Tornado watch for Boston area until 8 p.m.

By adamg on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:03pm

The National Weather Service GETS ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ON US:

THE MAIN THREATS FROM ANY POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

Neighborhoods:

Boston

Topics:

Weather

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Comments

Standard for NWS

By issacg on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:07pm.

I think this has been mentioned before, but all warnings, advisories and techical discussions from the National Weather Service are issued in all capitals. In that previous discussion, someone told us why, but I have forgotten what the reason was.

I KNOW

By adamg on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:20pm.

I JUST LIKE THE OLD-STYLE TELEGRAPHY FEEL OF IT ALL STOP

STOP SHOUTING!!!!!!!!

By Stop Whispering on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:21pm.

STOP SHOUTING!!!!!!!!

they use telegraphy style for folks using teletype machines...

By bandit on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:54pm.

from the NOAA website:

Q14. Why are NWS text products typed in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS?

A14. It is not because we want to scream at you! This practice goes back many, many years and relates to international requirements for message dissemination. Some of our international partners still use low-tech dissemination technology which requires the continued use of ALL CAPS. Since the U.S. is an international member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), we follow those guidelines that still exist for the benefit of all nations. That is why TAFs, AIREPs, Marine Forecasts, etc. are typed in ALL CAPS.

Reading speed

By chicken on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:16pm.

Since most people are trained to read ordinary prose, the theory is that using all-capitals is more difficult, and forces people to slow down and read more carefully. That's why legal warnings are also in capital letters.