WROC has again been certified the “Most Accurate Forecasters” in Rochester, N.Y., by WeatheRate, the ninth time 10 years. “In a region that can experience 40-plus degree temperature swings, thunder storms, wind storms and snow storms all within a few days, accuracy is critically important and at times, life-saving,” said Wendy Bello, WROC’s general manager.
Getting the local weather forecast from TV has been the No. 1 reason viewers watch local news, according to research. So lots of stations lay claim to being accurate. And they might be right. But how can any station say that their weather forecasts are the most accurate in the market with any science to back up that claim?
That’s what WeatheRate claims it does. And Nexstar CBS affiliate WROC Rochester, N.Y., has again been certified the Most Accurate Forecasters in Rochester by WeatheRate, the ninth time 10 years.
According to a statement on WROC’s website, WeatheRate verifies the accuracy of TV weather forecasts based on a cumulative score.
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Scores are calculated based on variables including high and low temperature, sky cover, precipitation (rain, snow, ice, and sleet), snow accumulation, wind, severe weather, and fog.
The meteorologist forecasts these variables out to 5 time periods (tomorrow, tomorrow night, day 2, day 3, day 4.)
The first time period is weighted more heavily than the “day 4” forecast time period.
Every correct forecast variable for each time period gets a score of “zero.” Think of it like golf: the lower the score, the better.
Scores are tallied daily, and the weather team with the lowest score at the end of the competition period, which is March 1 through February 28th (or 29th), wins the WeatheRate certification.
Stacey Pensgen
“Providing accurate and reliable forecasts for Rochester is the News 8 Weather Team’s first priority,” said WROC’s chief meteorologist Stacey Pensgen.
“WeatheRate has a very precise standard for measuring accuracy in forecasts, which is why I’m proud and humbled that our weather once again has the Certified Most Accurate Weather Team in Rochester.”
“In a region that can experience 40-plus degree temperature swings, thunder storms, wind storms and snow storms all within a few days, accuracy is critically important and at times, life-saving,” said Wendy Bello, WROC’s general manager.
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