[EAS] WP: Weather SErvice tornado warnings were delayed during deadly Iowa outbreak

[Tim Stoffel]

The glitch is an issue, but things like this happen during severe
weather outbreaks. I doubt the interposing of a commercial entity could
have improved the situation.

Back in the early days of the Internet, there was such a commercial
arrangement, especially for radar data. It was a near disaster. The NWS
is publically funded and the data it generates should be freely
available to everyone without advertising or subscription. In the early
days, you needed to get a subscription that cost $$$ to have access to
more than the most basic data. Let these days never return.

Today, the NWS is doing a great job disseminating data. Radar and
satellite data are better then ever and both products are available in
full resolution. The computer models are also now available, and I
consult them frequently. In many cases, that data is far more useful
than concise textual or tabular data available on the main websites,
which is primarily for the non weather-savvy public.

Tim Stoffel

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-----Original Message-----
From: Sean Donelan <sean at donelan.com>
Reply-to: The EAS Forum <eas at radiolists.net>

The article doesn't mention the management of a commercial weather
company 
has been lobbying to cut NWS's public dissemination budget for
years.  It 
claims that NWS shouldn't "compete" with commercial companies selling 
weather data.