For weather watchers, the name Joe Sobel should be a familiar one, as he has been with AccuWeather for 35 years, and is a regular guest on radio stations as well as MSNBC.
With that in mind, Dr. Sobel posted an article at the AccuWeather blog Wednesday highly critical of the naming of sub-tropical storms, most recently Andrea.
In his view, this practice – which is only five years old – is exaggerating the number of storms per year thereby adding to global warming alarmism
Sobel began (emphasis added throughout):
Well ladies and gentlemen, we have our first named storm of the hurricane season. Interesting because... it's not yet hurricane season... and it's not a tropical storm! It is a sub-tropical storm, and its name is Andrea. As of this writing, it is about 150 miles east of Jacksonville, Fla., with peak winds of about 45 miles per hour.
After explaining the difference between a tropical and a sub-tropical storm, Sobel addressed the importance of the distinction in this highly-charged, global warming environment:
Back in the old days... and I'm only talking 5 years or so ago... we did not name sub-tropical storms. Names were only given to storms that were deemed to be truly tropical. In the last few years, there have been a number of sub-tropical storms named. Those named storms go into the total of named storms and obviously increase the number of storms that year and consequently increase the average number of storms per year. It has been claimed that global warming is responsible for an increasing number of tropical storms and hurricanes, but here is a reason that the number of storms is increasing that has absolutely nothing to do with global warming. It's because we are mixing apples and oranges and calling them all apples! And, by the way, on that topic, there was an interesting article recently published by the American Geophysical Union written by C.W. Landsea, a very respected hurricane researcher, that says any increase in the number of hurricanes observed over the last 100 years is only the result of the fact that we have more ships at sea, more people living on coastlines, and satellites to see storms now that would have gone unrecorded 50 or 75 years ago.
Think the global warming alarmists in the media will explain this distinction as they go apoplectic over the significance of this first storm?
Don’t hold your breath.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Yeah, I'm sure it'll be the
May 10, 2007 - 14:30 ET by Dave in TexasYeah, I'm sure it'll be the lead story on the three networks tonight.
By the way, everyone's favorite weather expert, Laurie David, had a new rant at The Huffington Post, with this little gem that demonstrates her vast understanding of weather:
And now there's Tropical Storm Andrea,
a freakishly early hurricane-like storm off the southeastern coast,
more than three weeks before hurricane season officially starts.
Other than the fact that it spins counter-clockwise, I'm not sure what's so hurricane-like about it. And as Dr. Sobel pointed out, it's not a tropical storm either. And finally, if we get three weeks into the official hurricane season and don't have any hurricanes yet (which has happened many, many times in the past), is that proof that global warming isn't real?
Actually they were hoping it
May 10, 2007 - 14:38 ET by Gat New YorkActually they were hoping it would hit to douse the wild fires, but it hadn't yet produced any rain this morning. I'm not sure if that has changed yet. If it is not a tropical storm why are they even naming it? Maybe it's frustration from last year when none hit the U.S. and they have an overload of names to use. Hey it drizzled here this morning and with a breeze coming from the southeast that's hurricane-like. These Hollywood idiots have way too much free time on their hands.
Gat - methane rain
May 10, 2007 - 14:45 ET by Gary HallGat. I cannot remember which channel it was (national for sure), but in one of the coverages yesterday, the female reporter in her extensive coverage of the fires in the SE, expressed the concern that the rains from this storm could "fuel the fires." Must be worse than acid rain. Maybe it's ethanol rain - or methane rain.
Gary - she must have gotten t
May 10, 2007 - 14:48 ET by Gat New YorkGary - she must have gotten the same advanced degree in science as Rosie O'Donuts (first time in histroy fire has melted steel). And they wonder why our educatonal system is falling farther behind.
Great catch, T-Dave! Anothe
May 10, 2007 - 15:39 ET by GalvanicGreat catch, T-Dave! Another stark example of how mislableing of events, or misuse of technical terminology, leads to more spin and more lies. These twists and spins feed off each other. Laurie David, who I understand used to scout and/or manage talent in the entertainment business (where she meet husband Larry), certainly knows how to create image by spinning facts and fiction.
The naming of the sub-tropical storms is but one more trick to create an intended illusion. I'm glad this diligent weatherman pointed it out; I was unaware of this aspect of the game til now.
Hey Noel,Well being State-s
May 10, 2007 - 14:33 ET by liberal_bug_zapperHey Noel,
Well being State-side now, and watching the news, I am seeing just what you all are talking about. They have had three shows over the last two days dedicated to the unprecedentedness of the 'Named' storm this early in the season, and had a graphic below the meteorologist saying that this was the earliest named storm since 1981. This means that since they never used to name sub-tropical storms up until 5 years ago, they're actually lying. Flat out lying by leaving out these extremely important facts.
____________________________________________________
"We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities." ~ Thomas Paine
They lower the standard for n
May 10, 2007 - 14:38 ET by dahliatraversThey lower the standard for naming a storm and then blame the increase of named storms on global warming. Amazing.
<This means that since the
May 10, 2007 - 16:02 ET by josephsamuelson<This means that since they never used to name sub-tropical storms up until 5 years ago, they're actually lying. Flat out lying by leaving out these extremely important facts.>
This reveals the insidious nature of the religion of global warming.
Global warming fundamentalism is just as militant, hypocritical, psychotically delusional, pharisaical, and sociopathic as islamic fundamentalism.
There's a slight breeze blowi
May 10, 2007 - 14:37 ET by Jack BauerThere's a slight breeze blowing at the moment.
I believe it's reached an official level of Fart Force 6.
I've named it Slight Breeze AlGore.
Damn this Global Warming that's using up all the moving air. We'll be running out soon.
We're also running out of names. This calls for a vast increase in the Federal Budget to form new agencies dedicated to naming all the new weather phemonena caused by manmade global warming.
And let's not forget Maxine W
May 10, 2007 - 15:09 ET by Tom PaineAnd let's not forget Maxine Waters complaint that there are no hurricanes named after black people. Yeah, right, I want my name associated with something that spreads death and destruction. Let's get Al Sharpton on this right away.
Ice Age.Coming.Again.
May 10, 2007 - 14:38 ET by bigtimerIce Age.
Coming.
Again.
I'd like to know who is makin
May 10, 2007 - 14:41 ET by winston smithI'd like to know who is making the irresponsible decision to innacurately hype the weather and ultimately alarm the public with deliberate deception and misinformation. I bet my last dollar it's a Democrat.
I bet my house.
May 10, 2007 - 14:43 ET by josephsamuelsonI bet my house.
I've been sitting here in Jac
May 10, 2007 - 14:41 ET by BruzillaI've been sitting here in Jacksonville, Fl, in the heart of the threatened zone, since the storm formed. We have been suffering through about 10 minutes of drizzle yesterday, and I can see some branches on smaller trees moving every once in a while. We are all asking if, and when, the National Guard units will be arriving to help us recover from the damage of this hurricane-like storm.
Oh the humanity!
May 10, 2007 - 15:34 ET by dahliatraversOh the humanity!
Bruz, yer killin' me.. Bet
May 10, 2007 - 15:35 ET by rimskyBruz, yer killin' me..
Bet that drizzle is hell when it gets in your eyes, eh? Have they started the evac yet? Call Ray in NOLA, if you think you need some advice. K?
Sorry, Bruzilla. All the heav
May 10, 2007 - 15:41 ET by QueenMumSorry, Bruzilla. All the heavy equipment (umbrellas and raincoats) is in Iraq. If I were you, I'd hop on a bus and blow that pop stand. ;)
The National Guard in Kansas
May 10, 2007 - 21:40 ET by ahusserThe National Guard in Kansas is pretty bored. Maybe they can send a couple of battalions.
"A mind is a terrible thing." - A comic I forgot the name of.
Some good information from th
May 10, 2007 - 14:48 ET by QueenMumSome good information from the George C. Marshall Institute.
Take particular note of the following:
"Whether or not global warming is increasing hurricane intensity andfrequency should not be the immediate focus for public preparedness. Intense hurricanes have occurred frequently in the past, are occurring now, and will continue to occur in the future. As coastal property becomes more valuable, and coastal population more dense, damages and loss of life will continue to grow."
Hm. And who are the people who tend to buy up all that valuable coastal property? I guess it makes it easier to sleep at night if one is under the impression that one's safety and security is ultimately someone else's responsbility.
Sounds like a great excuse to
May 10, 2007 - 15:17 ET by dscottSounds like a great excuse to jack up property insurance rates even more than they are. This global warming hype is literally forcing people to sell their homes or go without insurance.
The reality is property insurance losses average $2.1 billion a year for the US as a whole since 1989. So why are insurance companies so well off like Allstate?
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
dscott,That is an excellent p
May 10, 2007 - 16:36 ET by msh1973dscott,
That is an excellent point. We live in Florida and we received a non-renewal notice from Allstate just last month. My local agent said we can expect our rates to double! We may be forced to leave, but wait we probably won't be able to sell our home because no one can afford the taxes and insurance. Bummer!
Try Citizens through your loc
May 10, 2007 - 19:44 ET by dscottTry Citizens through your local insurance agents (get 3 quotes, there will be a $50-$100 difference). At the beginning of the year USF&G tried to double my property insurance here in Tampa and I'm twenty miles inland (go figure). I went to Citizens just right after the new legislation took effect and got my rates only jacked 50% up then when the 2nd installment came got it lowered another $100. Since the re-insurance hadn't kicked in fully for Citizens and other insurance companies, we didn't get all of the reduction, next year will be better.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
A false doctrines - every doc
May 10, 2007 - 14:55 ET by josephsamuelsonA false doctrines - every doctrine of Man - has to be fueled. They cannot stand on their own merit.
This is in direct contrast to Truth - which stands without massive data-mining, fact-molding, and endless pseudo-scientific defense.
last July I wrote a blog abou
May 10, 2007 - 15:30 ET by ding7777Well, one thing is for sure..
May 10, 2007 - 15:39 ET by rimskyWell, one thing is for sure.. we could save a boatload of cash buy not having FW on the 4th. What a waste. Sorry, to all those FW lovers.. I just don't care if I ever see another big 20 minute FW orgasm.
Apostate Weatherman
May 10, 2007 - 15:33 ET by RiharGood for Joel, I thought I recognised his name. I hope he has no interest in going on national news shows because he's surely un-invited now.
When a liberal speaks, the truth is busy elsewhere.
Apostate Weatherman
May 10, 2007 - 15:33 ET by RiharGood for Joel, I thought I recognised his name. I hope he has no interest in going on national news shows because he's surely un-invited now.
When a liberal speaks, the truth is busy elsewhere.
I live here in Florida..our l
May 10, 2007 - 16:32 ET by msh1973I live here in Florida..our local meterologists are saying the storm was caused by cold air coming south mixed with normal water temps over the Atlantic. Then on Rush today he spoke with a Climatologist from the University of Alabama, he said the same thing. But no, the truth does not matter to the left, they will stop at nothing to push their agenda.
msh...Yep, he said that is wh
May 10, 2007 - 16:44 ET by bigtimermsh...
Yep, he said that is why they call it sub-tropical...
I was laughing so hard today since early this morning as they had to down grade this BS.... again.
I saw a story on-line this
May 10, 2007 - 17:33 ET by BigBI saw a story on-line this morning that had a headline something like this....'Tropical Storm Lashes Coast...'This has got me worried'....' I'm thinking Good Lord now what, so I click on it to read more...'5 foot waves crashing into the pier and 26 mph winds blowing sand in tourists faces...' and the 'WORRIED' quote was not from anyone in the weather biz....it was from some gal that stepped outside from her job at the local burger joint to smoke...
This is SOOoooo pathetic....
Now, this might sting just a little bit.....
Oh my God! 26MPH?!?!?!?!?Wher
May 10, 2007 - 18:03 ET by Roger the ShrubberOh my God! 26MPH?!?!?!?!?
Where was George Bush, and when did he know it? We demand answers!
D*mn That Karl Rove
May 10, 2007 - 21:45 ET by Free StinkerD*mn That Karl Rove and his Weather Machine! ;-)
Does anyone know where we can
May 11, 2007 - 10:19 ET by Tom PaineDoes anyone know where we can get historic information on the named sub tropical storms so we can seperate them from the named hurricanes and get an apples to apples picture of the real total number of storms
Here is the National Hurrican
May 11, 2007 - 15:01 ET by dahliatraversHere is the National Hurricane Center's Archive of Hurricane Seasons, searchable by year.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastall.shtml