Meteorological Accountability

Weather forecasters in Moscow have been told they face
heavy fines if they get the weather wrong.

Moscow Mayor Juri Luschkov said: "Weather forecasters in our city
and the surrounding area will be held responsible for financial losses
that the city incurs through their incorrect prognoses."

He added this often happens in winter when weathermen fail to predict heavy
snowfalls, which affects the city’s infrastructure.

This month the Russian capital experienced its heaviest snowfall in years
when 20 centimetres of snow fell in one night. This left streets blocked
because not enough street cleaners had been hired to clear the snow away,
leaving people unable to get to work.

Mayor Luschkov said the same could apply in the summer if outdoor festivals
had been planned for sunny days and it rained – forcing visitors away.

The Mayor, however, does have his own way of ensuring beautiful skies for
important days – he sends up specially equipped planes to sprinkle a special
chemical that dissolves clouds. He did not elaborate on how much the fines
would be or if the cash would be taken from the weathermen, or the companies
they worked for.

The fines come after the head of the Romanian National Meteorology Agency,
Ion Poiana, was fired after he predicted warm weather fronts on days when
temperatures plunged to a record minus 36 degrees centigrade.

What a great idea! Accountability for Weatherpeople! We are
sure it will lead to increased turnover in the field, but what’s wrong
with
that? Harvey Leonard has ben around so long he failed to predict the
Biblical Flood (chance of precipitation – 20%). Perhaps prison terms
is more than we can hope for, and fines might be unrealistic in this
country, but we could demand public humiliation – dressing up in tank
top and tutu, for example, and something equally ridiculous for the women.
Or make them deliver the weather from inside of stocks…

from Ananova