The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Weather Or Not: Will Radio Go Live During Weekend Storms?

**Posted by RadioActive** February 14, 2025 8:25 am

Not only is it going to be Saturday and Sunday, but it's a long weekend in Toronto. But this one comes with something that most days off usually don't: two major snow storms in a row. The forecast is calling for as much as 10 cm on Saturday with another 20 or more in all day dump on Sunday, for totals that could be as high as 30 by the time we get to Monday - nearly an additional foot by the time it all ends.

Couple that with the 23 cm. that's already fallen (I have no idea where I'm going to put it all) and this could be one of the worst winter weeks for snow since Mayor Mel famously called in the army in 1999. There is little doubt that it's going to paralyze the city. Which leads to the question: what will local radio stations here do?

Most are on auto-pilot airing rerolls and paid programming much of the weekend, with even the news coming from the Canadian Press and not a local broadcaster. Will they bring in people to host if this weather causes the kind of emergency it portends? Or will they just ignore it (beyond 680) and stay with regular programming? (I well recall the coverage on WBEN-AM when Buffalo got clobbered by a 60 cm.+ snowmaggedon in the recent past. They went 24 hours non-stop and helped save lives as desperate listeners called up to report they were trapped in their homes.)

This may not be as bad, but it's the kind of event when radio could shine, if the owners or PDs are willing to allow for some programming change and some overtime. Some of us will be listening to see what choice they make if worse comes to worst.

**Posted by mace** February 14, 2025 8:59 am

I suppose it helps that these storms are happening on Family Day long weekend. Don't have to worry about getting to school or, for most people, work. Make shovelling snow a family activity.

**Posted by RadioActive** February 14, 2025 9:30 am

That is the one saving grace. But it's a busy weekend for many families with lot of folks hitting the road. (My neighbour is heading to Montreal to see family. I wish him luck getting home.) And that much snow is bound to cause chaos. Will radio be there for those people?

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 14, 2025 10:11 am

This was a topic briefly on CFRBs round table this morning, and Jason Agnew, who hosts their Sunday Morning Trivia show, said that he was going to make it in, so we’ll have something entertaining to listen to!

Last edited by Shorty Wave (February 14, 2025 10:12 am)

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** February 14, 2025 12:44 pm

For sure 1010 and 680 will.
1010 Is doing special programming for the election, so they will probably get Rahim Ladhani to do weather.
He's the best out of all of them.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** February 14, 2025 12:48 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Not only is it going to be Saturday and Sunday, but it's a long weekend in Toronto. But this one comes with something that most days off usually don't: two major snow storms in a row. The forecast is calling for as much as 10 cm on Saturday with another 20 or more in all day dump on Sunday, for totals that could be as high as 30 by the time we get to Monday - nearly an additional foot by the time it all ends.

Couple that with the 23 cm. that's already fallen (I have no idea where I'm going to put it all) and this could be one of the worst winter weeks for snow since Mayor Mel famously called in the army in 1999. There is little doubt that it's going to paralyze the city. Which leads to the question: what will local radio stations here do?

Most are on auto-pilot airing rerolls and paid programming much of the weekend, with even the news coming from the Canadian Press and not a local broadcaster. Will they bring in people to host if this weather causes the kind of emergency it portends? Or will they just ignore it (beyond 680) and stay with regular programming? (I well recall the coverage on WBEN-AM when Buffalo got clobbered by a 60 cm.+ snowmaggedon in the recent past. They went 24 hours non-stop and helped save lives as desperate listeners called up to report they were trapped in their homes.)

This may not be as bad, but it's the kind of event when radio could shine, if the owners or PDs are willing to allow for some programming change and some overtime. Some of us will be listening to see what choice they make if worse comes to worst.

That's a nice break from the america is great type talkshows they have.