Gonzo Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Good late morning, all... In addition to lurking on this board, and its predecessor, as gonzo for years, I am also a reporter for the Washington Business Journal. Today, my editors asked me to write something about being the office weather nerd, because I have first person experience. I'm no expert (that's why lurk). But I know more than most people in my office (which isn't saying much), and so, I imagine, do you. Anyway, I was hoping to get some thoughts from American members on what your office expects from you pre-storm. Do they mock you? Do they depend on you? For me, it's both. Post your thoughts here, or email me at [email protected]... I won't use anyone's real name, unless you want to be quoted. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxmeddler Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I know I'm fairly depended on in my workplace. The biggest issue pre-storm is knowing that if you get it wrong your going to get some flack/grumpy co-workers. Usually I bump down my guess so that if it exceeds that forecast then everyone is happy, but if the storm fails then everyone isn't too upset and you can have bragging rights. Also I've tended to notice over the years that co-workers only notice the higher end of the prediction. If I say 6-10" and it snows 7" then some people come in and say "I didn't get 10" like you said". Somehow the higher number sticks in better when they recall the conversation. Another tip is to keep the prediction steady, this is a good rule for all public meteorologists but it's more personal in a workplace environment. Don't issue a forecast until you think you have a good handle on the situation, wildly varying predictions can confuse non-weather people and make you the bad guy in the end as different people remember your different predictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 The biggest issue pre-storm is knowing that if you get it wrong your going to get some flack/grumpy co-workers. Do we work in the same office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxmeddler Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Do we work in the same office? Once (at an old job) I had a co-worker, he was the jokester of the office, put a fairly large amount of salt in my pasta in the fridge after a low end busted ice storm forecast. The joke being that he went and bought road salt and never used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2O Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 My immediate supervisor is a fellow wx nerd so we talk weather all the time. For this one, he and a couple other coworkers have come to me asking what will happen. This was the first time people have specifically asked me. Most of the other coworkers get their info from other places and for the sake of office decorum I try not to correct them when they have some ridiculous thought based on the info they hear. I was actually showing my boss the 850-925 levels to explain why we might flip for a brief period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mappy Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I always send out email updates to the office days in advanced. If a coworker catches wind of possible weather before I tell them about it, I usually get made fun of for being "slow" with the news. It doesn't happen often. Summer storms, hurricanes, winter storms... doesn't matter, I will let them know before the news does. Even while on maternity leave I was sending email updates or calling to give information for my office. I'd say they fully expect it from me and yes, I have gotten flack for busted forecasts (last March for example). But I don't mind it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks, all. Now I have to write something. Editors expect EURO details in 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMU2011 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I'm in a similar situation as a lurker.. try to stay on top of things and give people a heads up if their commute is going to be impacted. Needless to say, they started using me more as a resource after the "Commutageddon" fiasco where I was home at 2:30 and they all had 12 hour commutes that evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Here it is, folks... Thanks for your help! http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2014/02/i-am-the-office-weather-nerd.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoVaSnow Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Here it is, folks... Thanks for your help! http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2014/02/i-am-the-office-weather-nerd.html Nice little article. I didn't get a chance to comment, but those who did reflected my experience. I get it in more than my office, too. My wife and daughter expect 100% accurate forecasts from me at all times. So do some friends of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodhi Cove Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Fun write up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohndc Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Love the article. I think Commutaggedon is the only reason people listen or pay attention when I send out the office emails. I warned them for a day on January 26, 2011, and they released just in time. I'm just glad, i'm not the only one that has this obsession, whose friends, wife, co-workers expect to be right all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mappy Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks for including my quote!! at 120 my boss came back to my desk and said "Mapgirl, I expect an email in 10 minutes now that the Euro has come in" good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 My publisher walked up to my desk a few minutes ago for the latest. I gave him a best guess for his backyard (DC) and burbs, told him much of the snow would fall overnight, tomorrow's still a little iffy. But I was distracted. He asked, "Am I bothering you?" I said, "We have a paper to put out." Oh yeah. The job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaMac_SSMD Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Good article! So true too for us weather nerds and forum lurkers! Oh, and yes for Commutaggedon I left the office at 1:30 and was nice and warm watching the snow fall from my home. Though only warm for a short period of time. Power went out for 3 days. Can't predict that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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