PSA: severe weather forecasted for Monday 8/7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how can they be so wrong? The models really screwed this one up. The problem is next time when they give a strong warning, no one will listen.

Because the cells just didn’t explode the way they could have. Conditions that are perfect FOR a tornado don’t GUARANTEE a tornado. Just meant everything was in place along with a strong line of storms to create a worst case that we luckily did not get!

But this was the first time in my life (I'm 43) I can remember anything premptively closing/cancelling for a forecasted thunderstorm. They acted like something was DIFFERENT this time. There are lots of storms that have the potential to throw off tornados - we don't cancel for all of them. Why did they think this on was so extra and why were they wrong?

Are you new to weather? They’re always doing the best they can to predict. This is no different than when they think a hurricane will make landfall one place and it ends up hitting somewhere else, or they predict a cat4 and then it weakens and hits at a cat2. Or when they predict 2-5 inches of snow and we get 1 or 8.

But people are used to them calling for snow and getting none. Its not a regular occurance they tell us to all hunker down at home and then...rain. I made dinner early and had my kids charge all of their devices. Their extra curriculars were cancelled. My worrier was really worried and then...nothing. They were like, WTH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big big big dud

That is like… the best case scenario. Would you prefer to right now have no AC in your powerless home while all the food in your fridge and freezer goes bad and you try to find somewhere to charge your phone to call your insurance company and fight for an appointment for them to come look at the tree that fell on your roof? Because that’s the alternative

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how can they be so wrong? The models really screwed this one up. The problem is next time when they give a strong warning, no one will listen.

Because the cells just didn’t explode the way they could have. Conditions that are perfect FOR a tornado don’t GUARANTEE a tornado. Just meant everything was in place along with a strong line of storms to create a worst case that we luckily did not get!

But this was the first time in my life (I'm 43) I can remember anything premptively closing/cancelling for a forecasted thunderstorm. They acted like something was DIFFERENT this time. There are lots of storms that have the potential to throw off tornados - we don't cancel for all of them. Why did they think this on was so extra and why were they wrong?

The NWS was giving us a pretty severe weather warning, the likes of which they didn’t give this area since 2013 and before that was the Derecho in 2012. People were understandably freaked out. Plus, it actually was bad in parts of western NoVa and there are still power outages in Sterling and in Frederick and Carroll Counties in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothingburger

So you didn't learn anything from the last storm. Damage is very localized due to microbursts. Just count yourself lucky instead of being dismissive.

+1 seriously!

[Anonymous]

I'm not mad at the weather service for advising people to get home and use caution. I'm not mad that my kid's activities were cancelled either. Better safe than sorry.

But I can still complain that this storm stressed me out enormously and totally upended my life and then turned out to be truly nothing at all. Didn't even blow the deck chairs around a little, no downed wires in my neighborhood, nothing. I just hate that I spent all afternoon yesterday feeling so incredibly stressed trying to figure out camp pick up and re-arranging dinner plans and making sure the house was ready for a storm. I have a stress hangover this morning for no reason!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not mad at the weather service for advising people to get home and use caution. I'm not mad that my kid's activities were cancelled either. Better safe than sorry.

But I can still complain that this storm stressed me out enormously and totally upended my life and then turned out to be truly nothing at all. Didn't even blow the deck chairs around a little, no downed wires in my neighborhood, nothing. I just hate that I spent all afternoon yesterday feeling so incredibly stressed trying to figure out camp pick up and re-arranging dinner plans and making sure the house was ready for a storm. I have a stress hangover this morning for no reason!

You need to learn how to manage your stress better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not mad at the weather service for advising people to get home and use caution. I'm not mad that my kid's activities were cancelled either. Better safe than sorry.

But I can still complain that this storm stressed me out enormously and totally upended my life and then turned out to be truly nothing at all. Didn't even blow the deck chairs around a little, no downed wires in my neighborhood, nothing. I just hate that I spent all afternoon yesterday feeling so incredibly stressed trying to figure out camp pick up and re-arranging dinner plans and making sure the house was ready for a storm. I have a stress hangover this morning for no reason!

I'm guessing your neighborhood didn't have any issues in the storm 10 days ago.

I was worried like crazy yesterday, but I'm SO happy. SOOOOOO happy and relieved that there wasn't any damage in my neighborhood, because I know trees fell on homes, cars, and we didn't have power for 24 hours. You're bothered that there weren't any downed wires? Are you effing serious? Some people will seriously find anything to complain about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how can they be so wrong? The models really screwed this one up. The problem is next time when they give a strong warning, no one will listen.

Because the cells just didn’t explode the way they could have. Conditions that are perfect FOR a tornado don’t GUARANTEE a tornado. Just meant everything was in place along with a strong line of storms to create a worst case that we luckily did not get!

But this was the first time in my life (I'm 43) I can remember anything premptively closing/cancelling for a forecasted thunderstorm. They acted like something was DIFFERENT this time. There are lots of storms that have the potential to throw off tornados - we don't cancel for all of them. Why did they think this on was so extra and why were they wrong?

The NWS was giving us a pretty severe weather warning, the likes of which they didn’t give this area since 2013 and before that was the Derecho in 2012. People were understandably freaked out. Plus, it actually was bad in parts of western NoVa and there are still power outages in Sterling and in Frederick and Carroll Counties in MD.

I live in Sterling. Absolutely nothing happened here. We've had worse storms already this summer. It wasn't even top 3 for THIS year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big big big dud

That is like… the best case scenario. Would you prefer to right now have no AC in your powerless home while all the food in your fridge and freezer goes bad and you try to find somewhere to charge your phone to call your insurance company and fight for an appointment for them to come look at the tree that fell on your roof? Because that’s the alternative

+1

We literally haven't lost power for more than a blink since the derecho. Its not like this is a regular occurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how can they be so wrong? The models really screwed this one up. The problem is next time when they give a strong warning, no one will listen.

Because the cells just didn’t explode the way they could have. Conditions that are perfect FOR a tornado don’t GUARANTEE a tornado. Just meant everything was in place along with a strong line of storms to create a worst case that we luckily did not get!

But this was the first time in my life (I'm 43) I can remember anything premptively closing/cancelling for a forecasted thunderstorm. They acted like something was DIFFERENT this time. There are lots of storms that have the potential to throw off tornados - we don't cancel for all of them. Why did they think this on was so extra and why were they wrong?

The NWS was giving us a pretty severe weather warning, the likes of which they didn’t give this area since 2013 and before that was the Derecho in 2012. People were understandably freaked out. Plus, it actually was bad in parts of western NoVa and there are still power outages in Sterling and in Frederick and Carroll Counties in MD.

I live in Sterling. Absolutely nothing happened here. We've had worse storms already this summer. It wasn't even top 3 for THIS year.

That’s great, you’re lucky!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big big big dud

That is like… the best case scenario. Would you prefer to right now have no AC in your powerless home while all the food in your fridge and freezer goes bad and you try to find somewhere to charge your phone to call your insurance company and fight for an appointment for them to come look at the tree that fell on your roof? Because that’s the alternative

+1

We literally haven't lost power for more than a blink since the derecho. Its not like this is a regular occurance.

Curious where you live. In Arlington, I can think of a handful of times since the derecho where there have been widespread power outages for multiple hours and worst case days. Of course we have lots of big trees and exposed powerlines.

[Anonymous]

I was literally ON the metro, outside, during the derecho. Then I walked home for 30 seconds (we lived next-door to the station). Oops! It was wild. Me-now would never get caught off guard like that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big big big dud

That is like… the best case scenario. Would you prefer to right now have no AC in your powerless home while all the food in your fridge and freezer goes bad and you try to find somewhere to charge your phone to call your insurance company and fight for an appointment for them to come look at the tree that fell on your roof? Because that’s the alternative

+1

We literally haven't lost power for more than a blink since the derecho. Its not like this is a regular occurance.

Curious where you live. In Arlington, I can think of a handful of times since the derecho where there have been widespread power outages for multiple hours and worst case days. Of course we have lots of big trees and exposed powerlines.

On the Fairfax/Loudoun border, just north of Reston. Our lines are buried for the most part.

[Anonymous]

A problem is that now everything now is THE WORST EVER. News media/Weather Channel hypes everything wall to wall, and if everything is the worst, than nothing is, and they won't be taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

I am overseas and the storm stressed me out. My house is basically in the woods & my cats don’t like storms. Neighbor told me everything is good. But sheesh. I kept getting alerts!