Atlanta TV Severe Weather Coverage?

March 22, 2006, 2:33 pm
Posted by James Spann in Weather Discussions
Rating: 0/5   Votes : 0
No, I am not moving to Atlanta.

This is for blog readers in the Atlanta TV market (which, by the way, includes Cleburne and Randolph Counties in Alabama).

How do Atlanta TV stations handle severe weather coverage?

What is good, what is bad?

Just working on a project here and I need to hear some comments. You can post them here on the blog, or send them to me:

blog@jamesspann.com

Thanks!

James Spann
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Posted by  
on March 22, 2006, 1:45 pm
When the news isn't on, as I recall they only cut in for a weather update when a tornado warning is issued, and even then sometimes they don't go wall-wall coverage unless it's during the news broadcast. Overall FOX5 is probably the best at covering severe weather but even they could do better. It's their job to ensure that all persons in their viewing area are safe and not going wall-wall coverage to alert viewers of impending tornadic activity in their area is a dis-service to the public I think.

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Posted by  
on March 22, 2006, 2:23 pm
It was 8:55 AM, on May 6, 1999. I recall specifically a tornado warning being issued for Gwinnett County. There was a short cut in on one of the Atlanta stations that I was watching, and that was it.

AFAIK, they don't do a good job of severe weather coverage as Birmingham does.

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Posted by  
on March 22, 2006, 3:23 pm
What about Web Streaming? Is B'ham, AL the only city that could go web streaming when a serious threat is out there? Two stations, AFAIK, does it. But this station is most realiable as for streaming and web content. The other B'ham stations are ok, but sometimes if there is no TV around and only a computer and wanna watch a streaming video, here is a good source, IMHO.

Wayne

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Posted by  
on March 22, 2006, 3:49 pm
WSB and WAGA are by FAR the best in Atlanta. Both usually cut in on tornado warnings. Now they usually run a crawl at the bottom for severe tstm warnings, but thats alright to me. WSB/WAGA tend to go wall to wall when a tornadic storm is within say 50 miles of the metro, or has a history of producing damage. I can even remember both stations going wall to wall for storms in Alabama about to cross the state line. Of course most of our severe weather occurs in the late afternoon, right around news time and early in the morning. It could be better, but they do a good job.

WXIA has its moments, and WGCL has been in the toilet for years.

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Posted by  
on March 22, 2006, 4:06 pm
I live a little closer to Atlanta than the border counties. I think lately that the best severe weather coverage belongs to the NBC station WXIA. No hype gets to the coverage and then gets off. I am not a big fan of staying on the air for the sake of a storm that "might" be severe. Monday night when the storms and rain moved into Atlanta, WXIA had the best coverage.

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Posted by   www
on March 22, 2006, 4:58 pm
I live in metro Atlanta, and IMO severe coverage is adequate at best, certainly nothing great. For example, on March 27, 1994 no Atlanta station went wall to wall until the second round of storms approached the Georgia state line (after 6 p.m.).; coverage of the most violent (and deadliest) tornadoes that Sunday afternoon was IMO atrocious.....only a few brief cut ins, even though it was apparent to myself (via radar and police scanner reports) that large and very destructive tornadoes were tearing across northern Georgia from near Cedartown to Tallulah Falls; that tremendous damage and fatalities were occurring.

In recent years, there has been more wall to wall coverage of tornadoes....IF they occur during late afternoon to early evening time frame; however, even then, coverage seems to depend based on the day of the week it occurs. The recent Sunday January 3rd tornadoes were poorly covered IMO; tornadoes occurring after midnight and before mid/late afternoon are usually only covered by scrolls or brief cut ins.

IF chief meteorologist Ken Cook is on duty, then WAGA TV's tornado coverage is far and away the best in this viewing area; however, Ken takes a lot of vacation time (and always at the worst time it seems).....when he isn't there (like the late morning/ afternoon of 3/27/94 or late evening of 4/8-9/98), then WAGA's severe wx coverage is IMO just as impotent as the other three network affiliates (WSB, WXIA, WGCL) are 95% of the time.





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Posted by   www
on March 22, 2006, 5:03 pm
My apologies for the typo above. Instead of (4/8-9/98), it should read (4/8-9/98 ); referring of course to the April 8-9, 1998 tornado outbreak.

Perry

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Posted by Rob Buell  
on March 22, 2006, 5:29 pm
James,

I know you were asking for comments regarding severe weather coverage in the Atlanta market. Living in southern California, I obviously can't comment on Atlanta, but I just can't help "venting" on this subject every now and then.

I live solidly within the confines of the Los Angeles television market. While this area does not suffer from chronic severe weather, there are several instances of it each year where warnings are issued for everything from tornadoes to winter storms. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare for our local television stations to inform the public of these warnings in a timely manner. More often than not, there is no interrupted programming, no crawls, no nothing until the local news normally airs.

Occasionally, a exception to this "no interruption" ideology will be made for instances when adverse/severe weather threatens the city of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley (northern suburbs of L.A.) or Orange County. Areas farther inland have to wait for the regular local news despite the fact that <u>millions of people</u> have migrated to these areas...areas (like mine) that are within the Los Angeles DMA and also within easy reach of the television signals from L.A. stations.

News/talk and all news format radio stations in my area are just as bad. I recall one news/talk station still warning people in Orange County of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning <u>almost two hours after</u> the warning expired.

In the past, I have been in the Birmingham area during severe weather and can honestly say that one of the things I admire most about 33/40's coverage is that there are no "second class" communities in the Birmingham market. If the NWS has a rural area under a tornado warning in your market, you folks are going to be informing people of it. In my opinion, that should be the "gold standard" for every television station.

Again, I realize you were asking for comments about Atlanta coverage and apologize for boring your readers with details on the state of weather coverage in Los Angeles.

Rob Buell
Upland, CA

P.S. -- For high-speed police chases in my area, every television station in Los Angeles has their helicopters out here following it. Most interrupt regular programming for wall-to-wall coverage of the chase. Do figure.

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Posted by   www
on March 22, 2006, 9:04 pm
James:

Ask Cash and Kari tomorrow morning. They're both from Atlanta.

Rebecca

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Posted by  
on March 23, 2006, 8:57 am
James,

Thanks for asking this question. This is a hot-button topic for anyone in Atlanta who cares about the weather.

During the past year, I've posted some details about the lack of coverage here in Atlanta. I've often thought that if someone would come over here and model their approach to the weather after yours, that person would totally own the weather audience. Very serious market share would go to the TV station that would take your approach.

Over the years, I was continuously astounded by the lack of accurate forecasting by the local TV people. And finally, after a tornado-warning situation last spring, I stopped wasting my time on the TV coverage, choosing instead to make my own forecast based on your map discussions. I LOVE those map discussions!!! My weather radio handles the warnings. That's right; I no longer pay for local TV channels.

Briefly, here's what happened. The weather guy, Ken Cook, was standing there in front of a radar screen that looked like something straight out of 1982. I turned the TV off when he said, "That pink blob right there might be a tornado..."

Pathetic.

Shortly after that, Atlanta was inundated with heavy rains; these rains were not mentioned by our local weather genuises; in fact, one of the leading meteorologists was unable to make it to work because her driveway was flooded.

Think about that for a minute. A leading Atlanta TV meteorologist missed her broadcast because she was taken by surprise...by the weather!!!

And I'm not prepared to cut her any slack, because I'd forecast this event based on your map discussions and further monitoring of local conditons; I was eight hours ahead of this one. It didn't require any skill on my part because I had the right tools, and I was interested.

Here in Atlanta, the poor coverage is not due to just a lack of equipment or a lack of weather knowledge; it's also a lack of the area. These people have no idea about their area. They do not care about the community. They never talk about particular towns, and naturally you will never hear them talking neighborhood-to-neighborhood or street-to-street the way you do during a bad situation.

Am I being too harsh here? I don't think so. These people get paid the big bucks no matter what happens. And when the public's safety is on the line, these so-called meteorologists are totally worthless.

When I hear about how some people complain when you go wall-to-wall, I realize how spoiled they are. Your efforts should never be taken for granted.

Thanks again for asking, and keep up the great work!

-Jeff

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Posted by   www
on March 23, 2006, 11:57 am
FYI: Ken Cook isn't a "weather guy". He's a veteran chief meteorologist with a degree in meteorology from the University of Texas. Before joining WAGA TV in 1979, Ken was the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Atlanta (from 1973 until 1979).

I've known Ken since 1974; learned a great deal regarding the science of meteorology, weather forecasting, severe storm parameters, etc from him, for which I'm very grateful. There are quite a few IMO incompetent tv meteorologists in Atlanta.....chief meteorologist Ken Cook is NOT one of them. His actions during the April 3-4, 1974 tornado superoutbreak and the evening of March 27, 1994 saved many lives.

Just wanted to set the record straight on someone I consider both a mentor and friend.

Thanks,
Perry





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Posted by   www
on March 23, 2006, 12:13 pm
The Atlanta TV market has never demanded a true hard core met perhaps because none has ever worked in the market. The kindly southern gentleman is the look and desire and this probably comes from in depth market research. It is unfortunate that a Spann or Skilling type never cut his teeth in the market to change opinions of how weather is presented in Atlanta. I think most Atlantans expect the pleasant persona and would now dismiss a good solid met considering there is a cable channel full of good mets in the market (paging Mr Cantore). So, while one station may do a better job of cut-ins or coverage, there is still just the passing on of information from NWS through the talking head. There is little in depth understanding (except perhaps Mr Cook) unlike the B'ham market. The toys and FFC do most of the talking. Huntsville, Chattanooga and other surrounding environs have better mets than Atlanta. It is ashame there is not a News Director in the Atlanta market that will take the bull by the horns and blow the others out with superior weather coverage...

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Posted by John T. ( Jefferson Co. AL.)  
on March 23, 2006, 5:05 pm
I feel for you folks in the Atlanta area . And even if this Ken Cook is a veteran , if what Jeff says about him is true , then I believe maybe he deserves being called only a " weatherguy" , IF he can't identify a "hook echo" or a "cupling" from a pink blob .... good grief ! You people do need help over there in the meteorology dept .. Truely sad . Makes me 200% more appreciative of James & Co. , and the whole B'ham market as far as that goes .

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Posted by   www
on March 23, 2006, 9:21 pm
Ken Cook is an extremely competent meteorologist......while I can't recall him referring to a "pink blob" as a tornado, I do recall his excellent call to action statements (via WSB radio) the evening of April 3, 1974. I also remember well (and have it all on VHS tape).....Ken's actions on WAGA TV during the tornado emergency in Floyd county, Georgia the evening of March 27, 1994.

Ken held the same position with WSFO Atlanta that Brian Peters held at the NWS office in Birmingham (WCM/ WPM); meaning he's a severe storm specialist. Much of what I've learned regarding severe local storms and tornadoes I learned from Ken Cook (and I know as much or more about tornadoes, severe storm forecasting, and radar analysis than most forecasters currently on Atlanta tv).





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Posted by  
on March 23, 2006, 5:43 pm
Well John, what Jeff said isn't true. Now, perhaps he was watching another station and confused the two, I don't know, but Ken Cook knows better than that. He is a veteran meteorologist, and I'm pretty sure he knows how to identify a tornado.



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Posted by John T.  
on March 23, 2006, 10:31 pm
Well , with all this being said about this gentleman , is there a reason why he does'nt raise the bar in the Atlanta area and do the lead , follow , or get out of the way thing as James has done here in B'ham . ? I am not by any means trying to start any kind of argument , but with him being this good , is it that he just can not put this kind of public service into action or whats the deal ? Obviousley , it does not make any difference to me being that I live in B'ham. but for others in GA. reading ALL these comments I'm just currious gentlemen . Maybe he & his news director need to get together and start something good for the public and themselves IF not already done .

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Posted by  
on March 24, 2006, 8:25 am
Maybe I shouldn't have posted my opinion in a public forum. I never suggested that the Atlanta weather personalities are bad people. However, I am obviously not going to be starting or joining any fan clubs for these people, because I don't even watch local TV any more. I find it a total waste of time.

Oops, there I go with my opinion again.

Perhaps the locals have gotten their act together during the past year. I sure hope so, because they have the potential to save many lives during severe weather. It only makes sense for them to try to do a better job. But I know what I saw that night as I was watching severe weather roll into Atlanta. It's one reason why I cancelled my TV service.

-Jeff

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Posted by  
on March 24, 2006, 11:54 am
The locals have had their act together for a while now. It's not to the degree of Spann's coverage, but then again, what coverage is?

Btw, you know what they say about opinions...I've watched WAGA/WSB coverage of severe wx for around 15 years now, never once have I seen Cook act that ignorantly. I'm not in his fan club, but Ken isn't that stupid. Maybe he was pointing to the particular cell that had a tornado warning out for it, and someone thought he meant the tornado was in the pink blob.

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Posted by   www
on March 24, 2006, 2:49 pm
Something no one else has mentioned....

The threat of a violent or intense (200 mph+) is far less across metro Atlanta than in neighboring north central Alabama. To my knowledge, the last confirmed F4 tornado to occur in Atlanta or Fulton county, Georgia occurred in 1884. Compare that to Jefferson county, Alabama (including the city of Birmingham) which has suffered the wrath of two F5 tornadoes since 1950, as well as several other F4's. In most of the Atlanta viewing area, a F3 tornado is rare and F4 tornadoes almost unheard of; the threat of a monstrous/ killer tornado on the scale of the 1998 Oak Grove/ Birmingham far less.

That's one reason news directors and to a certain extent tv meteorologists in Atlanta don't give tornadoes the same priority as the threat recieves in Birmingham, Huntsville, Jackson, or Nashville viewing areas. If you think viewers blow a gasket over "wall to wall coverage" of a large F3 or F4 tornado.....imagine the ire raised when "American Idol" or the Coca Cola 500 is interrupted for warnings on a F1 or weak F2 twister.

There have been a few rare exceptions to the above rules (April 3, 1974......March 27, 1994.....and November 22, 1992), but overall the threat of maxi tornadoes is far less in north Georgia than in neighboring Alabama or middle Tennessee (I venture an educated guess twisters don't get the same wall to wall coverage in the Knoxville, Tennessee....Charlotte, NC....or Asheville, NC viewing area as in Birmingham.......areas where the threat of a F4-F5 tornado is climatologically even lower than across metro Atlanta).

I'm not making excuses for all the IMO substandard coverage of Georgia tornadoes; but the large difference in climatological risk of intense tornadoes between the Atlanta and Birmingham viewing area is one reason why (since 1950, there have been 4 times as many violent tornadoes to strike north and central Alabama as have occurred in north or middle Georgia).



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Posted by   www
on March 24, 2006, 2:54 pm
And yes, I know it's the Coca Cola 600 (my apologies for the embarrassing typo committed by a lifelong Nascar fan; it's been that kind of day :(



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Posted by Halogen  
on March 24, 2006, 7:27 pm
Funny how many of the comments here reference weather events in North Georgia from ten years ago or more.
In 2006 in television market #9 you will find by and large that severe weather coverage is good. Mets in Atlanta aside from Glenn Burns of WSB-TV tend not to sensationalize the weather. Most news directors have decided to respect their audience's intelligence and not to scare them unncessarily.
Continuous coverage, unless a tornado is spotted on the ground or a wall cloud is spotted aloft, is rare and does nothing more than do a diservice to the community you are licensed to serve.
Tornado warnings at all four local television news organizations are handled with live cut-ins to regular programming. Severe t-storm warnings and watches are handled with crawls, graphical depictions, or in the case of WXIA a mini-radar overlay.
Coverage in the Atlanta market is generally restrained and I applaud them for the work that they do. Continuous coverage of a non life threatening weather event is nothing more than hype and thanfully in Atanta it happens very rarely.
During occurences of prolonged severe weather most stations will deploy field reporters around the metro, during the day will have their helicopters in the air, and will position themselves so that coverage is solid.
In terms of technology all stations are armed with Dopler from Viper and others. Most all stations have more toys than they'll ever need. WGCL (CBS 46 owned by Meredith Corp.) might be the only station that would be lacking in regard to an overabundance of tech toys.
Finally, given that this is market nine and with a large sprawling metro area to serve, severe weather coverage in Atlanta is well done.

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Posted by   www
on March 24, 2006, 9:33 pm
Friend, the reason we who live in metro Atlanta are referencing tornado events from "more than ten years ago" is because other than the morning of March 20, 1998 and late evening of April 8-9, 1998.....major tornadoes in metro Atlanta have been virtually non-existant in recent years.

The early January 2006 F3 tornado in Pike county, GA was the first F3+ intensity tornado in the Atlanta viewing area since 1998. The hurricane Katrina-related F2 tornado which damaged Atlanta Motor Speedway last August was the first F2+ intensity tornado to strike metro Atlanta since April 1998 (and this years January 2 F2 near Tyrone the second).



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