“Weather alert”

There was no missing the words. There they were on my screen just as I was prepared to watch NBC coverage of the Olympics. Were we going to get hit with severe thunderstorms accompanied by hail, high winds and possible flooding? Or was this something even worse? Had radar picked up tornadoes?

There wasn’t an immediate explanation. I figured I better find out.

No, I didn’t turn to Google to get an answer or question my phone as I have seen done.

Rather, I changed channels. After all, if one network station had issued an alert, the others wouldn’t want to be left behind on the “breaking news.” I was right, they weren’t going to be left in the dust. They, too, issued alerts even though skies were clear and there was no sign of impending disaster.

I went back to the initial weather alert, quickly learning that temperatures were expected to top 90 degrees. I was being reminded to stay hydrated, bring along my sunscreen and not to over exert myself. And then there were warnings about rip tides, surf and the dangers of swimming. It was too early to get any reports on beach traffic. Maps showed green flowing lines for south bound Route 4 traffic. I suppose it would be safe to head to Newport or Jamestown if that’s what I’d planned for the day. But do I risk it, when the three major networks are issuing “alerts?”

What’s interesting to ponder is how this instant weather reporting –  where I could get live shots of rain pelting the Thurbers Avenue curve to fog shrouded Newport Bridge  – is affecting our actions and psyche. Until I paid attention to morning television news in hopes of seeing more of the Olympics, regardless of whether it’s 6, 10 or 12, I wasn’t conscious of how much time is devoted to weather and how that might play out during the day, the week and even the following week. No question, it’s helpful to know you could get caught in a downpour or that Sunday looks to be a better day to plan a barbecue than Saturday.

It gets repeated and repeated and just incase you want to see it all over again, or God forbid missed the broadcast, you can download the app and get it instantly on your phone.

I’ve found some friends and coworkers plan their days around the forecasts even announcing with authority “that’s just a shower; the sun will be out this afternoon.” After all we live in New England where if you don’t care for the weather, you give it a moment and you’ll get a blizzard…maybe not of snow these days but at least dragonflies. Even Tony Petrarca didn’t see that coming.

Putting the absurd aside, even the weather has become annoyingly predictable. We know where the politicians stand, we’ve taken sides on the good guys and bad guys globally… We’ve placed our bets. Forecasts down to how many inches of rain by community don’t even leave to guess work when to water the lawn and the tomatoes.

Give me the Olympics where stories play out; you learn of what it takes to be an Olympic competitor and, though they may try to forecast the outcome, even the announcers are surprised.

Just leave the hurricanes off shore and take off the alerts.