LITTLE ROCK — A meteorologist for local ABC affiliate KATV is calling out anchor Diane Sawyer for the national network's coverage of storms that produced tornadoes in Arkansas and three other states.
Todd Yakoubian said in a video post on the Arkansas Weather Blog that it was a "disservice" how Sawyer on ABC World News described the Sunday tornadoes as unexpected and unusual for the time of year.
"I was personally shocked and a little offended when I saw the note that it was a surprise. I didn't think it was a surprise to anybody" Yakoubian said Wednesday in the video, adding that the national program would have known about the threat "if they were responsible and listened to local media or the National Weather Service Storm Prediction center in the days leading up to the event."
Sawyer described the tornadoes as a "freakish, frightening new weather pattern" after opening her broadcast seeming to emphasize that the storms were not predicted.
"Something terrifying took the south by surprise," she said. "No warning. Twenty-five tornadoes striking in less than 24 hours, roaring through four states in the darkness."
In addition to being forecast days in advance, Yakoubian said the tornadoes shouldn't be termed "freakish" or "unusual" because severe weather in the winter is nothing new.
"I've got news for everybody in New York City," Yakoubian said in the video with a raised voice. "I've got news for all the media in New York City and Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. We get tons, an enormous amount of severe weather. All the time in the fall, in the winter, in the spring. It happens."
After a meteorologist in Alabama leveled a similar criticism, ABC World News issued a statement saying the report was referring to how the tornadoes came through in the night while some people were asleep.
Yakoubian, in his video, offered his assistance to prevent future problems
"I'm available," he said. "I charge a very small consulting fee. Very small."