ThetaE wrote:In some ways, I think a "dodged bullet" like what the 18z GFS shows could prove more worrisome overall in future years. To us board members, who have a pretty good understanding of how tropical cyclones work, we recognize that the exact landfall of such systems comes down to very small intricacies in the storm that are hard to predict. To the general public, however, who likely don't know of these things, such a miss will make the storm seem like "no big deal" after all. And then, when a storm this dangerous eventually threatens the US again (as it will undoubtedly happen), this storm will come to mind of many, and what's to say those people won't just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, Matthew was a category 4, and he wasn't a big deal...." Perhaps I'm over-exaggerating the response on the public's side some, but as I've read through the forum today, I've seen countless signs that many people are unaware or underestimating the danger Matthew poses, and if their beliefs are confirmed when they're likely taking precautions, I don't think they'll be so cautious the next time, and that could prove to be a big problem.
EDIT: And even still, I don't think impacts will be that reduced if Matthew stays off the coast. If they are, however, then this could become a "boy who cried wolf" situation.
Yeah, I've been thinking about this very scenario. Unfortunately, the only remedy for such people may be for a future hurricane to hit their area as forecast.