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40/70 Benchmark

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  1. It was because of the pattern, not the time of year. Rest assured, if didn't have a trough ampligying down to the baja out west, then you would have experienced a cold March. It was enough for a good portion of New England, but not for most.
  2. Both of those seasons are members of my polar analog composite that I made back in August. https://easternmassweather.blogspot.com/2024/08/preliminary-analysis-of-polar-domain.html Eastern Mass Weather Preliminary Polar Analogs for Winter 2024-2025 1970 1975 1999 2007 2016 2022
  3. Guy I coordinate with expects about another 40 worth of ACE.
  4. They were pretty bad with Helene...as was all guidnace.
  5. Hogwash IMO. You got heavy snow, it would have stacked.
  6. Hurricane Milton Verification: Devil is in the Details of a Flawed Forecast Style of Communication is Every Bit as Crucial as the Forecast Forecast versus Reality The Eastern Mass Weather Final Call for Hurricane Milton was not egregiously poor from a technical standpoint, as the predicated landfall locale of Madeira Beach was a mere 59 miles from Milton's Siesta Key rendezvous with the state of Florida. The storm did indeed reach that secondary peak of 165mph as forecast, but it was at 5pm Tuesday instead of 11pm. The storm also made landfall 7.5 hours sooner and slightly weaker than forecast, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and a minimum central pressure of 954 mb at 830pm on Wednesday evening. This compared to the forecast of 130 mph with a 946 mb minimum central pressure at 4am Thursday. While notable, these are certainly within a reasonable margin for error considering the challenges that exist with respect to even contemporary tropical forecasting. However, the most glaring error was not with respect to the forecast itself, but rather the manner in which it was conveyed. Social Media has Eroded the Value of Forecasts Social media has granted anyone instant access to everyone, which has clouded intentions and introduced ulterior motives into play due to the need to distinguish oneself from the masses in vying for the attention of the masses. The end result is that the manner and style of communication used to convey crucial information is altered in an effort to be the first to report it and to attract the most attention in doing so. This compromises the product because the primary emphasis is no longer placed solely on communicating an accurate forecast in a responsible manner due to these competing interests. This issue exacerbates the challenge that any passionate forecaster faces in trying to harness said passion for extreme weather in an effort to issue the most objective and this accurate forecast possible. When reframed properly failed forecasts represent an opportunity for crucial reflection. The Eastern Mass Weather forecast for Hurricane Milton highlighted the anticipated impact on a specific locale, and in so doing, used the word "catastrophic" to characterize the degree of surge for the densely populated Tampa Bay area. In hindsight, this should not have headlined the forecast. Instead, there should have been a more nuanced approach utilized in an effort to maintain an adequate balance between conveying the threat level and the need to also communicate the degree of inherent uncertainty. Future efforts need to remain more mindful of this in an effort to distinguish from the mass, rampant sensationalism that is fostered by irresponsible individuals and entities alike on social media. Why the Forecast Failed The reason that 100% of any forecaster's energy needs to be allocated towards the issuance of the best forecast possible is simply because it is such a difficult enough endeavor when there are no ulterior motives at play and the forecast is being communicated in the most measured, responsible manner possible. This is especially true with respect to forecasting tropical systems, as the most subtle of details can have such large implications on an outcome that has such a profound impacts on the lives of so many. This was very evident with Hurricane Milton, as it was explicitly expressed in the Final Call that the precise timing of the right, or easterly turn relative to landfall would be crucial as to whether or not the Tampa Bay areas received the catastrophic surge. Ultimately, the theory that the lopsided circulation would lead to a slightly later recurve was incorrect, which is why the "catastrophic" surge verified as a mere 2.46' at 7:30am EDT this morning. Precisely why this turn to the east was not in fact delayed may her be known for certain. However, the fact that Milton weakened slightly more than anticipated may have played a role since more intense systems, with higher cloud tops are often steered more to the north by incoming troughs. The truth is that the forecast in vacuum was not of poor quality, however, the manner in which is was conveyed was of poor quality and that needs to be better moving forward. More attention needs to be played on communicating uncertainty as opposed to tacitly placing less emphasis on uncertainty in an effort to feed the social media driven ego that has claimed so many high quality forecasters. FINAL GRADE: C-
  7. Here is my reflection on a forecast gone a bit awry.....I feel my degree of error in the forecast was palatable, but I am not happy with how I opted to sensationalize the title...more emphasis should have been placed on the level of uncertainty. https://easternmassweather.blogspot.com/2024/10/hurricane-milton-verification-devil-is.html Grade: C-
  8. I'd roll the dice with that set up and a slightly less amplifed RNA in the mean....at least where I am.
  9. You keep saying the March pattern was too late and you are patently incorrect. That huge storm was the first week of the month. That pattern's shortcomings had nothing to do with the calendar.
  10. Early November through like Feb 10..yes.
  11. After tomorrow we shed the Morch sun angle, then 3 more weeks until solar min.
  12. I'll do the post mortem tomorrow...I'm pretty disappointed with that forecast.
  13. I'm wating for @bluewaveto snip that author's balls off by illustrating how the NAO has given the SE ridge a lapse dance since 2015.
  14. I'm guessing this article doesn't have a happy ending for NE winer enthusiasts.
  15. Finally updated temp/precip composites yesterday...just in time for me to pivot to winter after Milton. https://psl.noaa.gov/data/usclimdivs/ Outlook season....
  16. What was Katrina? Simply for context...not a comparison.
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