response to the milder temperatures of recent years. The zones are based on the lowest winter temperature, and the new map has Charlotte in Zone 7B, which is for areas capable of having winter lows of 0 to 5 degrees above zero.
The northern boundary of 7B in the Carolinas was nudged northward from the old chart, but there really aren't any major changes for our area.
One neat new wrinkle to the USDA's map -- it's interactive, in a way. You can type in your Zip Code and find out what zone you live in.
Here's a link to the map: http://bit.ly/vZ5vuL.
We Were Wrong (or, I Was Wrong) ... Throughout the day on Thursday, we were publishing a story, written by me, that reported on a chance of severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes overnight in the Charlotte area.
Obviously, that didn't happen.
Severe weather that doesn't develop is a sore point with some critics, who blame meteorologists and those who report about the weather with trying to panic people. When severe storms are predicted and don't develop, the criticism grows.
Strangely, I never see comments from those critics when the storms do develop -- such as the tornado outbreak a few weeks ago in Burke, Caldwell and Rutherford counties. But that's another argument for another day.
I like to be open and honest, and I don't run away from what I write. Obviously, my story on Thursday was wrong. If I scared you, I'm sorry.
The combination of warm dewpoint temperatures and a stirred-up atmosphere at the edge of an approaching cold front were expected to be enough for the development of severe weather. But the dewpoint readings -- while well above average for this time of year -- didn't quite get as high as expected. And the atmosphere remained rather stable when the front came through, although the 40 mph gusts we got were evidence of the strong winds a few thousand feet off the ground.
Friday, January 27, 2012
A new chart ... and a we-were-wrong
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14 comments:
The reason critics blame our weather folks is HYPE. For every real threat there are ten that are manufactured.
You are the least to blame - because your information is usually through the National Weather Service.
The real problem rests squarely with Charlotte's TV "news" stations. In their reckless ratings quest the weather hype is off the charts.
The worst offender is WCNC's Brad Panicovich. He is closely followed by WBTV's Eric Thomas. WSOC's Steve Udelson ranks third on the hype meter.
Hmm - I'd put the 'Hype-O-Meter' the other way putting Udelson in first easily. That being said, as you stated they ALL hype beyond an acceptable level. I change the channel. If I than hear anything that sounds like a train I take cover!
Panovich has my vote. So over the top I laugh out loud sometimes.
Sensationalize and hyping the news it outta control.
For any landscaping geeks reading this who live on the south side of the city, note that we're actually in the 8A hardiness zone (uptown and north are 7B).
Agreed with 3:27 - I've never seen Steve suggest anything other than what he has read off the NWS forecaster discussions/issued alerts. No hype, just translating all that scientific jargon and giving folks a summary. Far more insightful than the junk on TV. Thanks, Steve!
Hey idiots - have you not heard about all the tornadoes the last few weeks in the South? I would much rather be told there is a chance for one then have one roll into my house at 3am when I am sleeping. Of course I have been in one so I have a different view than the people writing on this blog who only care about themselves and have likely only been in a couple weak hail storms. If you EVER face a tornado or have it destroy your home then you will NEVER cry about anyone over-hyping it again! f@cking losers...
Let me commend you for your use of those three important words..."we were wrong". It's not quite as good as "I was wrong", but it's close.
Now if you could just convince some of your co-workers, particularly the op ed staff, to be equally honest you'd have made a major contribution.
On the wording: Steve's just using up a phrase familiar to all us Observer old-timers. Corrections used to be headed "We were wrong." The label is gone but the phrase remains in newsroom culture -- even now our corrections have "www" as the slug (or story label). Nobody takes more personal responsibility than Steve.
Essentially here is the problem with you weather guys. First of all you do not work for CMS. If you did, then you merely revise your forecast exactly 10 hours after you gave it and say "see, we were right, it didn't rain!" Then you provide a plethora of false statistics to back your claims and then you make promises that weather guys would accept pay for performance and that you would be willing to take a pay cut for lack of weather prognostigation.
Anonymous at 5:15,
Had you ACTUALLY faced a tornado you would not be concerned about being asleep when one approaches unless you are chemically dependent for sleep. Trust me; you won't sleep through it...
For the morons that stumble across this blog and complain about Steve, there's five fans who comment about how much they love it and read it regularly.
I hope that the editors recognize that. Particularly considering how often his byline is littered all over charlotteobserver.com.
thank you Steve, I have always enjoyed your honest reporting and your take on what the forecast may actually bring!
Anon 5:51 said... "Hey idiots - have you not heard about all the tornadoes the last few weeks in the South? I would much rather be told there is a chance for one then have one roll into my house at 3am when I am sleeping."
This doesn't make sense. So, if you hear that there is a chance for tornados, does that mean you stay up all night, just in case?
I love reading your blog, Steve! You explain so thoughtfully what is going on. When you mentioned twisters, I just thought I'd missed something and kept an eye on the weather reports. Thanks for the heads up even if it didn't develop as thought. This non-winter weather has been weird enough, and I appreciate your thoughts on the subject as I am curious about whether we will have an early spring/late winter snap and all the other unusual weather patterns that have happened over the past year.
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