Al Roker — the “Today” show weatherman known as much for his sunny disposition as for his atmospheric forecasts — took to Twitter to let newly minted Mayor Bill de Blasio know his views of the decision to keep open snowy New York City’s schools, and it wasn’t pretty.
“Talk about a bad prediction. Long range DiBlasio [sic] forecast: 1 term,” he wrote, the New York Post reported. And another: “@NYCMayorsOffice says snow was faster/heavier than expected. No, Mr. Mayor. It came as predicted. Don’t blame weather for YOUR poor policy.”
One more: “How dare @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools throw NWS under the school bus. Forecast was on time and on the money.”
Mr. de Blasio responded in kind. In broadcast remarks, he said, “It’s a different thing to run a city than to give the weather on TV.” He also said in his defense that he needed a “guaranteed” foot of snow on the ground by the time the sun rose in order to shut down schools.
“If you guaranteed me a foot of snow between midnight and 6 a.m., I guarantee you schools would be closed,” he said, the New York Post reported.
The decision to keep open city schools — in the face of piled snow and icy streets — angered more than Mr. Roker. Only 45 percent of children actually reported to class, the city reported, in the New York Post.
Meanwhile, Fox News reported one woman was killed in city streets due to the blizzard-like conditions, when a vehicle slipped and slammed into her as she tried to access her own car.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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