That, to me, is the fun of forecasting....hedging when to over/under cut guidance. No one with a true passion for weather vomits model output in any event of relevance.
There are also times when the models are overzealous...again, forecaster needs to blend meteorological breadth of perspective/experience with foundational knowledge to synthesize a superior forecast...machines can not do that.
Models struggle in extreme scenarios and don't always adequately account for all meteorological phenomena...its like during winter, when models will print out cirrus over the Berkshires with a 970mb tempest just inside of the benchmark. Its incumbent on the forecaster to account for mid level features. Same deal here...intensity guidance can not entirely resolve what is beginning to happen and what will transpire over the course of the next 36-48 hours. The forecaster needs to.
The key to my forecast is that I don't think this has much time to complete an ERC, but even if it does, we will just trade some wind impact for more surge. This one will rank up there.
Funny, Michael was one of the big five (along with Katrina, Andrew, Camille and Labor day '35) that I referenced in my forecast for cat 4-5 landfall yesteday.
Exactly right. I called for it yesterday, but someone like me can do that because no once cares what I do and the lives of thousands don't depend on it. I totally get why the NHC plays it the way that they do.
I think that is the key to the intensity forecast...JMHO, but I feel the only way that time is much of an impediment is if the core is severely disrupted by higher terrain over Cuba, which as of now is unlikely.
All the reduced time frame does is limit chances to complete an ERC. This is why the majority of the most intense US landfalls are not long tracking CV storms....wild card being the degree of interaction with higher terrain over Cuba.