Verizon weather line temps unreliable
FROM TODAY'S PRINT EDITIONS:
Sue Baker, in Cockeysville, likes to check temperatures on Verizon’s weather line (410 WE6-1212). She got used to BWI being 10 degrees cooler than downtown Baltimore.
Now, it’s more like 20 degrees, she says. “What has made the difference?”
No idea. Those readings have been unreliable for years. At noon Monday, Verizon reported 35 degrees at BWI (accurate for 6 a.m.), and 53 downtown (as usual, too warm). The NWS reported 48 at the airport, 49 downtown.
Verizon’s looking into it.
(SUN PHOTO: Amy Davis, 2002)
Posted by Frank Roylance at 6:00 AM | Permalink
| Comments (5)
Categories: From the Sun's print edition
Categories: From the Sun's print edition
Comments
Hmm... I've often detected variance between the NOAA site, the Weather Channel site, and Weather Underground as well, usually only a few degrees her and there... then to further complicate the matter, the Weather Channel app on my Droid doesn't tend to line up with the WC site... go figure.
[snip] "...on Verizon’s weather line (410 WE6-1212)..."
WE6? I wonder how many of the younger set will notice that... Been awhile since I've seen an alphanumeric phone prefix. Does that make us old? Or just "historical artifacts"?
FR: Well, I certainly qualify as an artifact. I still remember my family's phone number when we were growing up: DUmont 4- 3623. And to reach my grandparents in NH, we had to dial the operator as ask for Hanover, NH, 826M. As for the weather line, the "WE" just helps me remember it's the WEather line.
Posted by: Earl | November 5, 2010 9:14 AM
I am of the 'younger set' and refer to the weather line as WE6-1212 as do my younger sisters and many friends . sorry earl.
Posted by: lauren | November 5, 2010 2:18 PM
If you're really an artifact, you remember that Verizon also gives the current time at 410-TI4-1212 (or 410-844-1212 if you prefer). Perhaps unlike the weather, the time is quite accurate, being within a second or so of my atomic watch.
FR: Whole lot easier to be right about the time than the weather. Although my radio-controlled watch is chronically 4 minutes fast.
Posted by: Jim | November 5, 2010 3:06 PM
When I was growing up (in a rural area of NE Indiana), we had a four-digit phone number. To call 'the big city' (Fort Wayne - 15 miles away), we had to dial the Operator (the zero on the phone), give the Operator the city and phone number, and then the toll call would be connected.
We thought it quite the big deal when we got a seven-digit phone number, and could direct-dial 'the big city' at no cost!
Posted by: Mike | November 6, 2010 12:51 AM
To make things worse, when I checked the Verizon weather at 5:30 this morning (Mar 8, 2011), the announcement stated that as of June 1, 2011, Verizon will no longer offer weather or time! No more Neil Pizzano?!? No more of the un-named grouchy guy, or Howard Phoebus, or Rob Luchessy, or Mark Ricards, or Charles Crump???? If you would care to register protest you may email verizonweatherofdc@verizon.net
FR: That notice is on the weather line for Washington DC's 202 area code, not Baltimore's (410). Not sure that affects Charm City. Checking.
Posted by: Rhodella | March 8, 2011 1:31 PM