Smartphone weather apps that summarize their forecasts with eye-popping numbers and bright icons may be handy during mild weather, but meteorologists say it’s better to listen to human expertise during multi-faceted, like the one blowing through the U.S.
The combination of heavy snow, treacherous ice and subzero temperatures shows why it’s best to seek out forecasters who can explain its nuances via local TV or radio newscasts, online livestreams or detailed websites, said meteorologists interviewed by The Associated Press. The data is changing rapidly before and during the storm, and the distance of a few miles can mean the difference between snow, sleet or dangerous freezing rain.
鈥淲eather apps are really bad at storms that have and it really makes messaging hard,鈥� said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd, a past president of the American Meteorological Society. 鈥淎pps don鈥檛 understand the details of why snow, sleet or freezing rain happens.鈥�
University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado and other experts said humans are important in these cases, especially those with local expertise.
鈥淔or extreme weather events, it is especially important to know there are human forecasters interpreting the data and making the best localized forecasts for your area,” Furtado said. “Unfortunately, many of the weather forecast apps use AI methods to either make the forecast or 鈥榠nterpolate鈥� from larger grids to your hometown, introducing the potential for significant errors.鈥�
But some apps can be useful, especially those that pair National Weather Service data with meteorologists’ expertise, forecasters said. And they are definitely getting used right about now.
The Weather Channel app, which is seeing booming traffic this week, uses numerous models, data sources, weather observers and staff, said James Belanger, vice president of its parent company, which also owns the Weather Channel and weather.com. That level of proficiency matters, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an all-hands-on-deck kind of approach that we take,鈥� Belanger said, adding that 鈥渘ot all weather apps are created equal.鈥�
What apps can and can’t do
Apps get much of their information from the National Weather Service and some companies augment it with proprietary information and the well-regarded European forecast models. Many offer forecasts by ZIP code or geographic areas far from weather stations by using software that focuses broader regional forecasts to where the phone is located.
While there are good apps, especially those displaying National Weather Service warnings and information, many 鈥渙versimplify uncertainty and present highly precise-looking numbers that imply more confidence than actually exists,鈥� said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini. This type of storm is where apps are weakest because they don’t get nuances, he said.
Weather apps are good for forecasting nice warm summer days, but not days like much of the country is facing now, said Steven DiMartino of NY NJ PA Weather. The paid online subscription service touts its human expertise with the slogan 鈥淢eteorology Not Modelology.鈥�
鈥淭he problem with the weather app is that it just provides data, but not explanation,鈥� DiMartino said. 鈥淎nyone can look at data, but you need a meteorologist, you need that human touch to look at it and say, 鈥楬mm, that looks like an error; we鈥檙e gonna tweak this.鈥欌��
Seeking quality sources of data
Cory Mottice, a National Weather Service meteorologist since 2014, developed the app EverythingWeather, which uses weather service data, as an easy place for the public to find the latest weather forecasts for their area without navigating the agency鈥檚 website. He said it鈥檚 鈥渏ust for fun鈥� and not affiliated with the weather service.
The strength of his app, he said, is that the information comes from professional meteorologists at the more than 125 weather service offices. Many apps just use raw computer modeling data 鈥� which aren鈥檛 always reliable in extreme events 鈥� with no human oversight, 鈥渨hich can really lead to some very misleading numbers or graphics depending on what you鈥檙e at,鈥� he said.
With his approach, 鈥測ou have actual meteorologists that are experts in their field at different places all over the country for that specific area, looking at the data, adjusting it, making the forecast as needed,鈥� Mottice said.
Mixing decades of experience, 100 meteorologists and AI
The popular Weather Channel app uses information from many sources, including the weather service and more than 100 weather models, including those from the U.S. and Europe and their own distinct model. They augment it with input from over 100,000 citizens to help forecast weather events, said The Weather Company’s Belanger. And it’s all synthesized by artificial intelligence to come up with a forecast, he said.
That鈥檚 more accurate than relying on a single model or provider, he said, because AI is able to learn which models are the most accurate in different conditions to help 鈥渃reate that optimal forecast.鈥�
Even so, humans, including a team of more than 100 meteorologists, always have the final say about what goes on the app, Belanger said.
鈥淥ne of the things that has been a lesson and a principle that we鈥檝e adopted is that it鈥檚 the combination of advancements in technology with the human oversight,” that allows the company to provide the best forecasts 鈥� especially in situations like the current winter storm, Belanger said.
Be careful with social media
Forecasters also warn against another quick fix for weather information: social media, where hype, misinformation and short takes can spread quickly.
While social media can help amplify official sources like the weather service, “it鈥檚 also where misinformation spreads fastest,鈥� Gensini wrote in an email.
鈥淲eather is complex, and social media tends to reward confidence and drama, not nuance,鈥� Gensini said. “That mismatch is a real challenge during major events like this.鈥�
Kim Klockow McClain, an extreme weather social scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, said people are 鈥済etting misled by hyped forecasts.鈥�
鈥淲hen people are continually exposed to only worst-case forecasts, research suggests they will lose trust over time,鈥� she said.
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Borenstein reported from Washington, Webber from Fenton, Michigan.
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