Local Orlando Met

[Downdraft]

A local met here in Orlando on Channel 6 just showed a graphic for TD 3's path. He forecasted 65mph winds prior to landfall. No surprise there he's following the NHC guidance. However, he goes on to say "that's a category one hurricane!" Where do they get these people?

[HollynLA]

Look out, if it gets to 85mph, it's a cat 4! LOL, University of Pheonix?

[jkt21787]

This probably sounds like a dumb question to a lot of you guys, but keep in mind I live well far away from the coast, in Memphis. I've been reading all these posts on how the local mets along the coasts in several cities are sticking with the NHC on everything.

Do the local mets usually give/show their own forecasts that don't necessarily follow the NHC track/intensity? Here in Memphis whenever there is a tropical system the local mets ALWAYS show the NHC track and its intensity and completely base that on the forecast and if there could be any impact on our weather. Every once in a while the met might put in his/her own opinion, but the track shown is always NHC's.

Again I may not get a good grasp on this, but why shouldn't they follow NHC? They are the official source. Just say on-air it could change its track (they should be showing the cone anyway) or have a different intensity if the models indicate it.

But, saying a 65 mph system is a cane is VERY wrong, I would assume this person isn't the best and would likely be called a "weather reader" than a meteorologist.

[Downdraft]

I don't know on any local met's in the Orlando area with the exception of Tom Terry during Charlie that would oppose the NHC. I guess it's a case of not biting the hand that feeds you or CYA if something goes wrong with your forecast. That being said certainly some met's with stature have openly opposed the NHC's thinking. The Weather Channel's John Hope comes to mind, (Lord rest his soul.) Steve Lyon's might as well still be working at the NHC for all the original thought in his on camera work. Bob Sheets working as an analyst now is another not afraid to speak his mind. I'm sure there are others too.

[CentralFlGal]

A local met here in Orlando on Channel 6 just showed a graphic for TD 3's path. He forecasted 65mph winds prior to landfall. No surprise there he's following the NHC guidance. However, he goes on to say "that's a category one hurricane!" Where do they get these people?

Good thing they weren't using the first Home Depot 2005 hurricane guide, 65mph would be getting close to a cat 5

[jimvb]

The idea that 65 mph is a hurricane probably comes from 65 KNOTS being a hurricane. And really, that's what it is. 65 knots, not 74 mph. It's easy to make an error like that, the same as I made one of 100 mph being Category 3 on another thread.

[dhweather]

:sprinkler: Look out, if it gets to 85mph, it's a cat 4! LOL, University of Pheonix?

OK, that made me laugh out loud!!

[jlauderdal]

:sprinkler: Look out, if it gets to 85mph, it's a cat 4! LOL, University of Pheonix?

Georgre Bush went to Yale and his handling of the english language is far from respectable.

[Brent]

Do the local mets usually give/show their own forecasts that don't necessarily follow the NHC track/intensity? Here in Memphis whenever there is a tropical system the local mets ALWAYS show the NHC track and its intensity and completely base that on the forecast and if there could be any impact on our weather. Every once in a while the met might put in his/her own opinion, but the track shown is always NHC's.

Again I may not get a good grasp on this, but why shouldn't they follow NHC? They are the official source. Just say on-air it could change its track (they should be showing the cone anyway) or have a different intensity if the models indicate it.

I've never seen the stations down here go against the NHC(granted I'm inland, but they still closely watch the tropics since I'm only a few hours from where Ivan and Arlene hit.)