Some levity

After the tornado rumbled through the north metro here in the Twin Cities today, there was nothing but bad news, beginning with the damage, the word that there was a death, then news of gunshots and looting. Awful. Well, at least there is this video, from KARE 11's Jana Shortal, and the man who was interviewed about the storm at about the 50 second mark.


Yes sir, that sounds like an awfully terrifying tornado. Or braying donkey.

Good luck with the recovery, everyone.

When bad meteorology, hysteria and football mix

So tonight's Vikings-Eagles game in Philadelphia was pushed to Tuesday night after a few local weather people mentioned the chance for 20 inches of snow. Was there a chance for that much snow? Sure. In eastern New Jersey. Atlantic City is at the tail end of a storm that will put them near 2 feet. Meanwhile, the airport in Philadelphia is checking in with less than 5.
So what happened? Hysteria, for one thing. There was the chance for big snow in the viewing area for the Philadelphia TV market, and upon hearing "up to 20 inches" all bets were off. Sure, it's snowing less than what was originally ACTUALLY forecast in Philadelphia, but not much. For example, at Real Job Inc, I was saying about 7. (Meteorologist!) Now the NFL looks a little silly deciding not to play a game for reasons of "public safety" when the city in question ended up with a manageable snow total.
What is the moral of this story? I guess there are a few. First, of course, is if you are relying on a TV forecast, make sure to pay attention to the whole thing. If you want a more specific forecast, check online, or get a personal forecast, especially if you are a major money industry like, say, the NFL. They might make sure to tell you that you will get 7 inches of snow, rather than the 20 they will get about 60 miles away.
Obviously, the idea of postponing a game for the sake of the public is admirable, especially in a league hellbent on making cash (TV ratings for a blizzard game would be through the roof), but in the future, they should make sure that there is an imminent danger.
Unless of course, they just wanted everybody to watch the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl tonight.

Alas, here is that April weather

So everyone was all worried about the weather in April and it's potential effect on outdoor baseball in Minnesota. Well, we showed them, with several warm days in the 60s and 70s, a lot of sun and only a little bit rain. It was perfect baseball weather almost all through April.
Now in May, when everyone wanted the team to start playing home games, the weather is miserable. The high was 45 today, and it's been raining almost all week. We even had a little snow earlier this week. So take that, baseball establishment. Our weather can suck in May too!
Ugh. Have fun at the game, anyone going.

Weather: The anti homefield

Oh good. It's New York and Boston at the forefront of sports in America. That never happens. Ugh.

I think the interesting thing about the game was the weather. Yes, I am a meteorologist, why d you ask?
Anyways, the purported home field advantage put forth by the inclement weather in Foxboro and Green Bay seemed to work against both teams. New England's aerial assault was severely limited due to the gusty winds at the stadium today. Had the Chargers been playing Ladanian Tomlinson, things may have swung in the Chargers favor. In fact, I would venture to say a healthy LT would have made the Chargers the favorites in that game, given the conditions, as a strong running game would have turned the tables.
In Green Bay, you have to wonder, seriously, if the bitterly cold weather didn't cause Brett Favre to tighten up just a bit, maybe make him less than his best. Nobody was moving quickly out there, and it came down to field position and mistakes. Favre made them, and Eli Manning did not.
The bad news about the Super Bowl, other than the fact that it's New York and New England and omigod they'll never shut up, is that it's being played in Phoenix. There will be no redeeming weather to interest me either. Well, at least the Colts won last year. In the rain.