What Readers Had to Say About the Weekend’s Fickle Forecasting

“Kale wilts quickly. Butternut squash will be the currency, after the fall.”

(Sam Gehrke)

Last week, on wweek.com, we reported on forecasts for a weekend snowstorm. In parts of Portland, snow never arrived. Many Portlanders flocked to grocery stores to stock up on doomsday supplies—including kale—fearing they would be housebound for the week. When the predicted snow turned to rain, some were disappointed; others were relieved. Here's what readers had to say about the fickle forecasting.

Rolax Marin, via Facebook: "What the hell am I going to do with the extra groceries I have???"

Pam Frisby, via Facebook: "Les Schwab made a killing on traction devices."

Lpmagic, via Reddit: "Upon opening the door, I saw dry pavement, I was in shock, I tripped down the stairs, broke the shovel in two, and poured snow melt all over my nice Columbia jacket and into my hood. I can tell you, that shit itches! I now look like I have the measles (I don't)."

Craig Paton, via Facebook: "It seems like weather people did a better job of forecasting before all of this tech stuff became the way to tell us the weather."

William Talmudist, in response: "This is a good point. But also, our climate wasn't irrevocably fucked back then."

Deepak Saxena, via Facebook: "I'm giving y'all a bad Yelp review!"

Colleen Patricia Williams, via Facebook: "It could still change. Weather forecasters do their best, but weather has a way of doing what it will."

Scott Tullis, via Twitter: "A big nothing burger."

Bette Sinclair, via Facebook: "Grocery stores in cahoots with Mother Nature?"

Argle Bargie, via Twitter: "[Kale], great stuff. You just chop it up and sprinkle it on your sidewalk and steps. No more slipping on the ice! Totally natural, biodegradable."

Andrew Taylor Wilkins, via Facebook: "Kale wilts quickly. Butternut squash will be the currency, after the fall."

Hastagfrugal, via Reddit: "Curse you, weather (and nature), for not behaving in a predictable manner!"

Bobpat56, via wweek.com: "It wasn't that long ago that 12 inches of snow paralyzed the city for several days. Forecasters underestimated that event, so people are extra cautious. That said, I just made sure my car had fuel."

Corrections

Last week's cover story ("911: What's Your Emergency?" WW, Feb. 6, 2019) incorrectly stated that Portland has the second-highest percentage of unsheltered homeless people in the nation. In fact, the entire state of Oregon has the second-highest percentage of unsheltered people in the U.S.

A calendar listing (Music, WW, Feb. 6, 2019) incorrectly identified the birth country of Luz Elena Mendoza of Y La Bamba. She was born in San Francisco.

WW regrets the errors.

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