Q: Do you think the news media makes too big a deal out of the weather?

• Yes, it gets ridiculous - 1,543 (41%)
• No, they do OK - 1,076 (29%)
• Yes, when there's a storm - 980 (26%)
• I don't pay attention - 129 (3%)

Your comments:

"We are local contractors and we depend on the weather forecasts greatly. Sometimes they do not focus closely enough on what is going on. As for us, the coverage could be better. For the average person, I suppose it is more than enough. Just depends on what you monitor it for." S.S., Waterford

"The 'Hilton Kaderli' or 'Art Horn' weather forecasting is sensationalism at its highest form. The worst weather conditions one could perceive, the more they like it. It is like they get 'high' on disaster. A normal day is boring to them.

"I think the news media in general would rather have plane crashes, murders, and car accidents rather than a quiet, peaceful day in the neighborhood.

"The weather is important to me. I do serious offshore fishing. I get my weather from the Federal weather station on Long Island. This staff will never receive any awards for glitz and glamor, it just gives me the facts. They don't brag about how accurate they are. They just do their jobs, and they are damn good at it." Julian Caesar, Windsor

"Yes, especially in the winter time When they predict a blizzard there usually is only flurries, and when they predict flurries there is usually a blizzard. When they predict a storm it makes everyone in the wintertime go nuts at the supermarket, everyone thinks that the snow is going to go past the rooftops. School closings for winter weather are nuts also, when there is a flurry they close schools but when there is a blizzard they are open. (Sacred Heart University especially.)" C.Y., Fairfield

"I think it does get a little ridiculous, frankly, continuously listening to reports about this and that. Let's face it, we have had some strange runs of summer weather the last couple years, but please people ... the ONLY global warming occurring is NATURAL earth transformation. For every so-called scientist used to fit the global warming doomsday liberal crowd, there are an equal number of scientists to dispute the very "facts" presented. The only problem there is ... we never hear from those scientists. I wonder why. There certainly is NEVER any agenda-slanted bias in any of the media sources is there?

"We all know that the earth's natural atmospheric warming has been occurring since the beginning of time. Have people contributed to the shifting weather patterns? Probably a minute degree sure. I doubt it is even measurable. Why then do we let the news media and the liberal Democrats pushing government agendas tell us that the weather changes are our fault and and we need to stop driving cars, we need to stop barbecuing, we need to pay more taxes so we can have more regulations on businesses and homes, etc. It boggles my mind. I am surprised I haven't heard Al Gore say he invented global warming by now ... after all he has invented everything else.

"What will we be told in another five years from now when we happen to cycle back to a few years of long, exceptionally cold, harsh winters like we do periodically? There is another ice age coming? That was what the hype was prior to them inventing the catch phrase "global warming" wasn't it? Of course then we will hear about how driving cars, barbecuing and everything else has polluted the atmosphere so much that the sunlight can't get through." D.D., Sherman

"I think they overreact some, but after disasters like Homestead, Florida, I would rather they overreact than underreact. I think that they do a good job and are trying to keep the public safe. I watch the local news channel every morning so that I can dress for the day without working in uncomfortable attire. I watch the long term forecasts but never bet the farm on it!" L.J.N., East Haddam

"I think weather is a big part in our daily lives. If these services weren't provided as much, we wouldn't be prepared in case of bad or severe weather. The people who don't prepare at all for severe weather are the ones that have to be helped by an emergency or public service. "Always be prepared!"" John, Uncasville

"The big 3 Connecticut stations make a big deal of the meteorologist being in a weather center surrounded by computers & maps & monitors. Yet when the stations want someone in the field covering some kind of event their station is pushing, they send the weatherman out into the field. Who is covering the "Weather/Storm Center?" Or is this a big charade? How can a meteorologist analyze what he/she needs to come up with a forecast worthy of its viewers? And should Channel 30 call it a "Storm Center" when there are no storms in the area? I miss Charlie Bagley. But I think Scott Haney is probably a young Charlie." Gregorio, Waterbury

"I love watching about storms and such! On a boring day, when they all the footage I find it very interesting. I also love to watch the news when a plane goes down, or there is a bombing; i can watch it for hours! Then again i am only 14, and I don't receive MTV clearly." Jules, Storrs

"I think you must first be an idiot to really base you life on the news media. Everything for them seems to always be a 50/50 chance of being right or wrong. The fact that they are even part of the news hour makes me laugh! I like when they actually try to guess the temperature, then they're off by like 10 to 15 degrees ... then a little check mark goes off and a bell signaling they're close enough? GIVE ME A BREAK. I have a better chance guessing the news going into my back yard butt-naked and doing a rain dance!!" J.D., Bridgeport

"I think they do a great job. When people don't hear about a storm & it happens, the first place they put the blame is on the weather service. I think it's a great public service they offer." J.K., Winsted

"The news media makes big issues out of everything, that is their job! Living in a hurricane area in Virginia Beach for 3 years was proof positive that the news media lives to wreak havoc! There is no need to cause more stress than necessary in bad weather situations. Having a few days supply of food and water and a gas grill, and you're all set. The biggest concern was usually how to entertain your kids when the power was out. Take the weather for what it is and move on. You can't prevent it, you can only prepare, there is no need to whip everyone into a frenzy. Just where would we be without weather people? Grab a farmer's almanac, it is less stressful and more predictable!" Beth T., Groton

"About Weather forecasters making too big a deal: Actually, I think other people make too big a deal about the weather. The forecaster's job is to project possible conditions, so if there is a chance for a bad storm, they say it. Then people seem to panic, emptying out the local stores, and if nothing happens, they blame the forecasters. Also, if you didn't happen to be in the area that got whatever bad storms were forecast, then you are going to think the forecasters are idiots, while the part of the state that got hit will be thanking them for letting them be prepared." Tom, Guilford

"A few years ago I had occasion to work on the property of one of the areas "foremost" weathermen. Not only is he not a meteorologist, he is barely able to carry on an intelligent conversation on any subject not related to the media. Watching weather reports on TV now is comparable to a Cecil B. DeMille movie, very entertaining but, a lot of pizzazz covering the truth. To be more honest they should just run a banner across the bottom saying "Its nasty out there ... stay home and watch TV." " J.B., No Town

When there is a storm coming the news get everybody upset and every on panic I work for a deli and I don't understand -- why buy perishable food? But the news gets everybody upset about everything without too much proof or knowledge or facts! The plain truth is they only tell about an incident and never tell how many people do the right and how many do it wrong!" G.L., Guilford

"Since you did not accept my vote,I'd like to say that because Meteorology is not an exact science, but a very changeable art, the weather folks on tv do a great job, especially Channel 4's." Peg, Niantic

"The weather is one of the most needed news items. Every person is under the umbrella of what the weather will be ... you can only plan your day or days by what the weather will be or is supposed to be ... at least if the weatherman doesn't get it right, we will still have something to go by! Even if they are wrong its still a big help ... I can watch it for hours ... but I don't like commercials. it just blows my mind how they can have so many of the same damn commercials all the time ... if it wasn't for that it would be the greatest." Vet, Higganum

"I watch a lot on TV, especially the weather. We go to dog shows which are usually for overnights, and we'd like to see what the weather is! If it is rainy and thunderstorming out, we'd would like to see what it is going to be like for the weekends. (Usually dog shows are on the weekend.) And the forecast people make such a big deal! They want to put it in your face, and I hate it! They want to be better than all the rest! It's so annoying! They should just calm themselves and just not be so like "in your face!" to the other forecasters." K.L., Old Saybrook

"By the time the forecasters get to the actual forecast, they've lost my attention and then I'm aggravated because I don't know what the weather is going to be for the following day or two if I'm trying to make plans." T.C.M., New Haven

"If "overkill" regarding the weather is what it takes to protect life and property, then so be it. I would rather be "over-informed" than not know what's going on." Joan, Mystic