Apps Instead of Meteorologists? Marlins Learn Lesson

On opening day for the Miami Marlins, a downpour drenched the stadium, causing a rain delay. This wouldn’t seem like such an ordeal if the stadium didn’t have a retractable roof… Reason the roof wasn’t closed in time? Misinterpretation of radar by Marlin officials. No meteorologists have been hired to assist the team, as many other professional teams do to help in important weather-related decisions.

The Miami Marlins experienced a 16-minute rain delay yesterday – the first ever at Marlins Park. Moral of the story here? Three executives should not trust their handy-dandy apps to make important weather-related decisions, especially in Florida. As the Capital Weather Gang put it:

Forecasting the development, motion, and duration of “pop-up” showers and storms in South Florida is notoriously difficult. It requires knowledge of complex sea-breeze patterns and an understanding of when and under what conditions the activity will “pulse” up and down.

Meteorologists searching for a job – be on the lookout. The Marlins may just be hiring here soon.