Unpredictable Weather – When the Forecast Seems Wrong

Dangerous storms rolled through parts of Alabama this week, causing schools and businesses to close early.

Yesterday, the weather was not as severe as expected – leaving many surprised and confused.

Storms tore through Alabama Monday evening and early Tuesday morning. Tornado warnings were issued for several cities, including Montgomery.

Similar, if not worse weather was expected Tuesday evening. But it just didn’t come. Chief Meteorologist Ashley McDonald says she’s heard the complaints of those who believed the forecast to be ‘wrong.’

“That’s not my job, to tell people what to do, to cancel something or to postpone an event,” she says. “But what I do is, I’m going to give you all the facts and then let you decide.”

Officials with Montgomery Public Schools decided to release students early on Tuesday.

“Based on the National Weather Service said, they expected by 3 o’clock to have some bad stuff in our area and so the decision was made to dismiss early,” says Montgomery Public Schools Spokesperson Tom Salter.

Salter tells us school officials consult with the local EMA, as well as city and county officials before any call is made.

“Most of the time, we’re going to make somebody unhappy, no matter what we do,” he says.

Montgomery resident Gwen Moore says she appreciated Alabama News Network’s weather coverage.

“I watched Ashley the other night when the storms were so bad,” she says. “We were watching her, it was two o’clock in the morning. We had the TV on and she was telling everybody where to go.”

Resident Marcus Wilson says he was released from work early and was then left with nothing to do.

“I got in bed at 9 o’clock last night. I’m never even home at 9 o’clock, let alone in bed.”

But McDonald says although tornados didn’t hit on Tuesday, she wouldn’t forecast severe weather if the dynamics weren’t there.

“There’s a part of me that does feel bad when you put a lot of resources into planning an event that you had to cancel and then nothing materialized. But I would much rather air on the side of caution.”