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| An example of one of the automated Tweets from the National Weather Service that were threatened until Twitter abruptly change course on their decisions last weekend. Note this is NOT a current warning. It's just an example of an automated alert. |
For this blog, given it's all weather and climate geekdom, recent news that Twitter would limit automated tweets that distribute alerts for dangerous weather like tornado warnings was pretty dismaying,
So it's relief that, over the weekend, Twitter appears to have hastily reversed course and will allow an unlimited number of automated warning Tweets from National Weather Service offices all across the nation.
Late last week, meteorologists were up in arms about the proposed changes.
As the Washington Post explained a few days ago:
"When tornadoes, flash floods and thunderstorms strike, or threaten to, the National Weather Service and broadcast meteorologists warn their followers using automated tweets, among other methods of dissemination.
Twitter has long allowed users free access to systems that allows them to program such posts in response to external sources of information, be it the Weather Service's alerts, the movement of Musk's private jet or entries in the dictionary."
The automated tweets are handy because, since they're, well, automated, meteorologists don't have to squander precious seconds and minutes laboriously typing out tornado warnings and such. On this automated system, they're just blasted out on Twitter with no effort.
As, the National Weather Service said in a statement, for every single warning, "seconds could make the difference between life and death." Which means the automated warnings Tweets are a great help.
As soon as a NWS meteorologist figures out a tornado is looming, they need to get the warnings out now if now sooner.
Yes, people can get weather warnings from sources other than Twitter. But Twitter's immediacy and far reach meant it became an important source for people who need to be apprised of incoming tornadoes, flash floods or other dangerous events.
The automated Twitter warnings became a favored way of warning the public. I have to say those warnings Tweets are a lot better than Facebook. That social media site's algorithms seem to think I'm interested in a flash flood warning that expired over a week ago for a remote Utah canyon 2,500 miles from my home.
Yeah, not helpful. The Twitter automated alerts, on the other hand, were great because they blasted out in the moment, then seemed to disappear forever when the threat was over.
Late last week and This past weekend, National Weather Service offices across the nation, broadcast meteorologists and others flooded Twitter with messages saying these warnings would go away, so Twitter would no longer be a go-to place to receive warnings of dangerous weather.
But maybe Twitter will remain a good source of warnings after all. As CNN Meteorologist Jennifer Gray reported:
"Twitter originally said there would be no exceptions to its ruling to limit the number of automated tweets. But in a surprising move over the weekend, Twitter has reversed course, saying in a tweet 'Twitter will allow the National Weather Service accounts to continue Tweeting weather alerts without limits.' The move highlights the importance of weather alerts. Weather warnings save lives."
Despite the welcome reprieve, you could see a hint of why Musk doesn't like these automated systems. What's really driving Musk's attitude is cold, hard cash.
Twitter has told users that it would limit automated tweets. They would allow 1,500 of them per month free. That sounds like a lot, but the National Weather Service and broadcast meteorologists burn through many more such tweets routinely when severe weather occurs.
Musk's crew said there will be no exceptions to this policy, even for potentially life saving things like tornado warnings.
But no worries! Musk had another offer: For the low, low price of just $100 per month, you could get as many as 50,000 tweets.
Spoiler: The National Weather Service and other organizations weren't going to bother with that stupid fee structure. Which is why it is such a relief that Twitter apparently is letting the National Weather Service go on with unfettered automated Tweets.
According to Gray at CNN, Daryl Herzmann is a systems analysts for Iowa Environmental Mesonet and helped create the automation software used by Twitter.
Herzmann is still unsettled and worried by Twitter's erratic moves on this issue and others.
"'I am glad Twitter reversed course and made an exception for the vital services provided by the National Weather Service,' Herzmann told CNN after he heard the news. 'It does continue to be a concern that Twitter can make wild changes like this and not fully consider the implications of their changes.'
'Since Elon has basically gutted all the employees, it's impossible to interact with them at a technical level,' explained Herzmann. 'It's very frustrating."
Looking at the big picture, Twitter might still become a not so reliable source for life and death weather warnings, because Elon Musk is so erratic.
Twitter had become a somewhat reliable source of news, and now that reliability is diminishing quickly under Musk. There's been all kinds of incidents, including removing the New York Times verified badge and labeling NPR "government funded media" even though only 1% of its budget comes from the government and NPR's news content is not subject to any government oversight or control. Twitter jus did the same to CBC, the Canadian news broadcaster.
Even though Twitter did the right thing this past weekend when they reversed course and allowed the automated warnings, I have still lost trust in Twitter.
When there's a risk of severe weather, don't just rely on Twitter for warnings. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive critical weather alerts.
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