# WTF is wrong with The Weather Channel web site? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434 "2014-02-27T18:22:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/1 "2014-02-27T18:22:36Z")
They always have these little video teasers at the top of the page. Last week or so, one was of a newly wed who fell to her death, and today one is of a ten year old who dies from a rat bite. Is this really the kind of horrible shit one wants to see when checking the weather 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/2 "2014-02-27T18:30:11Z")
Those are cheery little “pick me ups” considering this year’s enduring winter. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/3 "2014-02-27T23:51:07Z")
I actually sent feedback to their site (much good it did, I’m sure) on this very issue. Do we really need gruesome videos with stupid teasers like “She went to the beach and THIS happened!”? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/4 "2014-02-28T17:44:59Z")
The weather channel started out great with real weather and real time radar and all the buttons and links right where you could find them. But for some reason over the last couple of years they changed their format and dumbed it down and now it is probably the lamest weather site on the net. If it helps try [noaa.gov](http://noaa.gov) or [intellicast.com](http://intellicast.com). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/5 "2014-02-28T17:58:33Z")
Try [The Weather _Network_](http://www.theweathernetwork.com/). It’s Canadian, and only stoops to the occasional “Doom! Doom! Ice is coming!” weather warning. There are videos with a chirpy announcer, but they’re optional. Edit: you have to search for US places, but they’re there. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/6 "2014-02-28T18:05:14Z")
:: heads over to the Weather Channel for a look :: “Winter Storm Titan”? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/7 "2014-02-28T18:28:14Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > The weather channel started out great with real weather and real time radar and all the buttons and links right where you could find them. But for some reason over the last couple of years they changed their format and dumbed it down and now it is probably the lamest weather site on the net. > > If it helps try [noaa.gov](http://noaa.gov) or [intellicast.com](http://intellicast.com). Even [Weather Underground](http://www.wunderground.com) is superior. At least there, you can get an actual **forecast** for the next few days, including expected snowfall in inches. If that information is present at all on the Weather Channel’s site, it’s buried. I go to it at all only to see the contrast in Highs and Lows between sites. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/8 "2014-02-28T21:47:36Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > :: heads over to the Weather Channel for a look :: > > “Winter Storm Titan”? WTF? A couple of years ago, TWC started the practice of “naming” winter storms, the same way that the National Hurricane Center names hurricanes. TWC argues that it helps their viewers distinguish between different storms, but it’s strongly suspected that it’s a stunt to let them talk up particular storms, in the same way that they do hurricanes. I believe that it was their hope that the names would become widely used. FWIW, the National Weather Service has refused to even consider using the names which TWC uses, and the idea seems to be generally ridiculed by the meteorological community. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/9 "2014-02-28T21:48:49Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > I actually sent feedback to their site (much good it did, I’m sure) on this very issue. Do we really need gruesome videos with stupid teasers like “She went to the beach and THIS happened!”? It does seem like Nancy Grace and HLN (the gossipy tabloid channel once known as Headline News) had a love-child with the old Weather Channel, and now we’re stuck with the result. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/10 "2014-02-28T23:14:20Z")
To be fair, [weather.com does have some interesting photos](http://www.weather.com/travel/rare-vintage-beach-photos-20130501). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/11 "2014-03-01T01:50:16Z")
Huh. I never see the front page, and use Flashblock, so I never noticed. I just have have my ZIP code bookmarked. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/12 "2014-03-01T12:12:14Z")
I just go to [weather.gov](http://weather.gov). No ads, no stupid names, no other moronic crap. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/13 "2014-03-01T13:06:33Z")
I stopped using it a year or two ago. Even with ad block, the layout is so obnoxious that it’s difficult to figure out the, you know, goddamn _weather forecast_. But if it’s important that you be able to up- or downvote the current temperature, [weather.com](http://weather.com) is the site for you! ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/14 "2014-03-01T14:50:19Z")
Over the weeks, the news stories have been getting worse and worse. I just went on to see “Why is the sky pink and green?!” and “Blueberries on Mars?” A favorite of theirs is using “WHAT” in headlines. “They found WHAT under Alcatraz?!” “This man’s dog ate WHAT?!” Personally, I just use [weather.gov](http://weather.gov) - it’s where most of these sites get their information, so it’s really just going to the source. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/15 "2014-03-01T15:27:43Z")
Yeah, The Weather Channel’s website is terrible now, as is The Weather Channel itself. If it didn’t have Local on the 8s it would be completely worthless to me…even with [Matt Sampson](http://www.weather.com/video/titan-ice-snow-threatens-millions-42444?collid=/weather/twc-weather). He’s probably gay, but that is a good looking guy. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/16 "2014-03-02T00:32:28Z")
Weather channel has thoroughly jumped the shark. Epically so. I move we all stop using them and they reward us by declaring bankruptcy and slipping quietly beneath the waves with no breathless special by Cantore. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/17 "2014-03-02T01:47:58Z")
I just wanted to say that I applaud this thread and I hate the weather channel. Recently when Directv dropped them, they were trying to rally the public to write Congress. What a bunch of holier-than-thou drama queens. They said (weather channel staff) that government should get involved to force the satellite broadcaster to carry them, based on the notion that they are providing a public service and saving lives, as if to suggest they have a monopoly on weather forecasting. “psst - hey, weather channel! Since your station is so necessary and one-of-a-kind in serving of the public, why don’t you offer your services for free, you goody-goody glamorous sensationalistic punks!” ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/18 "2014-03-03T13:17:51Z")
It’s a horrible website. Those videos just reinforce that. I use wunderground on my PC and weatherbug on my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/19 "2014-03-03T14:03:12Z")
I mostly use WeatherScan (TV) and AccuWeather (online and phone) for my forecast needs, along with local TV station web sites. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-the-weather-channel-web-site/682434/20 "2014-03-03T16:43:13Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > It’s a horrible website. Those videos just reinforce that. I use wunderground on my PC and weatherbug on my phone. Which is why I let out a sigh of sadness when WU was bought out by TWC. I expect it to go downhill as well. There’s already signs: they are using those stupid winter storm names.