Channel Uses High-Def Graphics To Show Hurricane’s Impact, Leaves Netizens Stunned

For years, weather forecasting hasn’t evolved in any way. Most news channels just place a green screen behind the anchor and let them do the talking. The only bit of excitement the audience and the forecaster gets is when they move from the left side of the stage to the right. However, since it’s one of the most important part of the daily news, people should have the urge to watch it. And The Weather Channel might’ve found the solution for that.

With Hurricane Florence arriving swiftly towards America, people needed to be warned. So, The Weather Channel used some neat graphics to showcase its impact very vividly.

Storm surge will be a huge factor for Hurricane #Florence Check out what it might look like with @TWCErikaNavarro: pic.twitter.com/TPqTZTmiAM

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 13, 2018

The weather forecasting starts off as usual with the background being a map of the coastal areas of America. But as the camera zooms out, we get to see the forecaster standing in a completely CG environment with cars, trees and buildings. And before we can take in that information, the screen fills up with water to show the extent till which the flooding will occur.

Here’s another example of The Weather Channel’s VFX-heavy forecasting:

Netizens all over the world were baffled to see this unison of graphics and weather forecasting, and lauded them for coming up with this idea.

1. True that.

OK this has to be one of the best uses of weather graphics simulations ever. Great job to the producers and @TWCErikaNavarro ! https://t.co/cI11cE4tiZ

— Scott Sistek (@ScottSKOMO) September 14, 2018

2. Everyone’s addicted to it now.

Make the takeover of Sky contingent on Sky News being given the technology to do this. Can’t. Stop. Watching. https://t.co/xV6t1zqvsN

— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) September 14, 2018

3. That’s the point.

I feel that more people need to see this. It's freaking terrifying, but also an amazing use of technology in order to illustrate just what might happen during natural disasters. https://t.co/ue0o7h94Ge

— Slauka (@slaukie) September 15, 2018

4. Undoubtedly

This could be the most badass weather report I’ve ever seen.

— Eric Hestenes (@ericsfeed) September 14, 2018

5. It must’ve taken hours to make it so perfect.

All the designers are sharing this… and with good reason. Pretty incredible simulation. 😲 https://t.co/DZxZHwUSnC

— Daniel Burka (@dburka) September 13, 2018

6. It’s truly innovative.

holy crap. Glad to see the weather channel using this kind of simulation in effective ways. Well done.

— Micah Ellis (@micahellis) September 13, 2018

7. They’re putting their funds to great use.

holy shiitake I see the weather Channel has been nicely funded! I love the new tech involved in showing people whether scenarios https://t.co/iUH4tpbDHi

— Terry Lee (@zipzeolocke) September 15, 2018

8. The DCEU can take some notes.

Without question the most amazing use of compositing and CGI I think I've ever seen on anything not created by Marvel Studios. Bravo to whoever did this. https://t.co/3erNDgtJXX

— SmoothEmJay (@roboemjay) September 14, 2018

9. It’s very effective, to be honest.

https://twitter.com/MiketodmanM/status/1040569508686188544

10. One day, BBC, one day.

Cannot wait until we can do gfx like this one. @bbcweather https://t.co/GiHFvOuHbD

— Behnaz (@behnazakhgar) September 14, 2018

Latest reports say that Hurricane Florence is wreaking havoc across Carolina and has claimed some lives as well. But maybe, impactful forecasting like this will alert more people who are in harm’s way and urge them to evacuate or look for safer places. And given how viral this video has become, news channels across the world should take pointers and make their weather forecasting as visually effective as this.