I think of my friend Steven every time I look at The New York Times Weather Report – the paper version that is. That is because he is a big fan of the graphical representation of information [his love for this is pure]; and the Weather Report, found today on D8, the back of the sports section, contains more information on 3/4s of a newspaper page than any other I can think of.
There are 10 graphs, 7 tables, much text and 3 maps setting out, among other things, the state of the fall foliage peak throughout the Northeast US; the estimated normal NYC reservior level; the temperature tomorrow in Lima Peru; the highs and lows of humidity in Cental Park; the national departure of temperature from the norm; the high tides at Shinnecock Inlet; the setting and rise of Venus; the heating degree days so far this month; the range of low temperature forecast next Friday; the hour-by-hour temperature for the 24 hours preceding 4 pm the day before; the average daily departure from normal temperature this month and year; air pressure, high and low; phases of the moon; actual precipitation for the last 30 days in inches; trends of temperature and precipitation for the last 10, 30, 90 and 365 days; where the heat in Tuscon will be moving in from; the wind in knots from Montauk Point to Sandy Hook; and a daily Highlight which today is a map with graph and text explaining the exceptional national US trends in temperature [northern Maine was 2 to 3 degrees F warmer than normal last week]. Distinct from the Highlight is the Focus which today states under the title “Western Warmth”:
Daily high-temperature records were set last weekend at many spots from Rockies to the Plains. On Sunday, Bismarck, N.D., reached 89 degrees, the warmest day recorded there so late in the autumn. Strong, nearly stationary high pressure extending to 30,000 feet over the interior West has been diverting storms and promoting the unusual warmth. But the end of autumn warm spell is coming. During the next week, a series of potent disturbances will gradually erode the high pressure zone. By the end of the month, cold weather and mountain snow will envelop the West.
Simple lovely physical writing.
The corresponding webpage has none of the Times standard cool taupe, sage, sand and aqua tones or careful selection of fonts, tightly packed but each distinct – all separated using only two thin lines. Beautiful meteorology prepared by Pennsylvania State University and presented by a Times staff of unknown numbers every day of the year. Sadly, the lower right 1/8 of D8, the Information and Services Directory, does not, among its 27 telephone numbers and 26 email addresses, have one to contact and thank the people who give us the Weather Report.
[More about graphs you will want to hold close and tight here.]