This was on the Russian links yesterday, but apparently they don't archive. About time someone put a halt to a profession that is congratulated for being right 1/2 the time.
Pakistani Daily Time Russian weathermen face fine over forecast
Russian weathermen who get their predictions wrong could face stiff fines if one government minister has his way. Repeat offenders could even be sent to jail if Emergency Minister Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu gets his way.
The minister was speaking in Irkutsk, which is on flood alert. He said he wanted weathermen to pay the price if they got forecasts wrong, because that led to emergency services being needlessly called out. ?If there is a disaster we send rescuers and equipment and spend money. But weathermen hold no responsibility - and do not think about having to defend the population.?
Weathermen in Irkutsk have said the risk of flooding should subside soon.
But according to Interfax, Shoigu ?promised to squeeze compensation out of the weather forecasters if their forecasts proved wrong?. ?Ananova