But winter storms fall in the other 15 percent, and there we don't do nearly as well. To improve our percentage much above 50 for winter storms we would have to have a major theoretical breakthrough, and that hasn't happened in a hundred years. According to Goldstein, weather forecasters would serve their public better if they were honest about the limitations of their forecasting ability. Taking out the hype, lowering expectations and a more intelligent delivery would help. But it's not always the forecaster.
Weather attracts a huge amount of interest.
The reason there is so much presented is that we're even more dependent on the weather now. We live further away from our workplaces and schools. People who have wells instead of city water will have no water if their electricity goes out. Bed-ridden people who use life support equipment will be in trouble if the power stays off for any length of time. That means I have to take vacation time or time without pay.