Media cries "hurricane"

[scooterbug44]

I am REALLY getting fed up with the media and their irresponsible and sensationalistic reporting! This is why people don't heed warnings and evacuation notices.

For example, MSNBC headline "Deadly Tropical Storm Noel aims at Florida"

What the article ACTUALLY says:

"The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm?s center had emerged over the Atlantic and was regaining force after slogging across Cuba, where little damage was reported.

The forecasters said Noel should bend to the northeast, veering away from a collision with Florida and threatening the Bahamas instead."

Brace yourself for "above-normal tides and heavy rain." :angry:

 

[beachmouse]

(checks the latest NHC advistories)

Okay, South Florida isn't even in the cone of uncertainty. What gives there?

 

[Matt J]

It has been attributed to 40 some odd deaths in the Carribean already. Or should they only count US deaths before calling it deadly?

 

[scooterbug44]

Yes, it's true that it killed 48 people in Haiti and Dominican Republic.

My issue is with the way the headline reads - not "its rains have caused flood and mudslide deaths", but that "Florida lives are in danger!!!!"

 

[Matt J]

Yes, it's true that it killed 48 people in Haiti and Dominican Republic.

My issue is with the way the headline reads - not "its rains have caused flood and mudslide deaths", but that "Florida lives are in danger!!!!"

Cause Florida never floods? Just because the actual low doesn't move over Miami doesn't mean they aren't in for alot of rain. That combined with the fact that the circulation is counter-clockwise thus pushing the Atlantic in can still cause massive flooding. The people that go by headlines alone and run north or inland are exactly the ones that Darwin would predict should be weeded out the next time they say "Oh, it's just hype."

 

[Bob]

It's interesting to note that Category 5 Hurricane Andrew directly hit South Florida, and yet only 23 people died. Considering the power of that storm, raising fears over a tropical storm seems questionable. Dr. Gray, Thank you for being incredibly wrong again about your forecast!

 

[scooterbug44]

Stupid media! Had a message from a worried mom by the time I got home. Even though I've finally got her trained to check the weather channel & NOAA she was worried she was missing something because of all the news reports.

 

[dBaseball]

That is the left winged media for you. Selective screening of selected information. The truth never seems to make a good story or sell news print or electronic advertising spaces.

 

[TreeFrog]

In the meantime, as of this evening, Noel actually IS a hurricane.

 

[Matt J]

It's interesting to note that Category 5 Hurricane Andrew directly hit South Florida, and yet only 23 people died. Considering the power of that storm, raising fears over a tropical storm seems questionable. Dr. Gray, Thank you for being incredibly wrong again about your forecast!

I think Treefrog got the point of my original post. Hurricane Andrew only killed 23 people as it was a major hurricane prior to making landfall. The point of the warnings over Noel were most likely because of what recently happened in Texas. Remember when that tropical storm directly off the coast of Texas turned into a hurricane over night.

On that note I take about as much credence in Dr. Gray's anal forecast as I do in the Easter Bunny. No that's not a spelling mistake.