(The) C0MM0N PE0PLES S0URCE for NEWS

December 1, 2007 

The Facts 

Businesses and residents of the state of Florida are upset with the National Hurricane Center for their inaccurate forecasting for the past three years. Business and citizens alike are saying they have spent a lot of money unnecessarily based on those forecast.  

My View 

I will be the first to admit that Dr. Gray and his staff have not been as accurate over the past three years as they have been in the past. However, we must remember, when it boils down to it, this is a forecast on what Mother Nature will do based on past history. They do not have a crystal ball. Just how accurate do we expect the forecaster’s to be? I can recall that I use to say the only reason I watch the local forecasters was to hear what their excuse was for being wrong yesterday. There is an old saying that people will always complain about the weather; “it’s to wet or too dry; it’s too hot or too cold.” “When there is nothing else to talk about, talk about the weather.” Now we have found something else to complain about relative to the weather.  

It’s all right with me if people complain about the weather. But to take it this far is a little to much. And the fact that news channels will actually report these complaints is extremely unprofessional. What’s the next step? Start suing the forecasters? Why not? We seem to think that’s the answer to most of our other frivolous complaints. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again; we always want to blame someone for everything.