Sometimes IR doesn't tell the story. Clearly the NHC was right on the Cat 2 upgrade per recon
Their forecasts have been top notch this year and I have little reason to believe their forecast will be too far from reality.
The timing is everything for an east coast special. The storm has to be far enough N&E to feel the trough but not get pushed OTS by it and it can't get trapped by the ridge either.
I would be surprised if the Euro doesn't correct west a tad. Think the 18z run overdid the east track and most of the eastward models went back west again.