rdale
EF5
If that's how they do it in Oklahoma TV - it must be the best way 
Rob Satkus
EF2
If that's how they do it in Oklahoma TV - it must be the best way
No, that's not how MOST of us do it down here.
RS
rdale
EF5
I know - I was just poking fun at those who claim that nobody does severe weather better than OKC stations...
Jim Saueressig
EF5
Wow, I think he needs medicated before chasing. LOL
Shane Adams
Name one market that's better. Sensationalism aside, what other market has more experience top to bottom? I'm not arguing that it doesn't get ridiculous out here sometimes, but all that does is give the haters something to talk about. As far as experience with doing live severe weather, cutting edge technology, and good old-fashioned give-a-damn, nobody's better.
I've watched live weather all over Tornado Alley, and I've yet to see anyone do it better than the OKC guys. It's not a pissing contest, it's just simply true. Kinda like I'm sure no one's better than Minnesota, Michigan, or New York covering Winter weather. It's just about experience relative to what region you're in.
Shane Adams
I'd like to see that list.
Mike Peregrine
EF5
I think it also helps that most of the stations down there are privately owned or owned by local corporations. It lets the mets concentrate on things like beefing up their chasers and doing the stuff they know is important to their viewing area. Just an impression, but it seems that the stations in the bigger cities (Dallas, KC, etc.) that are owned by the networks or big corporations on the coast just don't see the need to fund this stuff, and what's good for the weatherman in L.A. must be good for the one in the plains too. OKC and ICT's stations are known for good coverage because they are given the discretion to build it in the first place.
And on the original topic ... he totally sounds like a sports announcer - lol.
And on the original topic ... he totally sounds like a sports announcer - lol.
Chris C Sanner
EF5
I'd be shocked to see anyone higher on the list for sure. While watching a lot of the streaming stations last year while I was out of action, you could easily make one conclusion that they weren't as good as the OKC guys. The coverage of Greensburg last year is one prime example...the coverage was adequate for sure, but it just wasn't OKC level
On another note, I'd also say KWTV probably is the best of the OKC bunch as well, but that's just MHO
rdale
EF5
I don't think you can put sensationalism aside though... Anyone can look at a 60000ft storm with 70dbZ to 24000ft and 102kts of gate-to-gate shear and tell people to take cover. It's the OKC theory similar to "if it bleeds, it leads" of "if it rotates, it could be an EF4" that gets me. With all that experience, and all those tools, you'd think they would have a better idea of what storms could produce tornadoes.
I'd love to throw a group of OKC's best with some "outsiders" in front of a WES case and let them issue warnings without NWS guidance... I think that's the only way of really "judging" abilities.
But it may not be a OKC TV thing -- as checking the stats from OUN for Jan-Apr, and 31 tornado warnings were issued. 3 (three) actually had tornadoes, so they busted more than 90% of the time. That bothers me on several fronts.
Maybe the technology isn't working. Maybe we're in too risk-averse of an environment. Maybe mets are relying on too much algorithm and too little interpretation. I don't know. But I do think that 9 out of 10 warnings coming up false, from what should be the best WFO in the country in TOR issuances, gives us all a reason to worry.
Chris Lott
EF4
There was a weatherman in Waco for a few years who used to work in Oklahoma, was down here for a few years and just moved back to OKC at the end of 2007. I can see why he moved back, because the guys down here are morons.
Mikey Gribble
EF5
The Wichita stations can compete. I don't think they are better than the OKC stations simply because they don't pump as much money into it, but we are still good. KWCH dominates the market up here, and as much as I hate to say it, KAKE doesn't do too bad with their coverage either (I hate KAKE). KWCH still wins the ratings battle so we definitely have the edge, but overall the coverage is good. If we just had a helicopter... doh!
You can't go off Greensburg for a sample of Wichita coverage IMO. That was a night time event with complete chaos. If you watch on a normal day KWCH normally has 2 or 3 chasers on any good tornadic storm. Take the Nickerson storm for example. We had three chasers (that I know of) and a satellite truck on that storm. That's good coverage IMO.
You can't go off Greensburg for a sample of Wichita coverage IMO. That was a night time event with complete chaos. If you watch on a normal day KWCH normally has 2 or 3 chasers on any good tornadic storm. Take the Nickerson storm for example. We had three chasers (that I know of) and a satellite truck on that storm. That's good coverage IMO.
Shane Adams
I've been on several tornado-warned storms that failed to produce that looked exactly like many I've seen that did produce...Nature is unpredictable at best. I wouldn't consider 28 tornado warnings of storms with rotating wallclouds a failure.
It's unfair to section out a small portion of a year and compare failure rates...what's the national average throughout a calendar year VS OUN's area? And better yet, what's the tornado days VS fatality rate average across the nation VS Oklahoma?
rdale
EF5
But does the public? I don't know the answer to that question. I wish we had more socio-meteorological research to make judgements on.
Don't make my statement more than it is. I wasn't picking on the office. I'm just noticing the extreme FAR and wondering 1) what causes and 2) what impact.
Tulsa verified 11 out of 57 during that timeframe, so 46 busts (89%). Other offices that have issued at least double-digit TOR's - PAH 83% FAR, MEM 69%, LIT 75%, SGF 54% (on 101 warnings even, but 21 missed events)... You can look them up yourself at the IEM COW.
- Rob
Shane Adams
By 'unfair' I meant 'inaccurate'...my mistake.
I understand what you're saying regarding the public's perception VS a chaser's, but like you said, there's no answer for this, as it's a '"socio" issue.
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