When was the last time you used 936-1212?
Pittsburgh:The number dates back to the days when phone numbers began with a prefix. In this case, WE6-1212 stood for "Weather." It has been a service of Verizon, nee Bell Atlantic, nee Bell of Pennsylvania for at least four decades. In fact, before deregulation in 1983, the FCC required phone companies to provide such a service. But come Wednesday, October 1, the service will be gone in Pittsburgh ad a few other Pennsylvania regions. Verizon has the service under review in other states.
Call it a sign of the times, or call it a shame, but people aren't calling the number like they used to. Most people have the information they need - sometimes more than what they need - right at their finger tips. The internet, cell phones, PDAs and 24-hour TV channels dedicated to traffic and weather make the old phone line a relic. Cost is an apparent factor too. Verizon uses a separate service to update the forecast a few times a day. Not only is it costly, but apparently another part of the service which has dwindled over the years is the frequency the report was updated.
Just because one number is going away, doesn't mean you won't be able to get the weather by phone. The National Weather Service in Moon Township operates a phone line where you can get a more detailed forecast. 412-262-2170. Perhaps not so easy to remember, but you'll get a weeklong forecast and you can more than likely get a live meteorologist if you hit the right button.
Readers’ Forum
Even though I don’t live in “da Burgh” anymore, I still called the 412-WE6-1212 number once in a while for old times sake to see what the weather is like back home. Shame that it is going away.
Dave - September 28, 2008 at 7:48 pm