Meet the Chuck C. Johnson of weather forecasting
UpChuckDennis Mersereau, writing at The Vane, Gawker Media’s weather blog, does yeoman’s work highlighting a weather hoaxer and his ongoing battles with real meteorologists, including a visit from the FBI after he threatened the San Diego NWS offices.
What drew me to the parallels with UpChuck was this part (bolding mine)
Over the years, Martin has created a slew of websites on which he issues dubious forecasts that he claims are better than those produced by the National Weather Service. Martin uses his self-taught knowledge of meteorology (such as it is) to arrive at the grandiose proclamations of doom and destruction that so often spread like wildfire. He also claims to fall somewhere along the autism spectrum, which he uses to explain his superior knowledge of meteorology (cough) and defend his terrible behavior, the latter of which has been derided as complete bull by anyone with autism or even a passing knowledge of the developmental disorder.
In addition to the websites that are often taken offline—including such classics as The Weather Space, Weather Alert Central, Southern California Weather Authority, Northeast U.S. Weather, Triforce Weather, and his most recent creation, National Weather Force—he runs a series of websites that claim to keep track of the “chemtrails” (which don’t exist) and “HAARP waves” (which don’t exist in that capacity) that conspiracy theorists swear are used by the government to control the weather. There’s the source of that superior scientific forecasting for you.
More: Weather Hoaxer Threatens the NWS, Records Himself Yelling at FBI Agents
Hmmm, bullying tactics (he’s threatened Mersereau before as well)? Check.
Delusions of grandeur? Check.
Thinks he knows more than the real experts? Check.
Conspiracy theories abound? Check.
It’s like they’re brothers from another mother.
Read the whole thing.