Tonight's Low: 18°C

Does that sound cold? It's not. 18° Celsius is equal to 64° Fahrenheit. And while that is cooler than it has been, it's still a little warmer than our average low.

Beginning today you'll see the temperature in Celsius on the weathercasts during 13 Eyewitness News. It will be included every day, along with the temperature in Fahrenheit, when we show the current weather conditions in Houston and Galveston.

We are not trying to convert people to the metric system! Rather, it's the other way around. Houston is an international city. There are lots of people from around the world moving here, working in our energy and technology companies, and visiting our renowned hospitals. We hope this helps them transition to our city. Furthermore, kids learn the metric system in school. This will be one way they can apply their knowledge everyday.

The suggestion came from one of our viewers. H.O. from Katy sent me an email last month and I posted the idea here on the Houston weather blog. The feedback was overwhelmingly favorable.

We always appreciate hearing from our viewers so whether or not you like the idea, let us know!  Post your comments below.

Today's date, by the way, is 10/10 which has been unofficially designated International Metric Day since the metric system uses multiples of ten to designate length, weight, speed, etc.

Comments

[Larry Kray]

Hate it.

[Sue Gelardi]

What a good idea. I always have trouble when I am outside the US to know what the temp is. This is a good way to practice the metric system.

[Joe Glavin]

Tim,

Here's how to convert Celsius to Fehrenheit.....

C temp x 2 - 10% + 32 = F

20C x 2 = 40 - 10% = 36 + 32 = 68F

Joe Glavin (retired Continental Pilot)

[elaine]

I think the F/C is a really good idea and hope that it is in all weather reports. As a european I think it is a great addition and also for americans who visit other countries to know the C convertion. A definite positive !!!

[Kingsley]

I think the idea of including celcius in your forecast is a very good idea. It will make your network the first to do so in the country if am not mistaken. today is my first time of visitin Houston and was thrilled to see that.mI've lived in Chicago, Dteroit, Atlanta and currently in Boston. It will help Houstonians who visit other countries to also have some education on weather info. Kudos!

[Randy Dally]

I don't like the new addtion of celsius to the forecast, please remove it.

[Natalie Cantu]

I used to go on the previous post saying how much I hated the idea. I'm ok with it now though. I had actually been thinking about it for the past few days while I was watching Ch. 13, wondering if ya'll were going to do it or not. I'd givin it some thought and realized it wasn't really as big of a deal as I made it seem. I kept saying that it would just be adding to how people dont want to learn how we did things in America and wanted to keep it their way. I kinda didnt think about the fact that it could in fact help them better understand our way! Anyway, im sorry for being so close-minded before.
Quick question: That post had a ton of comments? Was it the most comment's you've ever had on a post?
Hey, by the way, that'd be pretty sweet if we got down to 18 F! :)

[Abelardo Garcia]

I watch your weather station every day and i am currious why you always mention Sugar Land and hardly ever mention Missouri City, we are just as big and right next to Sugar Land, grant you we do not have a pretty name like S.L. but we would like to be included in your weather cast and also in the map. thank you

RESPONSE from Tim Heller: Quite simply, there is an official National Weather Service observation site in Sugar Land. There is not one in Missouri City.

[JUDY BOLTON]

WHY CATER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY? THEY SHOULD LEARN THE AMERICAN WAY. ENGLISH AND FAHREHEIT.
IF THE WHOLE COUNTRY GOES THE WAY OF THE METRIC SYSTEM, THEN IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

[Steve Reynolds]

As a nurse, I work with the metric system everyday. So, I don't mind your using Celsius for temperatures at all.

[Nancy Edwards]

This is just another example of giving in to people who come here from other countries and are too lazy to learn our ways (English, non-metric temps, etc.). Why should they have to learn our ways, we feed them their ways so they don't have to bother. This is a TERRIBLE idea. If I need to know how to convert something from metric to American temps, I will get a book and figure it out or find it on the internet. They should do the same. With the internet, anything can be learned without it having to be fed to us. I don't expect other countries to cow-tow to my English, we should NOT cow-tow to their language and desires to not bother to learn our language and ways.

[Phil]

Great idea. I work in labs for a large chemical company and we use temp in degrees C and F. Having this on the weather I think is a great idea.

[Justin]

Thank you for showing the temperature in celcius degrees. I moved to Houston from Europe few years ago, but I still have a vague idea only about what weather to concretely expect when numbers are given in Farenheit units. This will certainly encourage me to watch channel 13 a little bit more. Thanks again.

[C.K. Rogers]

What the heck are you doing here channel 13?? We cater to everyone here in the US already. If you get a bunch of feedback asking for the labels on the screen to be in other languages are you going to do that too? NO I DO NOT AGREE THAT YOU NEED TO POST IN CELSIUS. How far will we the citizens of the US allow this to go?? I will again become a faithful 13 viewer when you remove this from your forecast otherwise there are several other choices for a true English speaking AMERICAN to watch.

[Claredith Yeo]

Hi Tim,

At long last Houston has realized they are an International Oil Capital, which has International Oil People. I am Irish married to a Texan.We met in Aberdeen Scotland, the other Oil Capital. So now our girls in Aberdeen can see at a glance, what the weather is in Houston, without doing the calulations.

Thank You
Claredith Yeo

[briles]

Just another concession to political correctness and liberalism. By compromising our language, our culture, our standards, and the like we only enable those who refuse to assimilate and only wish to be leeches upon our largesse.

I've traveled extensively, the world over, and I've never seen such concessions to Americans.

If they want to live here they should do so legally, learn the language, learn the culture, systems, and standards and assimilate !! Otherwise, please stay away.

[Nic]

I love the Celsius information. Keep on displaying it.

[Jim Menefee]

NO, on celsius. This is the United States of America. We speak English and use Fahrenheit. Well, I guess you could show wind speed in kilometers, too. Where does it stop? I guess when we become a Spanish speaking nation.
Jim Menefee

[Henk Henni]

I am a 45 year TEXAN from Europe. Our Dutch company left today,after a 14 day stay in Texas and Louisiana. They were constantly converting the for them unusual local temperature. I think it is a great idea. I was raised on the metric [ Decimal ] system. I find it easier,but adjusted without problems. Many tourists do have problems . This will aid them to appriciate our climate for what it is ,by being able to compare .

[Jackie]

When I was in 4th grade (1979) my teacher told me we needed to learn the metric system because the U.S. was changing over to the metric system by 1984. Hasn't happened, but metric is slowly creeping onto packages and car speedometers.
I have taught the metric system for the past 14 years. My students always wonder why we don't use it, it is SO MUCH EASIER to use once you start using it on a regular basis.
I am glad you have added Celsius into your forecasts, it helps everyone learn what both systems mean.

[Larry]

I guess I'am just old school but I think we to leave the way it was,NO CELSIUS.

[w f compton]

Absolute nonsense IMO to post Celsius. We're not in Canada nor the UK, thank God!

[Camila Zies]

Congratulations for the initiave of using the international system as well!! Great idea!

[Nick]

I like how you pulled it off. Introducing a brand new thing on live tv in like 15 seconds.(10pm Newscast) Very nice lol. It is just to new. I like it old school, sticking with Fahrenheit. E-mail me back plz

[Dora Anderson]

We are an international household, and my European in-laws spend a lot of time each year visiting us. This is going to be a very welcome change for us. Furthermore, I don't think it would hurt Americans to know what the Celsius temperature is off the top of their heads either. This is, after all, a global community we live in these days.

[David]

Some really funny comments here. I don't see anything un-American about showing the temps in Fahrenheit and Celsius. Heck, the trip computer in my American made pickup truck shows the temps in Fahrenheit and Celsius and even displays my speed in both MPH and KM/H. I've never been offended by that in the least. Ever visit Canada? You might be glad you learned the Metric system after just a brief visit there.

[Stephen]

This is an excellent enhancement to the TV weather forecast. It is very classy and will be helpful to visitors here and to Houstonians when traveling abroad.

There is no need for apologies to anyone!

When I talk to people around the world, they often ask what the temperature is here. Channel 13's enhanced TV forecast will save me the trouble of converting or checking on a website that provides a metric display option.

[Bill]

There have been some pretty predictable negative responses challenging the patriotism of Channel 13 by including Celsius temperature readings. Let's remember that Fahrenheit is part of the ENGLISH system of measurement, and the English have already taken to Celsius long ago.

I am American-born and think that having Celsius readings is a terrific idea.

[jmw]

Thank you for doing this. Our family will be transfered to Europe in the next year and it will help us learn the system and appreciate the cultural differences around us with sensitivity. My husband mentioned how hard it was for him to learn the American system when he moved here from France (and he is a legal American) and this would have helped him a lot in making the transition.

Thank you for having the courage to embrace the international community of Houston!

[TolerantLiberal]

Tim, giving both values is excellent. Most of the world uses the metric system. As an engineer I see the value and simplicity of the metric system.

The metric system provides perfect correlation between linear, area, and volumetric measurements unlike the English system. (e.g., even the English has converted to the metric system).

Tim, more information is always better than less. In your narrative on using the Celsius system today, you sounded unnecessarily defensive. For the love of God, you added information without diminishing the previous. You are enlightening people. You need not apologize to the vocal minority that seems to revel in their ignorance.

[G.S.]

I think it is wonderful that ABC13 is now displaying Celsius and Fahrenheit! I believe this will help not only the travelers to Houston but also give Houstonians a chance to brush up their metric system skills.
Symbolically displaying Celsius represents a beautiful way of appreciating different cultures. Thank you so much for stepping up to the plate. It is truly refreshing.

[Jim DeGraff]

Great idea!!! Thanks. I grew up with both systems, English at home and metric at school. We should have converted to the simpler metric system years ago.

[Carole Bogan]

No more Celsius. We live in America......

[Kevin OKeefe]

Thanks for even considering the concept of temp. conversion in your broadcast. I live in both Houston & Norway and have to think for a minute to respond to questions about how cold or hot it was: "Well, it was 8 in the mornings , but goes up to 12-13 by midday...
Ahh, low 40's and up to the mid 50's..."
I don't want to drag America into the 80's, but I'm a bit tired of being the "global interpreter" and, if folks pay attention to your broadcast, I can enjoy the 31 degree Autumn a bit more.

[Scott Reichling]

I think this would be of more use to visitors if it was displayed in the extended forecast. When I watch the news, especially the 10:00 newscast, I am usually not very interested in the current temperature but I do want to know the forecast for the next day.

[Jason D]

Very interesting comments. I think the problem here is not the fact that the temp is displayed in metric, but the reasoning behind it. I can also understand the feeling that something is being forced onto people and the fear that before long we will be dealing with km/h, etc. In my original response to this a while back i was supportive of the reasoning behind it. After thinking about it more, i must say im slightly less supportive of it for that reason, but far more supportive of it as an educational tool. As noted on the blog, when children see it, they have a real life example of the metric system. Should they go to college and enter a science field, just about every technical paper will have data recorded in metric. As for the 'catering to internationals' argument, i doubt there are many people on here whose family did not come from another country somewhere down the line. So, imagine you have fairly close family in another country that comes to stay, are you still as against it?

[Dave]

Mr. Heller,

This is America and when in America you learn the language and customs of the United States. This Celsius junk need to go, or I'll just go to another channel.

[Jennifer]

I love it, now I know that anything over 30 C is hot weather. BTW I got a used Jeep so I put up my metric emergency tool bag and put the US tools in the back. Lucky for me I found out before roadside trouble that it is metric! More information is better than less, every time. Thanks!

[Cole]

I am a high school student in The Woodlands. I was born right here, at Memorial Hermann, and I think that the people who think that Celsius is "un-American" are out of their mind. I am very happy that ABC 13 decided to go for it. There is NOTHING WRONG with learning new things. Is it then un-American that TWHS requires 2 years of foreign language to graduate? No. I am all for it. Thanks, Mr. Heller for seeing the many benefits.

[shyrel willett]

I think that when people comes to our country to live they should adapt to our way of living. When you go to their counties,we adapt to their ways.That what wrong with our country-we keep giving and receive nothing in return. As for my family we will change channels to watch the news.

[john dascoulias]

I think its great and about time.Keep up the good work.

[Lou]

Houston is not an international city, it is a local city with a lot of people from different countries living here, anyone coming to Houston should expect to adapt to our system. I do not like your idea of including the metric equivalent.

[Christiane]

Dear Tim,
what a wonderful idea to display Celsius next to Fahrenheit. I came over from Europe 15 years ago and have of course adapted to degrees in Fahrenheit, but I think for all "newcomers", visitors and guests to Houston from abroad this will help with the conversion to F-Temperatures. I read the comments from the viewers and can really not understand how some people can be so narrowminded. This has nothing to do with un-American.
I see it as a great addition to your newscast. Please keep up your good work - you are a wonderful news-crew at Ch.13.

[AJ Garcia]

I do not like like the Celsius display. Please remove it. Maybe, like someone suggested, in the extended cast.

[Kevin]

Strong support from me. Using Celcius or kilometers or liters as measurement has absolutely nothing to do with the political issue of "immigration," or American's being forced to cater to the rest of the world. These units of measurement are standard around the world, and millions of Americans use them every single day.

Some commenters seem to think that Celcius is a different language. Do they have the same problem buying 2-liter bottles of Coke?

[Julie Stahlhut]

Great idea! Scientists (and students in science classes) always use the Celsius scale (or the related Kelvin scale) for temperature measurements. Early exposure to the Celsius scale will be very helpful for teaching the kids in the audience about an important tool used in science and engineering.

[Eric Gisin]

Congratulations. Metric cannot be taught in schools, you have to experience it daily.

It seems many posters are proud to be ignorant of the rest of the world.

[Aditya]

I see that most people here don't understand the idea of rigorous standards. The metric system has been thought over very deeply by some of the best metrologists in the world. The standards have been modified and re-modified for decades so as to have the most precise, most easily reproducible and most unambiguous system of units. If everyone just decided to follow the metric system(Almost all Scientific Research is already being done in the metric system), there would be no confusion at all. An inch is defined as 1/36 of the branch or rod used for punishment or spanking young children, while a metre is defined as 1⁄299792458 of a light-second. Now decide which system of units you want to use.

[NotAgainstCelsius]

Maybe us Americans are too lazy to learn a system the rest of the WORLD is accustomed to. Like Tim said, the addition (not a change or a replacement) is for those who are new to our country to get used to the English system. You all want foreigners to learn the English system, right? I will assure you that foreigners will not take over Houston just because Channel 13 decided to add the Celsius reading for a few seconds on their weather segment. I promise.

[David]

I like it a lot.
Not only is it good for the thousands of foreigners working in the area and for tourists, it also happens to be potentially helpful in finally getting us at least familiar with what various ranges of Celsius temperatures feel like.
I cannot understand why we cling to a base-12 system of measures. The only place it really makes sense is with time. Someday we as a nation will come to our senses on this metric issue.

[Jason D]

Thank-you for making the move even though I don't get to see your broadcast from Columbus Ohio. Please see what you can do to get my local stations to do the same. I've tried writing to them, but no joy. That one viewer must have really left an impact.

WAY TO GO on choosing THE standard system of measurement.

[flypusher]

As a scientist I use the metric system all the time, as do thousands and thousands of others in the medical/scientific fields. The metric system is already here and been in use for decades. I votes yes for showing the temps in both systems.

[Paul Trusten, R. Ph., Public Relations Director, U.S. Metric Association, Inc.]

On behalf of the U.S. Metric Association, I congratulate Tim Heller on his decision to use Celsius temperature in his forecasts, and I certainly join with other posters to this story in supporting U.S. changeover to the metric system of measurement, a goal this nation has been committed to since it legalized the use of the metric system in 1866.

The Public Relations Office of the U.S. Metric Association has been located in Midland, Texas, since May 2000.

As a pharmacy student in 1974, I became amazed that a decimal system of measurment such as the metric system was NOT the exclusive measurement system in American pharmacy. I always thought this to be a safety hazard. Indeed, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy has reported in a recent newsletter that the most common error committed on prescriptions for children has been a dangerous mix-up between teaspoonsful and milliliters. If U.S. culture was totally metric, our children would be that much safer when their parents give them their medicines.

For those who believe that the decimal metric system is "foreign" to the United States, let facts be submitted to a candid Nation. In 1792, The U.S. became the first country to use a decimal based currency. America was one of the original signatories to the Meter Convention of 1875, which set up the international recognition of the metric system. Since 1893, the legal U.S. definitions for the yard and the pound have been in terms of the meter and the kilogram. In 1988, Congress declared the metric system to be the preferred system of measurement for trade and commerce in this country. And, since 1999, 48 out of the 50 states (Alabama and New York should do it soon, too) permit products not regulated by federal law to be optionally labeled in metric units only. On a popular basis, who reading this blog is not familiar with 1-liter and 2-liter bottles of carbonated beverages and also liter-sized wines and liquors in our country? And, if you look at U.S. manufacturing, much is metric behind the scenes. Traditional units are just a public show.

Full U.S. adoption of the metric system would be consistent with our country's ingenious growth over the centuries. Not only would it not represent any relinquishment of national sovereignty, it would signify a strengthening of that sovereignty by virtue of a long-delayed technical improvement in our society. In ecuation, it would greatly reduce the time wasted on our students learning fractions, and allow them to compete more effectively with the science students of other countries.

And, for those who think we can't do it, look at Australia, where I visited in March. That country was fully inch-pound based in 1970, but today they "speak metric" as fluently as they speak English, and I think any American would delight in Australian freedom, energy, and economic growth.

In a decision taken this year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said that the metric system will be the exclusive system of measurement to be used by the U.S. on future lunar operations. I think we should enjoy the benefits of decimal measurement in the earth-bound U.S. as well.

Thank you for the opportunity to present my views.

Sincerely,

Paul Trusten, R. Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
+1(432)528-7724
trusten@grandecom.net

[Kristen]

god forbid we try to learn something new. geez, america, what are you thinking?

that's sarcasm, kids.

and as for the rest of the world not "catering" to us...do you realize how many people, regardless of their nationality, know how to speak english? i remember walking through amsterdam and not one person i talked to didn't speak at least a bit of english. and the dutch smoke dope. if they can learn upwards of 3 to 4 languages while stoned, i think we can learn to use a system that measures by 10s, especially since they teach it in GRADE SCHOOL. if your 5th grader really is, in fact, smarter than you, then your child isn't gifted, you're just slow.

[Paul]

What a great idea!

Could you please put the Celsius in at least the same size of font and preferably before the customary measures?

Also, it'd be great to have everything else listed in metric as well as the temperature.

[Craig]

It's obvious from many of the blog posts here that some people have to be drug kicking and screaming into change. Even a change as small as this one.

The metric system is not some liberal conspiracy to deprive you of your precious fahrenheit scale.

I know using your brain to do conversions and mental math hurts and makes you too tired to watch Dancing with the Stars, but it's time to exercise some seriously atrophied muscles.

Bravo Mr. Heller.

[joye]

i do not think that is a good ideal if we go to any other country we would have to learn there ways.
we are the united states not the
world.
if you live here speak our way of talking learn our way of life.
sorry

[Pearl Alexander]

I am American living in Japan and can and read speak Japanese.

I cannot say the same for the countless Americans I have met working over here, even people have been working here for as many a 10 or more years.

Americans do not believe in adopting another country's language or culture when moving there, so why should foreigners do the same in America?

America's pompous obssession with national pride is a danger to the country itself.

The American media should do less to promote the idea that the American culture is one under threat, and more to show how much we truly shove it down other peoples' throats.

[R. Gruver]

There is nothing "unamerican" about using C, as long as you continue to use F. Thanks for stepping up and ignoring those that want to stick to old fashioned ideas.

[Mathias]

We live in the US. We speak English, we use Fahrenheit and English units of measurement. What is good for us should be good for the millions of immigrants that come here, and we shouldn't change our ways just for the good of foreigners.

We are also human, though, and we make mistakes. Sticking with Fahrenheit, inches, ounces and gallons has been a mistake, and this mistake will cost us more and more unless we start correcting it. As others have already mentioned, we do live in a global community, whether we realize it in every-day life or not, and when it comes to units of measurements, the rest of the world will not change just for our convenience.

I applaud your decision to show temperatures in Celsius as well.

[Mac]

I remember a few years back there was an advertisement (funny I don't remember the company that aired it) that featured the first man to wear pants. All were in awe of this strange "goat-legged" man, but he explained that the pants do the same job and are more comfortable. At the end of the spot, a single primitive man declared, "I fear change, and I shall keep my bushes," as he held said foiliage over himself. Seeing the parallel here? Sure, Farenheit works, and it's what we're used to, but it's not really the best system, and it never hurts to be proficient in more than one way of looking at something.

[Frank]

Indeed, there is certainly nothing "un-American" about the metric system at all. What seems to have escaped many posters who are against such inclusion is that the metric system was approved for official use in the U.S. way back in 1866. In fact, CONGRESS CALLED FOR THE CONVERSTION TO THE METRIC SYSTEM BACK IN 1975 using logic that is just as valid today as it was then. See, 15 U.S.C.A. § 205a. Using both seems reasonable and logical to me. Inclusion of the metric system is long overdue.

[Tony]

Dump the C.

[Mr. Gunn]

I guess all the commenters who are complaining also make a fuss whenever they go to a hospital and demand that the nurses convert everything into ounces and tablespoons?

[LemmusLemmus]

Maybe I am missing something here, but could someone explain to me what is metric about Celsius measurement? It does not use multiples of 10, does it?

Fun fact: Here in Germany we use metric measurement of lengths for everything except the size of Blue Jeans.

[Scott Walker]

Good on you, ABC 13! Now, if we could just get all the other stations to go along with you...

The metric system is not un-American. As mentioned earlier, the US was one of the original parties to the Treaty of the Meter and the metric system has been legal for use here since then, just not colloquially preferred. The "English" system has been, but was kept mostly because American trade was primarily with the British Empire. Now even the English use metric units for (nearly) everything (beer is still sold by the pint in pubs--but not in stores--and they use yards and miles on the roadways, but that's it). Our traditional units have been legally defined in terms of metric ones for many years now (1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 grain = 0.06479891 grams, 1 degree Fahrenheit = 1.8 kelvin etc.)

We're the weird ones, with our feet and inches, Fahrenheit temps et cetera, et cetera ad nauseam.

These days I work at a large home-improvement warehouse, and I find myself at least every other day wishing we used the metric system. I'm fairly good at math, but I really hate having to deal with all the fractions. It's not difficult for me; I just hate it.

Again, kudos to ABC 13.

[Foo]

It's "metric" because instead of arbitrary points for freezing and boiling water (32 and 212F), it uses the more sensible 0 and 100 for those points.

Yes, this means that the Celsius degrees are larger, since there are fewer of them between those two fixed points.

Frankly, I think they should stop printing either Fahrenheit OR Celsius on the weather page, and publish the temperature only in degrees Kelvin. Don't know how to convert? Tough.

[David]

I love the comments claiming that Metric is Un-American. "This is America... we don't use Metric."

The United States Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy ALL use Metric. Distance is ALWAYS measured in Metres and Kilometers. Weight is ALWAYS measured in Kilograms. Temperature is ALWAYS measured in Celcius. You mean to tell me that our brave men and women in the Armed Forces are un-American for using Metric?

These same people who deride Metric seem have no problems with 2-Litre bottles of Coke, 9mm Hand Guns or 4.6L V8 Engines.

God-forbid we do something in the US that another country has done first.

[John]

Please remove the English temperatures from the forecast. It's unpatriotic. We are not part of the British Crown; we revolted against it! Thank you for being the first one to do this in America. I thought Houston would be second-place again.

I prefer Celsius because what's the difference between 70F or 71F? They are both 21C. The best way to learn metric is to forget the old, monarchist system; use metric units only on the forecasts and the time & temp bug. (While you're at it, please use a 24-hour time format. It's confusing to non-Houstonians determining whether if the podcast was a story from the 5AM or 5PM news.)America's downfall was gradualism, something MLK disdained. Australia was very successful when they carried out their quick conversion. Try telling an Australian you're 5'4"; they won't understand unless you say 163 cm.

[John]

I forgot to mention that the Celsius temperature is another reason I will watch ABC 13 more. Can you put the barometric pressure in kPa, wind speed in km/h, and other measures either along with the Colonial measurement or alone. One example is that the switching around from millibars when talking about hurricanes to inches of mercury for everything else is confusing.

P.S. Don't forget the space between the quantity and the unit (including the degree symbol and/or prefix-base unit). Ex: 20(space)°C NOT 20°C.

To indicate "per" use "/" instead of p. Ex: 20 kilometers per hour: 20 km/h NOT 20 kph.

And to those saying that this is "catering to illegals," why must we cater to you, the MONARCHISTS? Are you attempting to destroy the American Republic by using the monarchical RULER over the egalitarian meter (which is Greek for measure; metron)? Are you trying to prepare America for the reintroduction of British rule?

This is AMERICA not Britain. In America, we separate classes by income unlike in Britain which separates classes by social status acquired by birth. In fact the Colonial system is UN-AMERICAN since it is British! That means the monarchists must be anti-American then. What did we do from 1776-1789? We threw the British out of our government! Let's finish the job by throwing them out of our everyday lives and enjoy the blessings of this Republic.

[Frank]

In these days of talk of a American Union and the problems with illeagle immigrants you should rethink this idea. It appears that you are pandering to illegal immigrants or ushering us into the the international community, which IS NOT popular with most Americans. Things like this CAN be misconstrued very easily. Once again, I ask that you that reconsider this idea as it could mean a loss of viewership and leave the internationalism to Telemundo and to cable tv's international channels.

[Bob]

Geez people, calm down. It's not like the fahrenheit readings are not dissappearing from the forecast, it's both Celsius and Fahrenheit. There is no linguistic barrier to changing or importing someone else's system so you don't have to speak English to use Fahrenheit (note the GERMAN name), and you can easily speak English and use Celsius.

[Bruce M. Herbertson III]

I think what they are doing is wonderful. I live in Tennessee and I have been trying to get my local CBS station to do the same thing. I was taught mainly metric in school in the 70's and 80's and have also done my history lessons as well. I know that we were the first country to use a decimal based money system. Which is a 10 base system. I know that we were one of the first countries to sign the Treaty of the Meter. I know that Metric has been the preferred system of measurement since 1866. Metric is all around us. Everything we do see touch, consume is in some form of metric. Whether it is in whole metric or exact conversions. The US customary measurement system was fine in its day. Since our country's founding the metric system has been refined and exacted to a much better degree than the customary units. 16 Fluid Ounces doesn't always weight 1 pound. Likewise 16 Dry Ounces doesn't always have the same mass as 16 Fluid Ounces. And honestly can one really tell the difference in 70 °F - 75 °F? A 10 base system is inherently easier to understand and work with. I recently had a situation with my mother when we were purchasing garden hoses. One has 5/16 inch diameter and the other had 11/32 inch diameter. She asked which one was bigger? I told her I didn't know but to look at the metric measure. One was 15 mm and the other was 19 mm. She immediately saw that the 19 mm was the larger of the two. Her next comment was how easy is that. Metric is much easier. My mother by the way is 60 she wasn't really taught metric in school. Just an FYI. To those of you who think that metric is un-American. Take a look at the money in your wallet and pockets. Guess what? Our beloved currency is metric and measured in metric. Bills are 155 mm by 65 mm. Coins are measured in metric as well. If metric is so un-American then why is our money measured in metric? Just some food for thought.

[Shawn Fahrer]

To answer Bruce, the fact that so many things ARE in metric is a sign that we are losing the battle against this metricization (and forced conformity to the WORLD's lower standards-- see Red Chinese products-- instead of our own formerly higher standards). Despite the USA for Africa song of 1985, we are NOT the world-- we are America. And some of us DO have a problem with two liter bottles of soda (trying to fit their contents into quart containers will leave you WASTING a few ounces here and there). Do you want to promote WASTE via the metric system???? And finally, if you can't do simple multiplication to determine that 5/16 is less than 11/32 (by mentally multiplying the numerator and denominator of the first fraction by 2 to give you 10/32 to compare with 11/32), then I (to borrow from Mr. T) "pity the fool". The Metric System is part and parcel of the "dumbing down" of America (along with an awful lot of other things). Just say NO to Celsius/Centigrade/metric system!

[Bruce M. Herbertson III]

Just to politely respond to Shawn, I was never taught fractions in school. The school system I went to in South East Georgia only taught us metric until my junior year of high school. This was during the 70's and 80's when we were supposed to be converting. When it became apparent that we were not converting as fast as hoped, they gave us a crash course of customary units. But fractions were never covered. They just made sure we had a grasp of temperatures, distance (miles,feet) and weight. So for me to not understand that 11/32 is larger than 5/16 is not my fault. To this day I still don't understand fractions and refuse to learn them when 99% of everything is decimal based anyway. It is obvious that we are going metric in this country. One can either adjust and deal with it or they can be left behind and floundering. I for one am glad that I do know metric. My life will be much easier when the change is complete. I live in a very small town in North Eastern Tennessee now (but grew up in South East Georgia). Most people in this town that I have talked to about metric could care less one way or the other. If we were all metric that would be fine. Most just want us to have one or the other. I have the fortunate task of making shelf signs for the grocery store I work at and when I put the quantity and size of the product on the sign I always put it in metric. I have the full support of my management team and customers seem to find it easier to make comparisons. If people in this small town can accept metrication then I am sure people in larger cities can certainly accept it. If people are so dead set against metrication in this country then I would suggest that they move to Liberia or Burma (Myanmar). They aren't going metric anytime soon. If people are so dead set against metrication then they should stop using paper money, coins, cheques, or debit/credit cards. All of which are metric. Face it 99% of everything around you is in some form of metric.

[Scott Hudnall]

Technically, since the National Weather Service is a part of the Executive Branch of the federal government, they should report weather in metric ONLY.

President George H.W. Bush issued Executive Order 12770 and it has never been rescinded. http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/eo12770.html

Sadly, it seems President George H.W. Bush was the last forward-thinking government official we had on this subject.

[Daniel]

Kudos. The metric system is easier to learn and easier to use. It's kind of sad that it's taken the United States so long to recognize what the rest of the planet has known for years.

[Bruce M. Herbertson III]

Are they still doing weather with Celsius in the broadcast? I have looked around the site and haven't seen anything since. I hope that they haven't abandoned it. All it takes is one to promote change.
Bruce

RESPONSE from Tim Heller: I take it from your comment that you don't live in the Houston area. Yes, we are showing the temperature in Celsius in all our weathercasts now.

[Windstone]

Do you know how potatoes became popular in France ? A 17th century minister made them popular by... prohibing them. After that, some potatoes were grown in a field guarded by soldiers. So people wondered what kind of vegetables were growing in this field. So there were a lot of robberies in this intentionally badly guarded field.
It seems that the US government is doing quite the same for the metric system. I don't know how representative of the public opinion are the posters here but it seems that the metric system is more popular in a country where it's taught but not used than in an English speaking country where it's compulsory, like the UK or Canada. Maybe one day within ten years, a pro-metric politician will win the elections.
But a pessimistic question is : How will some of these self-proclaimed pro-metric react when they are really thrown into a world made of a 3'4" length unit ? Will they moan a lot before getting used to it ?

[Dunc]

Fahrenheit is as American as saurkraut. Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the scale in Germany and there is nothing American about Fahrenheit. Celsius is not a foreign scale but an international one. There should be a concerted effort on all weather broadcasts to include Celsius. Hopefully, one day, we can all put Fahrenheit behind us and set a date for nation-wide elimination of this truly foreign scale.

[DGA]

Thanks Channel 13, for allowing the general population the opportunity to prove that they are narrow-minded jerks. HOW DARE you make them have to THINK!

I was born and raised in Houston, and have watched Channel 13 for nearly 50 years. Once-upon-a-time, this really was an open-minded and friendly city. After reading some of the ignorant comments here, I'm ashamed of all of us.

For heaven's sake, what harm is it going to do anyone if the weather forecast includes BOTH systems of measurement? It's not hurting anyone! Nobody ever asked you to have to convert, and nobody ever suggested that Celsius was being added to accommodate the "unwanted" people in our city. Think again... International business and tourism brings millions of dollars into this city! That's money that is used to provide services to the residents of Houston every single day! And not to mention the tens-of-thousands of people that come to our medical center from all over this planet.

Get over yourselves people. Get into your gas-guzzling overpriced SUV and go do something constructive with your ignorance. (By the way, the pipeline that provides your gasoline for that SUV is using Metric instrumentation.)

I salute Channel 13 for their recognition of the international community in Houston. Keep up the excellent work.

[bp]

It is quite simple. All the people who so vehamently oppose the temperatures being shown in Celsius are simply suffering from American Superiority Syndrome. To date, a cure has not been discovered, but thankfully, not all of us are inflicted with it. Kuddos to Channel 13!

[Josh in California]

America has become a land of intellectual free-loaders. People in this country are happy to consume the fruits of scientific labor, but they loathe science.

I propose that an alternate weather forecast be offered, completely free of the taint of metric units, and I do mean *completely* free. That means that the alternate weather forecast must rely on climate measurements and modeling conducted using *only* the old imperial units. If, as I suspect, it turns out that all professional meteorological work is done in SI units....well, the alternate forecast could advise viewers to look out their window.