Messages

496

TWC Today News / Re: Site News

« on: April 06, 2013, 11:53:57 AM »

Hey everyone!

As you may have seen in some of Patrick's discussion in The Front Porch, we are trying to raise interest here a little bit by bringing some of our discussion towards more general weather chat, including more detailed forecasting techniques such as analyzing weather models, and understanding the math and physics behind meteorology.  We may even have a forecasting challenge game so that some of you who like to forecast or have always wanted to forecast can give it a try!

Reflecting this change, you will see two new boards for "Forecasting" and "Hazardous Weather" under the "Weather Discussion" category.  Currently, the boards are empty, but in the coming days and weeks, we will start to add new topics and get everything organized.

We hope you like this new idea!

497

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: April 05, 2013, 10:21:18 PM »

If only they would show the regular LDL during live programming and the LDA during long-form.

498

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: April 05, 2013, 07:13:49 PM »

What does this mean?  The only actual meteorologist-on-camera-talking-about-weather segments will be these new meteorologist-hosted "Local on the 8s," and the rest of TWC's programming day will be longform that's barely related to weather in the first place?!?!

No, no.  I don't think so.   

I think the quote Alex posted means that we're no longer going to see a LOT8s like we're used to - that is, alternating screens with narration and background music.  From how that quote was worded, I agree with Trevor in that the new LOT8s will be like that YouTube video from Tyler.  In fact, you know how they have those short videos on weather.com for select local cities with an OCM?  The "Focus Forecasts?"  I bet the new LOT8s will be just like that.  AccuWeather does this too.  Now I don't know how logistics will work with that, because they can't record a new video for every single city within 10 minutes, so the information might not be that local.  IDK.   There's still to much vagueness right now to tell. 

Another idea, probably more reasonable, is that all LOT8s will now be the L-Bar/squeezeback with an OCM giving a live weather update.

499

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: April 03, 2013, 06:52:34 PM »

Here's from the NYT

For instance, there will be a revamping of the forecasts known as “Local on the 8s,” Mr. Clark said, and a customization of coverage so that while viewers in markets affected by severe local weather are watching coverage of that news, viewers in other, unaffected markets will be able to continue watching regular programming.

Simply put, the "dual feed."

500

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: April 03, 2013, 04:51:33 PM »

How many times have we been told this, only to have it turn out as a lie or something TWC doesn't feel is important enough to focus on?

501

Everything Else TWC / Re: Why The Weather Channel is Naming Winter Storms

« on: March 23, 2013, 11:23:27 PM »

I've always wondered that too, Ana!   I think they probably had a backup list just in case.

Unfortunately, I was unable to watch all of that 30-minute special "A Storm Named Winter" but did see a little tidbit where a Latin high school class created four new name lists.  Why a Latin class would be doing this is beyond me.   To be honest, I am not really sure if that was just for fun or if TWC was seriously considering using the new names the class came up with.  But I personally thought it was a serious effort, and if so, then it looks like TWC may continue naming winter storms in the future.

Judging by some posts on TWC's Facebook page, I know quite a few people dislike TWC naming winter storms.  But, on the other hand, others don't seem to mind it.  And, especially after "Nemo," a lot of other companies and stations seemed to pick up the naming (for example, I heard a reporter on ESPN mention the name "Nemo").  So TWC will have to consider quite a lot in deciding whether to name winter storms in the future.

Like I said, I was unable to catch that special on the naming of winter storms, so it's possible that what I just said and more was covered in that special.  Let me know what I missed for those of you who saw it.

502

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: General IS2 Discussion

« on: March 23, 2013, 06:38:58 PM »

IS2 in Naples, FL!
Cable provider: Xfinity

IntelliSTAR 2 Naples, FL

503

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: March 16, 2013, 12:00:16 PM »

Spring break has started for me.  I'm back in Dallas for only a couple of days before heading off to Naples, FL!   But man, it sure has felt like spring here for the past couple of days.  82° yesterday and 84° forecasted today.

504

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: March 14, 2013, 04:11:26 PM »

Not to make any of you jealous...

77°F Sunny

Supposed to be 81° tomorrow!

505

Everything Else TWC / Re: New weather.com design: April 2012

« on: March 13, 2013, 05:08:14 PM »

weather.com has slightly updated their "Today" page for local cities.  Though a minor change, it may take some time getting used to.  I think the format is kind of what they used to have,  though, with the columns like that.

506

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: March 11, 2013, 06:56:51 PM »

Since I know no one would want UTC as the official time zone of the United States as midnight and noon in UTC would not match the rhythm of our days and nights, do you think we should be on DST all the time or never at all?

That's actually a pretty difficult question to answer.  I guess it depends on whether you like light earlier in the morning, or light later at night.  If, hypothetically, we started never changing the clocks, then it would take some time getting used to (for me, anyway), as I am always used to it being darker earlier in wintertime and darker later in the spring/summer/fall.  (The mornings don't really matter to me, but I may be changing my mind when I get a job that has me work early in the morning. )

507

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: March 09, 2013, 05:50:21 PM »

55°F Light rain

A heavy thunderstorm rolled through here about a couple of hours ago, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and some very small hail, but lasted only a few minutes.

508

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: March 09, 2013, 12:18:18 PM »

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour tonight to spring forward to Daylight Saving Time!

Thanks for the reminder, Patrick!   I like the start of Savings Time, as the later daylight puts me in the mood for spring and summer, but I hate losing that hour of sleep during the change.  And having it happen this weekend really wasn't the best time for me.

509

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 05, 2013, 12:48:37 PM »

I think this may be the first time weather.com has had an animated GIF on their homepage.  It's nice that they're able to show the track of the storm, but the speed almost makes me sick.

510

Local Forecast / Re: Squeezeback during Long Form

« on: March 03, 2013, 07:40:00 PM »

Honestly during long form I would prefer option 4 (the small LDL) for a LOT8s forecast only.  So in other words, what they have now is nice.  The ONLY thing I don't like is that those with the national feed only see a US city-by-city forecast, and the LDL only gets through a few cities at a time, so you may have to wait a while to see the forecast for your city show up.  But that would probably be a problem with all options.

I agree with Patrick that options 1 and 2 are very distracting to the long form show and have too much going on at the same time.  Plus, there is a lot of wasted space.

Though probably in the minority with this statement, I also am glad they don't show the LDL all the time during long form anymore.  To me and likely to an average viewer, I find it distracting to the show and find myself wanting to look at the LDL instead of the show.  So their move in removing it was a good idea IMO.