#9346 Postby Andrew92 » Thu Oct 06, 2016 7:20 pm
I haven't said anything on this forum about Matthew. However, I have read and studied a lot, and have my own take.
This storm has by and large gone pretty close to its projected path. The big question though is what the effects will look like in Florida, depending on its track? Well, looking at the latest position relative to where Matthew was three hours ago when this cone was released, it is pretty close to where it should be. It might be about 0.1 degrees east or so, but that may partly be a function of a wobble. The general trend according to radar is clearly northwest.
Now, there is some hope of perhaps no landfall at all. Then again, I almost wonder if that just means worse conditions further north, depending on how close Matthew passes. In that sense, no landfall at all but a close grazes within 50 miles or less scares me just as much as an actual landfall. Following this track and the current trends, I think Matthew will at least be close enough to produce hurricane force winds, even on the weak side. Therefore, everyone should be safe and secure now for the main event. Like others have posted, I would love to see this pass farther offshore. However, with still the reliable models and the center of the cone as close as they are, I am just not sure it will work out that way.
Intensity? I can't tell if it's weakening, intensifying, or holding steady. It seems to be in a weird eyewall replacement cycle, which would indicate weakening. Yet at other times, it seems the inner eyewall is still intact, or the outer eyewall is contracting at a fast clip. It is about to pass over the Gulf Stream, which might allow a bit further intensification if it is organized well enough. But I am thinking probably not a lot more than what it is right now. Hopefully it weakens better still, but everyone in the potential path should be ready for at least 150 mph winds, just in case it is that strong and it does make landfall. It sounds like a fair amount of people are ready, which encourages me.
Good luck to all in the path! Hoping it isn't as close to shore tomorrow as I think it will get, or onshore.
-Andrew92
EDITED due to typos. I blame auto-correct!
Last edited by
Andrew92 on Thu Oct 06, 2016 7:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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