Parlor Spider...Step In, Little Fly

Insightful thoughts and/or rants from atop the soapbox from one who wishes to share the "right" opinion with everyone.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Meteorological Throwdown

Who knew there was competition in the weather forecasting business? Oh, I knew the networks, including the cable ones, we involved, but they always seemed to share the same computer models...which made all of them right maybe half the time. With complicated computer models and things like VIPIR storm tracking systems, you'd think it would be foolproof. but it's not. That is unless you happen to be reading The Almanac.
Notice I didn't write The Farmer's Almanac, and there's a very good reason for that. There are TWO publications claiming that name...and have been doing so for almost 200 years! Who knew?
Just like when I found out that Dear Abby and Ann Landers were actually sisters, this revelation about there being a pair of almanacs has left me stunned. But, it's true.
The Old Farmer's Almanac is 219 years old and lays claim to the fact that it is the longest continually-published periodical in America and is published in New Hampshire. "We're the one Abe Lincoln used in a murder trial. We're the one George Washington read," publishers crow. (Now, I have to find out about the murder trial).
The Farmer's Almanac, published in Maine, is a mere 200 years old. Both feature the same content: weather, gardening tips, helpful hints, jokes, recipes and aphorisms. But, this year, they differ in the forecasting business (which is a complicated secret for both of them).
TOFA claims this will be a colder than usual winter while TFA claims that the winter will be a "kinder, gentler" version of last year.
Both claim to have a circulation of roughly 3.2 million readers, and both claim to be right between 780 and 85 percent of the time. Take THAT weather Channel!
AND THERE'S MORE!
The National Weather Service (NOAA) disagrees with both of them, claiming that it will be warmer than normal in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states but colder than usual in the Northwest. It seems NOAA has conveniently forgotten me here in Green Bay, but then, I don't need a fancy schmancy weather prognosticator to tell me that I'll be shoveling a large part of the winter.
Check back in June to see which was correct.

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