Accuweather hatred.

Auzzie-Phoenix · 08-07-2015, 09:42 PM

Apparently accuweather doesn't know the difference between mostly clear and mostly cloudy. Went to the lake to take astro, only to find out how critically wrong they were (and then finding out I grabbed the wrong camera bag... so had most of my lenses, but not my camera). Is it just me, or is accuweather pretty much anything BUT accurate? Also, the lake is about a 30 mi. round trip that takes 20 or so min. to drive to... To drive out there and have to turn around immediately....

Last edited by Auzzie-Phoenix; 08-07-2015 at 09:43 PM. Reason: further rant extrapolation.

SpecialK · 08-08-2015, 12:13 AM - **2 Likes**

The weather forecast is always accurate...for somewhere else.

**PJ1** · 08-08-2015, 01:49 AM

Best I have seen is a long term forecast for "40 to 60 per cent chance of above average rainfall." If you think about it, that is exactly the same as "40 to 60 per cent chance of below average rainfall". I guess it depends on whether the forecaster is an optimist or a pessimist - glass half full or glass half empty.

**savoche** · 08-08-2015, 02:16 AM

Have you tried comparing with other forecasters? An outsider for US weather: http://www.yr.no/place/United_States/Arizona/Phoenix/hour_by_hour.html

(Just making a guess at what place we're talking about

)

**Rondec** · 08-08-2015, 02:52 AM

Are you in the US? I usually use NOAA weather forecasts and find them to be quite accurate. In particular, during the winter, I find that accuweather way over estimates the amount of snow fall we are going to get here.

Murfy · 08-08-2015, 07:01 AM

Accuweather and weather.com are both usually wrong. We have had days where it has been overcast all day, and accuweather will say "rain starting in 30 minutes" and it will NEVER rain that day. One time I checked the weather before I left the house for a 40 minute trip to take my kids to ride on old train. Clear skies all day. Got there and it was lightening and thunder, just in that area, both websites had clear skies.

Tom S. · 08-08-2015, 07:17 AM

Accuweather is an oxymoron like "military intelligence" and "jumbo shrimp".

Parallax · 08-08-2015, 07:33 AM

ALL weather forecasts, internet, TV, Radio, whatever, should be required by law to be preceded by a disclaimer.
Something like:
"Any similarity between this forecast and actual meteorological events is entirely coincidental."

**savoche** · 08-08-2015, 07:46 AM

"Based on a true story"?

Al_Kahollick · 08-08-2015, 07:47 AM

Weather forecasts are nothing more than educated guesses. They use a number of computer models, all showing different results, and try to reach a consensus. Sometimes they get it right, yet no one ever notices until they get it wrong. It's impossible to predict the unpredictable and ever changing.

A quick look at the local radar before heading out may have saved the OP from an unnecessary trip (that and remembering his camera!).

Parallax · 08-08-2015, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by Al_Kahollick

It's impossible to predict the unpredictable and ever changing.

You're right, it is. It's impossible to spin straw into gold as well; yet, oddly, no one gets paid for repeatedly failing to do it.

reeftool · 08-08-2015, 07:57 AM

One thing is certain. If I'm going camping or riding my motorcycle more than an hour away from home, the chance of rain is always around 90%.

**boriscleto** · 08-08-2015, 08:33 AM

Accuweather is based in State College, PA. Nothing good comes from State College, PA.

Auzzie-Phoenix · 08-08-2015, 08:54 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by boriscleto

Accuweather is based in State College, PA. Nothing good comes from State College, PA.

I could state that nothing good ever comes out of PA in general. The state is like a black hole that keeps dragging people back in once they manage to leave.

**Canada_Rockies** · 08-08-2015, 08:54 AM

Relying on weather forecasts in the mountains is an exercise in futility. We just spent two days in the trailer in Waterton Lakes National Park. We also had to do a truck service and some shopping, so we did that on day 1, accurately forecast as sunny and warm. Day 2, which was also forecast as sunny and warm, was not. It was windy and wet. We should have figured on doing the truck service on the way back, but it is a hassle to drop the trailer before the Toyota dealer does its thing. We should have opted for the hassle.

Here, in the Rocky Mountains, the only true forecast for the weather is along the lines of "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes." We gambled and lost.

08-07-2015, 09:42 PM	#1
Auzzie-Phoenix Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,020	Accuweather hatred. Apparently accuweather doesn't know the difference between mostly clear and mostly cloudy. Went to the lake to take astro, only to find out how critically wrong they were (and then finding out I grabbed the wrong camera bag... so had most of my lenses, but not my camera). Is it just me, or is accuweather pretty much anything BUT accurate? Also, the lake is about a 30 mi. round trip that takes 20 or so min. to drive to... To drive out there and have to turn around immediately.... Last edited by Auzzie-Phoenix; 08-07-2015 at 09:43 PM. Reason: further rant extrapolation.

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08-08-2015, 12:13 AM - 2 Likes	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	The weather forecast is always accurate...for somewhere else.

08-08-2015, 01:49 AM	#3
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Best I have seen is a long term forecast for "40 to 60 per cent chance of above average rainfall." If you think about it, that is exactly the same as "40 to 60 per cent chance of below average rainfall". I guess it depends on whether the forecaster is an optimist or a pessimist - glass half full or glass half empty.

08-08-2015, 02:16 AM	#4
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Have you tried comparing with other forecasters? An outsider for US weather: http://www.yr.no/place/United_States/Arizona/Phoenix/hour_by_hour.html (Just making a guess at what place we're talking about )

08-08-2015, 02:52 AM	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,657	Are you in the US? I usually use NOAA weather forecasts and find them to be quite accurate. In particular, during the winter, I find that accuweather way over estimates the amount of snow fall we are going to get here.

08-08-2015, 07:01 AM	#6
Murfy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 803	Accuweather and weather.com are both usually wrong. We have had days where it has been overcast all day, and accuweather will say "rain starting in 30 minutes" and it will NEVER rain that day. One time I checked the weather before I left the house for a 40 minute trip to take my kids to ride on old train. Clear skies all day. Got there and it was lightening and thunder, just in that area, both websites had clear skies.

08-08-2015, 07:17 AM	#7
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Accuweather is an oxymoron like "military intelligence" and "jumbo shrimp".

08-08-2015, 07:33 AM	#8
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	ALL weather forecasts, internet, TV, Radio, whatever, should be required by law to be preceded by a disclaimer. Something like: "Any similarity between this forecast and actual meteorological events is entirely coincidental."

08-08-2015, 07:46 AM	#9
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	"Based on a true story"?

08-08-2015, 07:47 AM	#10
Al_Kahollick Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 390	Weather forecasts are nothing more than educated guesses. They use a number of computer models, all showing different results, and try to reach a consensus. Sometimes they get it right, yet no one ever notices until they get it wrong. It's impossible to predict the unpredictable and ever changing. A quick look at the local radar before heading out may have saved the OP from an unnecessary trip (that and remembering his camera!).

08-08-2015, 07:52 AM	#11
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by Al_Kahollick It's impossible to predict the unpredictable and ever changing. You're right, it is. It's impossible to spin straw into gold as well; yet, oddly, no one gets paid for repeatedly failing to do it.

08-08-2015, 07:57 AM	#12
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,555	One thing is certain. If I'm going camping or riding my motorcycle more than an hour away from home, the chance of rain is always around 90%.

08-08-2015, 08:33 AM	#13
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Accuweather is based in State College, PA. Nothing good comes from State College, PA.

08-08-2015, 08:54 AM - 1 Like	#14
Auzzie-Phoenix Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,020 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto Accuweather is based in State College, PA. Nothing good comes from State College, PA. I could state that nothing good ever comes out of PA in general. The state is like a black hole that keeps dragging people back in once they manage to leave.

08-08-2015, 08:54 AM	#15
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Relying on weather forecasts in the mountains is an exercise in futility. We just spent two days in the trailer in Waterton Lakes National Park. We also had to do a truck service and some shopping, so we did that on day 1, accurately forecast as sunny and warm. Day 2, which was also forecast as sunny and warm, was not. It was windy and wet. We should have figured on doing the truck service on the way back, but it is a hassle to drop the trailer before the Toyota dealer does its thing. We should have opted for the hassle. Here, in the Rocky Mountains, the only true forecast for the weather is along the lines of "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes." We gambled and lost.