Monday night, meteorologist Rick Smith shared on his twitter account a graphic that he also discussed on the Weather Brains Podcast. The graphic featured a very important message about being careful with what is shared on social media.
There is much talk about being responsible with what is shared on social media in regard to personal information, but there also needs to be talk about responsible reporting when it comes to weather. In the wake of real world weather events, there are those that want to capitalize on these events to create entertainment for themselves, beef up their personal ego or support to a political position. Sometimes people post these messages just to create panic. It is very important that we watch for these extremes when sharing weather information on social media. Most of this information is inaccurate and unreliable.
Rick Smith’s Graphic offers two very helpful tips for sharing weather information:
1. Know your weatherperson. Because I move around so much, I typically share the local National Weather Service Office information. This is one of the first social media accounts that I look into when I move. Many times, I find this before I move, so I can get comfortable with the weather information before I go. If I am in an area long enough, I will start to understand who the names in weather are before I post them. Another technique is to follow the local National Weather Service on Twitter and see who they are following. They are likely to follow local weather forecasters in the area. This is a good place to find credible meteorologists in the area to follow on social media.
2. Represent your local community. Take the time to share your information with your local weather service, as well as your favorite meteorologists. This helps the meteorologists verify forecasts and understand what is happening in your area. This information helps everyone. By all means, make sure that you are in a safe area when taking the photos. The information you share is not worth your life.
It is important to share weather information. The weather forecast that you share may be the first time someone takes a serious situation, well, seriously; but, they must be accurate. Good sharing can help everyone prepare and stay safe during a storm.
—–
Graphic from Rick Smith on Twitter @ounwcm
This post is a part of my participation in the Weather Ready Ambassador Program. For more information, see the National Weather Service Weather Ready Nation Website.