The weather isn’t bad…the weather reporting is bad. It is a bit of modern mystery why weather reporting is so idiotic. But the real problems with TV weather reporting are the maps made by the weather people. Collectively, weather maps represent some of the worst examples of visual design seen today.
For this post, lets examine just a few of the presentational color schemes. For instance, what do these COLORS represent:
RED means: Low pressure, warm front, heavy rain, moderate risk, hurricane track, hot temperature, boundaries of severe storms, jet stream, intensity of a hurricane wall, graphics and networks logos, and a downward stock market.
BLUE means: High pressure, cold front, cool, ocean, land, rain, snow, wind, graphics and network logo.
GREEN means: Land, low land, rain, snow, cool temperature, and upward stock market.
YELLOW means: Warm, land, high land, rain, snow, slight risk of severe weather, rising pressure, boundaries of severe storms, hot, graphics and network logos
WHITE means: Clouds, cool front, windy, mountains, high risk, tornado, lightning, outer atmosphere, wind, clock time, graphics and network logos.
ORANGE, PURPLE, TEAL, BROWN? Is it any wonder viewers never know the weather?
Consider visual literacy and grow better media communication.
27/05/07