For over a century, readers of The New York Times could glance at the top right corner of the front page for a quick weather update. This small block of text, affectionately known as the “weather ear,” has been a staple since 1897, providing a snapshot of the day’s temperature and precipitation. But like the weather itself, things change. Recently, this familiar feature has undergone a significant transformation, prompting many to wonder, “what is today’s weather forecast?” and how to access reliable weather information in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
For someone like myself, who spent three years meticulously crafting these concise forecasts as a night news assistant on the International desk, the shift is particularly noticeable. Each night, the task involved preparing 26 distinct weather ears, tailored to the various U.S. printing locations of The Times. These mini-forecasts offered essential details: “Gulf Coast: Partly sunny. Thunderstorms mainly in the afternoon and evening. Highs in the upper 80s to the lower 90s,” or “Northwest: Clouds and some sunshine. Showers or thunderstorms in a few areas. Highs in 50s in the mountains to 70s in valleys. Cloudy tonight.” This detailed approach ensured readers across different regions had a relevant glimpse of their local weather right on the front page.
However, that era of 26 localized weather forecasts has been scaled back dramatically to just two. This reduction reflects broader changes within the newspaper industry, specifically the increasing consolidation of printing operations. While The Times continues to print its New York edition locally in Queens, national editions rely on a network of printing plants across the country. As printing plants close and consolidate, newspapers are increasingly printed further from their distribution points. This means a weekend subscriber in Indiana might receive a newspaper printed in North Carolina, while readers in Salt Lake City get papers from Idaho.
This shift in printing logistics directly impacts the practicality of providing highly localized weather forecasts. Maintaining 26 different weather ears becomes less feasible when distribution networks are more geographically dispersed. The decision to reduce the number of forecasts is not about diminishing the importance of weather information, but rather adapting to the realities of modern newspaper production and distribution.
The New York Times has a long history of evolving to meet the needs of its readers. Features come and go as times change. Tom Jolly, an associate masthead editor at The Times, points to past examples like the Metro desk’s lottery number listings, which ended in 2015, and even early 20th-century front-page shipping charts. “The newspaper has always adapted to change,” Jolly notes, emphasizing this flexibility as a core principle of the publication.
So, while the front-page weather ear at The New York Times may look different today, the fundamental need for accurate and accessible weather forecasts remains. For those wondering “what is today’s weather forecast?”, the answer lies in embracing the digital age. While the print edition adapts to logistical shifts, numerous online resources, weather apps, and dedicated weather websites provide detailed and localized forecasts at your fingertips. The New York Times itself offers comprehensive weather information online, ensuring readers stay informed, even as the print newspaper evolves. The change in the “weather ear” is a reminder that even long-standing traditions must adapt, and that accessing “what is today’s weather forecast” is now more convenient and comprehensive than ever before, just perhaps in different formats than we were once accustomed to.
