Their forecast did not come true, government fired meteorological service leaders
The chairwoman, Dr Kornélia Radics, and the professional vice-chair, Gyula Horváth, of the Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) have to resign with immediate effect. The minister of innovation and technology, László Palkovics, decided so. The ministry’s announcement added that Palkovics would decide about the new leaders of the OMSZ later. The cause is the OMSZ’s August 20 forecast. That is why the government postponed the traditional fireworks in Budapest.
It is almost impossible to give a 100% forecast
Rita Nagy-Kurunczi, a leading meteorologist of the Időkép, said that there was a significant chance for great storms until the last moment on 20 August. Therefore, a detailed examination is needed why the forecast of the OMSZ proved incorrect. She added that all models, including the American, European, German and French calculated with an extensive precipitation block over Central Hungary in the evening, telex.hu wrote.
The original forecast of the OMSZ was 75-80 pc for a rainstorm by 9 pm on 20 August. But they said there was a 20-25 pc chance for no rain. Later that day, they shared posts warning about rainstorms and showers. Based on those data, the operative board postponed the fireworks for this Saturday in Budapest. However, there was no rain.
OMSZ photo taken in August 20. Photo: FB
Government-close media did not wait to start slamming the OMSZ
The government-close media immediately started to attack the meteorological service claiming they made a huge mistake. Meanwhile, the OMSZ said all their forecasts include a probability factor, and on 20 August, the least probable scenario happened. They added they tried to communicate that, as well.
- Read also: PHOTO report on the 20 August celebrations
Rita Nagy-Kurunczi said that calculating the development of such a precipitation block was very difficult, and the results were uncertain. Furthermore, such precipitation blocks can come into being in just an hour, as happened over Lake Balaton that day.
This was the OMSZ’s forecast in the early hours of August 20. Photo: OMSZ/FAcebook
Catastrophes happened when politicians did not listen to meteorologists
Telex.hu brought up the August 20 storm in 2006 in Budapest in connection with the case. That year, 1,500,000 people were out watching the fireworks. But when the storm started, everybody wanted to leave the venues at once. More than 300 people were injured, and five people died in the chaos. One of the casualties was only 12 years old. A married couple fell into the raging Danube from a boat during the storm.
We already know that the tragedy was caused by severe organisational deficiencies, panic and darkness. Moreover, there were not enough ambulances in Budapest. The meteorological service forecasted a possible storm, but that information did not reach the decision-makers. Since then, an operative board has been responsible for the fireworks in Budapest. Today, all intelligence from the police, disaster management services, military, ambulance, and meteorological service goes to the board members.
UPDATE
Read alsoHungary’s weather top officials back leaders fired by minister over wrong forecast
Source: telex.hu
8 Comments
At least they weren’t executed…
Democracy – Hungarians continue to accept this type of DICTATORIAL agenda & style of Government – “pushed” and “imposed” on the citizens of Hungary – the Fidesz led – Government of Hungary, under the Party leader and present Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Orban.
What was expected by these EDUCATED people in the COMPLEX world of Meterology ???
Where they expected to do a Rain dance?
Where they expected to have “divine intervention” granted them, from the Gods of Weather ?
These educated individuals – the BLATANT escape examples they have been MADE – by this DICTATORIAL regime of a Government – Sickening & WRONG.
Ethics & Morals – is this ANOTHER sign to all Hungarians – from what-ever “Station in Life” – we are from, that this present Dictatorial Government, removed from the practice of Core componentry – rules, laws and principles of DEMOCRACY – led us into a decending black & darkening place – likened to being thought of as a Nadir ???
“Do as WE tell You to Do” – citizens driven to live their lives – through the POWER forced upon them by a Government that is not CONDUCTED under Democracy.
This “axing” will cause another “brain drain” of the educated from Hungary – and send “deepening” – vibrations & ripples through the Department of Meterology – and cause PEOPLE to think – their FUTURE – if that has happened to them then I could be next.
Don’t think for one minute – the Department Heads of Meterology in Hungary – all sitting down last Friday & Saturday am – lisening to the Masterful piece written by Antonio Vivaldi – Four Seasons Concertos – 1719 circa – each season giving a musical expression of a season – and THEN – after lisening to the Final season concerto – deciding – this will be the weather broadcast for Budapest on 20th August 2022 – which sadly, through expected weather pattern, will force the “postponement” of the “Chinese” supplied – possible Funded or monies spent added to – the Chinese Government Humongous Credit – monies owed by the Hungarian Government Account – Fire Words – at 9pm on the Saturday evening – 20th August 2022.
The DECISION to postpone – the Fire Words display – by these EDUCATED individuals intricate, complexed and taking hours – somewhat days – to make a DECISION.
Appalling decision by this Government but “true to form” – in their Dictatorial & Power driven agenda.
They got fired for THAT?? Just because some stupid fireworks were postponed at a time of economic crisis and most people thought a waste of money anyway. What sort of country is this that fires meteorologists. And if a storm had hit, what then. Those of us who live here know how quickly a storm can arrive with no warning. It’s a no win situation for those poor scientists.
In answer to Larry in another post, many of us know what this government is like, but until a tough new opposition can be formed, we are powerless to change it. A ‘democratic’ general election means nothing here.
A British woman was struck by lightening in Croatia. A storm swept in from the sea, and as she and her daughter ran for cover, the woman was hit and knocked unconscious. She’s now in intensive care.
The meteorologists made the right call. The fireworks aren’t cancelled they’re postponed. In the scheme of things what does it matter when the fireworks are shown, tourists will enjoy them this weekend instead. We who live here couldn’t care less about the fireworks. The PM having a tantrum is what other countries are seeing.
If the weather experts were sacked from their posts because of a predicted 75% possibility of a storm happening, surely the Orban Government should resign for far bigger miscalculations.
Pity we cannot fire this and many governments for their under-performance as easily as they seem to fire others for theirs. Oh – hang on … we can but many do not realise that we can and believe we have to wait until the next election date. Just saying.
Orbánistan reminds me of Albania during Hoxha’s dictatorial rule.
What if the situation would have been like 2006? And that the meteorological service gave favourable advice for the fireworks? Anonymous, I totally agree with your arguments. I think it’s a shame that the scientists were fired for no reason. What a humiliation for these people! Who will be the next targets of this “democracy”?