Meteorologist ? Really?

When I started in this business back in 1971,  the title “Meteorologist” was reserved for those who had degrees (B.S., M.S., Phd.) in Meteorology or Atmospheric Sciences.  By the 80s, more & more folks with degrees in communications began showing up on TV calling themselves “meteorologists” since they took correspondence courses at Miss. State & received a “certificate” saying they completed their program.   The problem I had was that many of those folks had enough weather knowledge to make themselves dangerous.  While watching a local channel tonight, one of the newer “meteorologists” had a stationary front UPSIDE DOWN.  It was painful to watch as this person had no clue the graphic was incorrect.  So sad…a title I once cherished, a title I struggled to earn in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan, a title now abused by anyone who presents weather on TV.    So sad.

 

There are several systems that could develop in the next 2-3 days across the Tropics, but the hostile environment of upper wind shear still persists so any organization will struggle to form.  Zero hurricanes or typhoons worldwide !