How the Times Weather Team Tracks Big Storms: More Data, Less Hype

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by John Keefe, Erin McCann, Judson Jones, Amy Graff, Nazaneen Ghaffar and Seth Carlson

February 22, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The New York Times Weather team has developed a unique approach to covering extreme weather events by focusing on data-driven forecasts and avoiding sensationalism. Instead of emphasizing the most dire predictions, the team prioritizes explaining the uncertainty in weather projections through detailed visualizations and clear explanations. This method aims to prepare readers for a range of possible outcomes rather than hyping up specific scenarios. The team, which includes reporters, meteorologists, graphics editors, and data engineers, collaborates closely with other newsroom departments to provide comprehensive coverage of severe weather events from their approach to their aftermath. The article highlights how the Times Weather team handled recent major storms, such as a potential blizzard in the coastal Northeast and a powerful storm system that caused avalanches in California. These examples demonstrate the team’s ability to cover multiple significant weather events simultaneously, ensuring readers stay informed about diverse impacts across regions. By visualizing data and focusing on probabilistic outcomes, the team aims to strike a balance between accuracy and readability, helping audiences understand complex meteorological information without resorting to sensationalism. This approach matters because it addresses a common issue in weather reporting: the overemphasis on extreme scenarios can lead to confusion or panic, while underplaying uncertainty can leave people unprepared. By presenting data clearly and emphasizing the range of possible outcomes, the Times Weather team provides readers with actionable insights. This method not only enhances public understanding but also helps individuals make informed decisions based on reliable information rather than fear-driven reactions. For readers interested in news about severe weather, this approach is

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/22/2026