Newspaper's 'psychic experts' wash out with hurricane predictions

Like Frances did three weeks earlier, Hurricane Jeanne cut a swatch of destruction across central Florida, striking the east coast at about midnight on the morning of September 26, 2004. But if the coastal residents were prepared for Jeanne's wrath, it was no thanks to the coast's Florida Today newspaper, headquartered in Melbourne. Or at least not to what the paper refers to as its three "psychic experts."

A September 20 story titled "Local psychics predict the weather: Will more storms batter Brevard?" carried the following predictions from its telepathetic trio, who "for the past three years ... have participated in New Year's forecasts on politics, celebrities, weather, etc." None foresaw Florida's historic run of four major hurricanes or the role Jeanne would play.

According to staff writer Billy Cox, Shiraa Roccelle "was certain [Jeanne] wouldn't splatter into Florida." Roccelle is quoted as saying (or seering), "My sense is that it will come much closer to Georgia or South Carolina, and it'll miss us."

Next Elizabeth Cooper came to the plate: "It's going to dissipate--I don't think it'll be a hurricane."

Batting third, and playing way out in left field, Chris Jones: "Georgia is the first word that comes to mind with Jeanne," Jones said. "Jeanne is full of steam, but she'll hit land and blow out rather quickly." Jones was instead more concerned about Hurricane Karl, which, alas, never approached the United States.

Gary P. Posner is founder of Tampa Bay Skeptics and a CSICOP Scientific Consultant.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group