Linesman work to restore power during an intense ice storm.
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I can finally catch a breath after monitoring the ice storm that affected Georgia this weekend. It was part of a sprawling winter storm that affected almost half of the U.S. population. The storm featured snow from the Great Plains to Washington D.C. Crippling ice was a hazard throughout the South. Over the course of the storm, I noticed something very interesting. Some people were very hostile towards meteorologists, especially here in Georgia. During the 2025 Hurricane Season, I noticed a similar level of vitriol towards my colleagues. Let’s dig a bit deeper using the lens of public perceptions, misperceptions and expectations.
Project location and amount of ice accumulations issued by National Weather Service meteorologists before the weekend ice storm. The forecast ultimately ended up being quite accurate.
NWS
In Georgia, meteorologists began signaling earlier in the week that an ice storm was likely in Georgia. At the time of writing Sunday evening, I can confirm that an ice storm happened in North Georgia. In fact, it was the first Ice Storm Warning in Georgia since 2014. While official verification will come later, ice totals met thresholds to justify ice storm warnings. The timing and location of the most substantial icing also aligned with National Weather Service guidance. The NWS also issued a very clear timeline of when the icing would begin, yet social media was swamped with complaints that nothing was happening. From my professional lens, it was quite bizarre because their time line was very clear (see graphic below).
Timeline for icing issued by the National Weather Service in Atlanta prior to the weekend storm.
NWS
Beyond the misplaced complaints about timing, I witnessed several examples of meteorologists and NWS being verbally-attacked or criticized about the forecasts. One local broadcast meteorologist, Jennifer Valdez posted a plea asking the public not to leave harsh comments and to recognize the hard work involved in sustained risk communication. On her public Facebook page she said, “I am taking valuable time away from my kids and working non-stop to make sure you and your family are prepared and safe. My priority is (and always has been) you….. If you have something negative to say, or want to tell me I am wrong (which I am not – look at the ice totals) please go to another page to do that.”
I have been at this long enough to know that irrational angst towards meteorologists is common. Viewers will criticize meteorologists for breaking into the big game for a tornado warning. One of my former atmospheric sciences students at the University of Georgia, Ella Dorsey, received death threats for breaking into coverage of The Masters golf tournament. They will troll colleagues for speaking about climate change. I have witnessed abusive behavior when meteorologists refuted conspiracy theories about hurricane or weather manipulation. Did I really just type that? With this particular storm, three common storm perception challenges appeared.
Everything Is Local
People tend to focus on what matters to them. However, National Weather Service meteorologists and local television stations deliver much broader messaging. As noted earlier, the messaging about ice amounts, timing, and the range of outcomes was appropriate. Ultimately, I suspect post-storm verification will likely reveal this to be a pretty solid forecast.
However, I witnessed several posts or comments saying that “nothing is happening at my house.” In many of those cases, the location was outside of the favored locations or on the fringe of them. There is a tendency to believe that if it didn’t happen where they were, then it didn’t happen. Meteorologists often deal with false narratives that forecasts are often bad. That’s false. Forecasts are quite accurate, and I have opined about that in the past.
People often remember “misses” because they adversely affect them and not the more numerous correct forecasts; anchor to local expectations, or misrepresent what probability forecasts convey. I am sure many football fans remember the one field goal their kicker missed in the important bowl game more than the 90% of them that he actually made throughout the year.
In another example, let’s consider probability of precipitation. If it rained while there was a 30% chance of precipitation, some people consider that a bad forecast. It’s not. Antonio Eubanks is a Data Intelligence Consultant with Hylaine Inc. My Florida State University classmate told me, “Ultimately you as meteorologists trying to convey a message are fighting against brain hard wiring….. People confuse possibility with probability. He went on to say, ”We want to take something that is probable and make it binary (50/50). When people hear 30% chance the brain rounds down to zero…like 70% rounds up to 100%. The brain takes the probable and turns into possible (binary). The brain wants yes or no…on or off…it seeks absolute certainty. But we know scientifically that’s not how weather (nor most things) work.” Which leads me to the next challenge.
Preparation Return On Investment
People have varying levels of “preparation-to-outcome” tolerance. With this particular ice storm in Georgia, sleet initially kept freezing rain totals down. Less icing initially meant less power outages. Since people bought food, dug out generators, and made other preparations, there is almost a mandate that power better go out or the perception will be that the storm was over-hyped or a bad forecast. I have seen this phenomenon with tornado warnings too. It’s almost as if people are upset if they prepare and come back to find their home still standing. Ask the people who lose a home what that is like before dealing with manufactured angst.
CALERA, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Tim Striegel, in red shirt (center) goes though his damaged belongings while volunteers help him clean up sthe morning after his mobile home was hit by a tornado on March 16, 2025 in Calera, Alabama. According to reports, two people have been killed and over 50 counties in Alabama have reported damage, and more than 30 people have been killed across the south due to massive storms. (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
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One theory is that economic circumstances prompt people to want “return on their investment” of money and time. While that is logical in many parts of life, weather risk scenarios require us all to be “ok” with preparing even if nothing ultimately happens. After all, we pay for car or home insurance with the hope that we really never need it.
However, I am not naive to certain realities. Closed businesses and work opportunities can create economic hardships or inconveniences for many people. To some degree, this comes back to individual impact versus broader implications. However, weather risk communication, resiliency, and preparation, unfortunately, has to take a macro-level perspective.
Oddly, there is this wacky narrative that meteorologists are working in collaboration with the grocery stores, “big box” stores, and other retailers by hyping storms. If that is happening, I missed the “memo” and am still waiting on my cut. If you are just hearing of this conspiracy theory, welcome to my world.
Weather forecast widget icon set paper cut style. Vector illustration. 3d mobile app ui design, daily application template, climate cartoon sign. Thunderstorm, rain, sunny day, fog, winter snow, night
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The App Dilemma
This particular storm highlighted a relatively new challenge. Apps are ubiquitous. Many people use them as default sources of weather information. However, apps struggle with complex or dynamic weather systems. In this particular case, a “wedge” of cold air damming was a significant factor in establishing a cold pool for a freezing rain setup. A deeper cold layer with a warm layer will cause sleet. Snow happens if the column of air is below freezing from the cloud to the ground.
There was no real threat of snow for Georgia with this event. However, most apps struggle with nuances of the vertical temperature structure and cloud microphysics. In many instances, some apps were showing cute little snowflake icons or indicating temperatures too high because they were not capturing more localized cold air damming. Because their app had a snowflake icon, many people expected snow even though it was never really a possibility with this particular storm. Yet, they blame the meteorologist for the app being wrong. Ugh, my head hurts. A recent piece in The Associated Press by Seth Borenstein and Tammy Webber explains why apps can be problematic in these circumstances.
Severe weather risk messaging during the ice storm.
NWS
Weather Messaging Gaps
Weather messaging has an inertia that can be confusing to the public. The National Weather Service uses a variety of terms like Winter Storm Watch, Winter Storm Warning, Ice Storm Warning, and Winter Weather Advisory. Many people may not understand criteria that lead to the different warnings; so they default to their own mental model of what is happening. Over the years, the NWS has worked to simplify its messaging through its Hazard Simplification Program, but there is still room for improvement.
With this particular storm, there was another messaging challenge that I observed. The NWS Atlanta Office was also monitoring the threat for severe weather in the central and southern parts of Georgia. When they posted the graphic above about severe storm risks, many people assumed the ice storm threat had evaporated. Over the course of my career as a professor and scientist, I have also noticed that multiple messages or processes can confuse people.
Tornado and ice warnings simultaneously in Georgia on January 25, 2026.
Marshall Shepherd and Radarscope
Tone Of Society Right Now
We are in an era of “keyboard bravado.” People say things from their computers or phones that they would never say in person. Such bravado is also situated within the context of a society in which harsh tones are common and even celebrated. A study by The Avast Foundation found that 33% of survey respondents believe that offensive comments are fair game on social media platforms. Nearly 66% of millennials said that they have used offensive or rude behavior on thos platforms.
Every major storm will have a range of possibilities. Meteorologists conveyed that range appropriately. The messaging contained ample information for people, decision-makers, emergency managers, and businesses to make informed decisions. In all cases there is a responsibility to accept a certain degree of uncertainty, evolved thinking, and risk. The 5P’s matter: Prior planning prevents poor performance.
Thank you to all of my meteorology colleagues and the vast majority of you who remain civil when consuming information meant to serve you.
Meteorologist Brian Kyle monitors the area weather at the National Weather Service offices Monday, May 23, 2022 in Dickinson. (Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Staff photographer