Misinformation Will Kill People
Plus we're going to look at the pattern for the upcoming week tomorrow, I promise!
Dear reader, forgive me for sending a special newsletter that isn’t about an upcoming weather event. This is just heavy on my mind.
Recent events have left me deeply concerned about the misuse of weather information. It's not just a matter of misinformation but a deliberate attempt by some to manipulate both weather forecasting and disaster response for their own cynical political ends.
This is a shameful thing to do, mainly because this risks all the progress the weather enterprise has made in the last decade. Here's why:
Amazing Progress in Forecasting
Over the last decade, weather forecasting science has made incredible strides. Now, we can:
Predict overall weather patterns well in advance
Identify where tornadoes are most likely to occur on the day they occur
Use advanced tools that are coming online in the next few years that have the potential to save countless lives
The Threat of Misinformation
But here's the kicker: all these advancements become useless if people lose trust in credible sources. Even if only a third of the population doubts reliable weather information, it's a big problem.
Why? Because without trustworthy messengers delivering crucial, real-time weather updates, we risk:
More lives lost
Increased human suffering
You may not think a third of people is a lot, but between you and your two neighbors, that means one house on either side of you would ignore a dire tornado forecast. Imagine a tornado going through a populated metro with those odds. It would be catastrophic even if that were one out of every 10 houses.
Remember, natural disasters like tornadoes don't care about your beliefs or how you vote. They don’t ask about any status. They tear through entire neighborhoods and towns indiscriminately. I don’t care where you come from. If you want to learn about the weather and as long as you respect all our community members, you are welcome here!
It would be a shame if we lost our progress due to ignorance and cynicism from a few bad actors.
Our Mission at Tornado Titans
This is why our work at Tornado Titans is so essential. We're focused on:
Making weather science accessible to everyone, even beginners
Creating spaces for learning and discussion
Building a foundation of knowledge that can spread from person to person
The Power of Knowledge
If misinformation takes over, people might start ignoring what are now pretty accurate forecasts. By spreading knowledge and encouraging peer-to-peer learning, we're doing one of the most crucial things possible: empowering people with reliable information.
We're committed to ensuring everyone can access and understand accurate, life-saving forecasts. Stay tuned for more updates on how you can help spread the word and keep our communities safe!
Remember, knowledge is power – especially when it comes to weather. Let's keep learning and sharing together!