Dear Action Line,
In our household, we’ve come to think of the Herald weather forecast as a bit like a horoscope, there’s a chance it could be correct for some of us, some days, somewhere, but don’t bet the bank on it. Where does this forecast come from? Is the Herald PAYING for this? Why not support a local guy and pay that Durango Weather Guy (Jeff Givens) who reports (rather accurately) online for locals? Even the Weather Channel seems to have li’l Southwest Colorado more dialed in than the Herald. And watch out for those “Thundery outbreaks in”?
Cheers, Zeus
Dear Zeus,
I can understand your confusion, since you are the ancient Greek god of the sky and thunder, and you well known there is no thunder when it’s cold out (and there was in fact no thunder on that rare winter day we had on Jan. 24). Like you, any weather geek knows we only get thunder snow in the shoulder seasons when it’s a bit warmer. You must hate it when they show thunderstorms on the West Coast in movies and TV shows, which hardly ever happens because the cold Pacific Ocean does not provide enough temperature contrast with the land there to produce thunder and lightning (I know, poetic license yada yada).
Yeah the Herald weather forecast usually seems to be for somewhere else, always seeming to forecast temps about 5 to 10 degree colder than it’s actually likely to be, which tracks with the pictured forecast when I checked a weather almanac for the actual temps that occurred. I can’t remember the last time we had a high of only 27 in Durango, and it in fact got into the mid-30s that day.
The person in charge of the Herald weather did have this to say when I inquired: “We agree there have been some inconsistencies. We are now using the same GPS location as the Durango Weather Guy. Readers can also look forward to a redesign coming soon to the WeatherWatch feature in print editions of the Herald.”
I agree, Zeus, that we should just get the Durango Weather Guy in there – especially since we had a bonding moment over the allegations of AI-enhanced snowfall on the Purgatory snow stake cam (unfounded as it turns out).
Dear Action Line, Why does the Herald consistently run the same Reader Polls for months at a time? I mean, here we are about to kiss Valentine’s Day hello, and they’re still asking our opinions about Christmas tree lights. Not only is it a mildly annoying waste of space, but there are so many more community questions that could be asked. And more important ones.
Thanks, Bored Reader
Dear Bored Reader,
Here’s what the Herald said: “Unfortunately, the poll question keeps getting manipulated by bots. We are working with our vendor to implement new security measures to prevent it from happening. In the meantime, it doesn’t make sense to keep asking new questions if the results are severely skewed. We have since removed the poll question until it can be fixed. And if readers have poll questions, we’d love to receive their suggestions – again, once the bots can be stopped.” So once you see a new poll, start sending in poll suggestions (to herald@durangoherald.com, not to me)!
Dear Action Line,
I have inquired twice and gotten no response. Maybe a third time is a charm? Why is the ending of stories in the Southwest Life section of the Sunday Herald on Page 7B and the beginning of those stories on Page 8B?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Dear Inquiring Mind,
From the editors: “About five years ago, we reorganized how sections are displayed. We still use Page 8B as a ‘section front,’ essentially giving Southwest Life a little more visibility than an inside page, and then jumping the section into the inside pages.”
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Today’s Fun Fact: “There are three things that no one can do to the entire satisfaction of anyone else: make love, poke the fire, and run a newspaper.” William Allen White, 1917. That quote used to run in the Herald. I don’t know that it could really be called a “fact,” but it is a truism that I think the Herald should consider adding back to its editions, based on this week’s questions.
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