I think it started in the 80s' - to spice up the weather, forecasters began telling us about the "windchill" and how lethal it was. Yes, it can kill - we had a young man just a few years back found lying in 4" of sleet during freezing rain, lost his leg. He was typically attired in a hoodie and had to walk home over a mile. It tore him up.

Then as they got more graphics computer equipped, casters inserted a regional map of the temps and could switch to the windchills, pointing at the differences and how bad they were. It was about that time that some started wearing shorts year round here, flips in the summer, construction boots in the winter. It actually started getting funny then. Guys at a tarp factory down the street having snowball fights, hoodie jackets, knee length construction shorts, and boots.

Of late it's now about the fake temps not the actual, and one online forecast constantly trumpets its "real feel" temp, erecting records for it where ever it happens. "New record low Realfeel temp! OMG!" "Realfeel temps set records nationwide!" Funny, I haven't seen the NOAA bloviating over it.

Having been raised in an era where you dressed for it correctly, plus knowing a rough rule of thumb to drop 1 degree for every mph, I don't need the dramacasters wasting my time over what it might feel like in my head. Men lived with below zero temps and made it thru the winter - in the Rockies or Finland. How I treat with it now is that the scaremongering isn't for me - I got the memo a long time ago - it's for the newbies with no more experience than walking thru the mall doors for a Saturday with their buds.

And despite the realfeel temps, I swear I saw video of truckers in Ottawa wearing shorts. Please tell me I didn't.

I don't care what you say. Wind chill factor and heat index are real. Nothing fake about them.

But it's a dry heat.

More importantly, the weather hotties seem to be much less radiant these days (or maybe it is my temperature that has cooled off?)

I can’t agree more. Weather sells ads, the rest of the news not so much. It gets really cold here in winter and the 9 trees between here and Minot, ND. do little to break the wind. In other news the Vikings still suck.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I don't care what you say. Wind chill factor and heat index are real. Nothing fake about them.

Wind chill and heat index is real, but how in the hell do they determine how it feels on your skin? Maybe they survey a group of shirtless ice fishermen on MilLacs Lake. But the issue is they forget to factor in the alcohol factor. Also how do they interpret one of them claiming “It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a gang plow”, or “It’s colder then a witch’s tit in January”. Just saying.

And then there’s this classic of a meteorologist-actor from the Weather Channel pretending to be bracing against high winds -

Fake High Winds

“Oh the huge manatees!”

The weather has lost just about all credibility. Recently, they forecasted a huge ice storm with models of this and that showing certain doom. Widespread power outages and death were certain. We got very little ice and about an inch of sleet. They totally missed it. Again.

The bigger problem to me is tornado warnings. We have maybe one tornado a year that that touches down. But what we do have is 100 “radar indicated” tornados that no one ever sees. Receiving a tornado warning is more common than being able to get the McRib. And people stop paying attention. And then the monster touches down and because they are so desensitized to them and people lose their lives.

I haven’t watched a live weather show in over 20 years. Wunderground does just fine for me. So does the big picture window in my dinning room.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
Wind chill and heat index is real, but how in the hell do they determine how it feels on your skin?

There are mathematical forumulae for each. It isn't based on how it will feel on anybody's skin, but how wind and humidity affect heat transfer from surfaces. That means: Yes, it applies to inanimate objects, such as your car, just as it does people, animals, and plants.

That being said: The weather segments, just like the rest of the "news" dramatizes everything. Just like the skewed and dramatized "news": Dire weather forecasts attracts eyeballs. Eyeballs attract advertisers. Advertisers means money.

I usually take whatever the local weather people forecast on TV and reduce the likely severity of what they predict by a good 25%, at least.

E.g.: The last forecast Snowmageddon. We were forecast to receive 10-12 in. of snow. "That means about 7-8 in., maybe," I told my wife. Sure enough: It was about 7-8 in.

Didn't used to be that way. TV forecasters used to get it a lot more right than they do these days. I suspect the "meteorologists" on TV don't really do any of their own analysis anymore, but rely on what the National Weather Service tells them. The NWS, in turn, relies mostly on computer modelling. And we know how well that often works.

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
And then there’s this classic of a meteorologist-actor from the Weather Channel pretending to be bracing against high winds -

Fake High Winds

“Oh the huge manatees!”

I prefer the one where the terrified weather flunky tells everyone to get off the streets because of catastrophic weather conditions, while a guy wearing a rubber horse's head casually jogs by behind him.

You know you're in trouble when they roll up their sleeves.

Being raised in Alaska I learned to pretty much ignore weather forcasters.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
There are mathematical forumulae for each. It isn't based on how it will feel on anybody's skin,

I understand that there is a mathematical formula, but the term “feel” is a subjective term which does not go with math.

Weather drama draws viewers . Viewers draw advertising dollars .

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
There are mathematical forumulae for each. It isn't based on how it will feel on anybody's skin,

I understand that there is a mathematical formula, but the term “feel” is a subjective term which does not go with math.

You mean things like "the real feel temperature?" That's just local weather actor marketing terminology.

Yes: When they say "real feel" what they mean is wind chill. Of course it isn't what you'll really feel. Go outside in a bathing suit and you'll feel one thing. Go outside with thermal underwear and socks; heavy boots, jeans, and flannel long-sleeve shirt; a down coat, insulated mittens, and a balaclava, and you'll feel something entirely different.

So, yes: It's stupid terminology.

This as true in the winter where Dad lives in Upper Midwest and where I live in Texas Gulf Coast.


Here, they act just as crazy June through October for hurricanes. They'll latch on to a model that's never been right in an effort to scare people into watching more, but the hurricane ends up in Mexico or Louisiana (i.e. where the real models said it'd be).

I'm with the OP. Just give me the measured temperature outside or forecasted actual temperature, and I'll figure out the rest.

Yeah, it does. It is the same as the heat index, the term "real feel" just was a catchy term for heat index.

If the heat index, calculated from actual temp, humidity and wind is 105F from 70% humidity @90F (in shade with no wind) then the effect on the body's ability to regulate its temperature is impacted "as if" the temperature of that index value.

Working in direct sun increases that value, and wind (can) decrease it (very slightly).

But the point of the news creating drama, maybe we need a "drama index".

Or we could go with the my NSFW, POV.

Weather forecasting here in the Yoop is less panic ridden. But actual accuracy is lacking, due to varying terrain and the effect of the big lakes. Snowfall can vary quite a bit between elevation and wind direction. Temperature too. As a motorcyclist, I try to figure out the weather along my chosen ride. And I am often wrong. And the weatherman is too. At least they dont do the stupid "emergency level declarations" and tell you to barricade yourself in your house.
"Everybody complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it".
Will Rogers.