Broadcast media on-line survey on extratropical and tropical cyclone forecast information: NOAA Surge Roadmap Project and Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program

This report on a survey of broadcast meteorologists (also referred to as the media) is part of a larger body of work to better understand how National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather forecast products might improve public understanding and response to tropical and extratropical storms. The June - July 2012 web-based survey obtained responses from 51 broadcast meteorologists at local television stations serving the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts as well as Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. The major focus of the survey is on storm surge, but we also solicited media opinions on topics such as their perceptions of public understanding of forecasts and their assessments of several tropical cyclone forecast track and wind graphics as well as several graphic prototypes developed for communicating storm forecast information. Broadcast meteorologists indicated strong support for the NWS issuing storm surge watches and warnings - 90% agreed that watches should be issued and 95% supported a storm surge warning. Most believed these products would result in greater attention to these threats in their weathercasts and to the public paying more attention to storm surge.