You’d think in an age where your fridge can tell you when you’re out of milk, getting timely, accurate weather information would be easy. Instead, it’s getting more difficult. Social media algorithms, internet hype machines, and flat-out misinformation mean you have to work harder to get the right info at the right time.
Let’s talk about three big problems—and what you can do to fix them.
Problem 1: Timeliness
Ever seen a post pop up in your feed that says “SEVERE STORMS EXPECTED TODAY” only to check the date and realize it’s from two days ago? That’s because Facebook (and other social platforms) don’t prioritize showing posts in real time. When I first wrote on this topic in 2016, I had a friend have one of my advertised weather outlooks show up 3 days late. That was an oddity then, but I’ll bet you have five friends and pages who have posted today, and you won’t see their post until next weekend! My record so far for something appearing in my newsfeed is 8 days afterward.
Solution: Have multiple ways to get information.
Think of it like a backup plan: ✔ Weather radio – Old-school, but it works. It should be your go-to for immediate alerts. ✔ Local TV/radio – The folks at your local stations are trained to cut through the noise and give you clear, actionable info. ✔ Smartphone apps – Pick a reliable one (more on that in a minute). ✔ Twitter (now X) – Some meteorologists and NWS offices still use it for real-time updates. ✔ Facebook? Meh. It’s fine for long-range discussion, but not for urgent warnings.
📌 Pro tip: If you see a post from someone you want to keep up with, click through and read the article. Platforms track this more than likes and shares, and it helps you see more from them in the future.
Problem 2: The Algorithm Decides What You See (Not You)
If I don’t pay to boost posts, Facebook shows them to maybe 60-100 people of the thousands who follow my page. If I spend money, I can get that number higher. But guess who doesn’t have an advertising budget? Your local emergency manager.
Your favorite TV meteorologist? Their station isn’t likely throwing ad dollars at Facebook either—it’s a competitor. That means critical updates can get buried under cat videos and five-year-old viral posts resurfacing for no reason.
Solution: Get your forecasts directly.
✔ Subscribe to email alerts – Many local meteorologists and weather services offer email subscriptions. Sign up so you don’t miss important updates. ✔ Set up Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) – These are the messages that blast your phone when there’s a Tornado Warning or other life-threatening event. More on that below. ✔ Turn on push notifications for weather apps – The key is making sure they notify you immediately when something important happens.
📌 Pro tip: If you see an urgent Facebook post and it’s still relevant, share it. That helps override the algorithm’s nonsense and get it in front of more people.
Problem 3: Hype, Misinformation, and Fake Photos
Ah, social media’s favorite sport: overhyping the weather. Right now, I guarantee you someone on Twitter is talking about a “historic” snowstorm for the middle of next week. Is it real? Probably not. Does it have an impressive-looking snowfall map with totals higher than what anyone is forecasting? Absolutely.
Then there’s the other issue: people posting photos of past storms (or AI-generated images) and passing them off as current. “LOOK AT THIS TORNADO HITTING WICHITA RIGHT NOW” …except it’s a picture from 2013. Happens every single time.
I can only get this kind of obviously AI result … others are MUCH better
AI-generated image of a “Wedge tornado seen from less than a mile”
Solution: Stick to trusted sources.
✔ National Weather Service (NWS) & local meteorologists – They follow strict verification procedures. ✔ Emergency managers & local officials – They don’t deal in hype, just facts. ✔ Me (and folks like me) – I aim to share timely, accurate information, but I’ll always prioritize reporting to NWS first.
📌 Pro tip: Before sharing a dramatic weather photo, do a reverse image search. If it’s been on the internet for years, don’t fall for it. And if it looks too good it’s likely AI. Real life has easily figured out imperfections (looking at you, my friend who always has phone poles and lines in his storm photos!!)
How to Get Warnings: Setting Up WEA Alerts
One of the easiest ways to stay ahead of dangerous weather is to make sure your phone gets Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). These are free, government-issued alerts that automatically push to your phone for things like Tornado Warnings and extreme wind events.
How to check your WEA settings (iPhone & Android):
🔹 iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications > Emergency Alerts and make sure they’re ON. 🔹 Android: Open Settings > Safety & emergency > Wireless emergency alerts, then check that extreme weather alerts are enabled.
📌 Pro tip: You can disable AMBER alerts if you need to, but don’t turn off weather alerts. They could save your life.
Final Thoughts: Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Getting good weather information shouldn’t be this complicated, but here we are. Social media isn’t reliable for real-time warnings, hype is everywhere, and fake images make it harder to know what’s real.
The good news? You can take control by using trusted sources, setting up alerts, and keeping multiple ways to get updates.
Weather changes fast—make sure your information does too.
Want reliable forecasts? Sign up for my email updates. Look for the confused pupper on the home page.
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