National Weather Service in Bed with Boston School Administration

At first it seemed like it was just a ploy for sweeps. Deemed the first big snow storm of the season initial reports had upwards of eight inches falling on Boston. Local TV news stations have fired up the severe weather graphics, pulled in their storm teams, and gone to almost all weather all the time. The National Weather Service even issued a winter storm warning for the next 24 hours:

... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from midnight tonight to midnight EST Wednesday night...

Total accumulation by Wednesday evening will range from 4 to 6 inches
from Boston to northern Rhode Island and northeast
Connecticut... except 8 to 10 inches from near Worcester through the
Merrimack valley.

Without winter weather the snow plow drivers, ski areas, and hardware stores stocked with ice-melt and shovels have been recording losses this season. But in between reports about Anna Nicole Smith the news of snow heading to Boston has been building for the better part of five days. Perfect timing. The snow forecast comes right in the middle of February Sweeps Week to boost the ratings for future ad sales. Even if we don't get much snow – looks like "wintry mix" will be the phrase of the day tomorrow – the TV stations will profit from the sensationalism they've given to the impending storm.

But then there's the impending Boston Public School strike. Menino and the School Board have been making plans for extended hours at libraries and community centers for a Thursday without classes while the teachers union strikes. Though it's illegal for the teachers to strike under contracts, agreements, and all that technical stuff – they still can do it. They did before in 1993. There is a catch. The teachers union bylaws require a vote to take place on a Wednesday when school is in session. If school is closed tomorrow due to weather, the teachers can't vote. It wouldn't be surprising that even with a dusting on the ground (1 to 4 inches is reported by morning at this point) that school will be closed tomorrow in Boston.

Graphic is a screen grab of thebostonchannel.com website this afternoon. Weather sensationalism left no room for other news on the front page.