As the blizzard barreled toward the Northeast last week, Weather Channel meteorologist Carl Parker told NBC News, “The European model, which is generally the best model we have, has continued to insist there is going to be this really big storm but the other models are not bullish on it at all.” Thus, America’s fading ability to forecast extreme weather was embarrassingly exposed for the second consecutive superstorm. The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts promptly and accurately tracked Hurricane Sandy’s landfall last fall on the coast of New York and New Jersey, and did the same with last weekend’s winter storm in New England.
The European center uses more powerful computers and extra layers of data that provide a higher “resolution” for scientists to make predictions. Not only are the National Weather Service’s models weaker, but they will fall even further behind if Congress fails to replace the aging satellites that provide the vast majority of US weather information.
Comments
If we are not willing to pay the price of being a top of the line nation, we won't be. Certain segments of the population can lament costs, politicize every expenditure known to govt., can cry for days of old and their nostalgia is quite quaint. However, it costs money to be a modern nation. Sadly these same folks will cry foul when we become a third rate nation and the only persons to blame will be themselves. As they say, Stupid is as stupid does.
Exactly! I was thinking how nice it was of the developers of the European model to allow our forecasters to not only use it but to advocate that it was the one that correctly forecasted SSS and therefore we should reply on it. Should we send them something to say thankyou? How about an old Dixie Chicks CD signed by the gals? (Relax, I'm just having fun with an old news story)
*rely, not "reply". Sorry!
The only Comment I can make is Ditto to Attaturk's post.
While this editorial points out a lack of common sense, why don't we just contract out the European Center for our forecasting? Why recreate the wheel? With the money that we pee away on defense spending we should get it for free!
This comment has been removed.
High fives all around for the Globe's editorial staff. It doesn't get any better than this. "Western Europe is better than us".
And now some predicted responses from our Patriotical friends on the right:
1. Maybe Ted Nugent can shoot his way in and steal their 'foreigner weather stuff"
2 Yeah but we've got Walmart
3 But men in Europe wear white pants, carry umbrellas and smell funny
Thanks for humoring me... it's been a long day
Bendogger makes a good point - how about we work together to get solid info from our Allies insead of buying the same equipment.