Post Here What Local Mets Are Saying About Frances...

[Hurricane Cheese]

Hey, I just thought it might be convienent to start a topic about what local mets are saying in regards to Frances all along the eastern seaboard, and even the gulf coast.

I remember reading when Hurricane Charley was still far out to sea in the Carribean, that a lot of mets where very concerned about him (both in regards to his track and strong intensity), and it turned out that their concerns were obviously quite valid.

I know I read that Tom Terry from Channel 9 along the Space Coast was fairly concerned about Frances. I'm curious as to hear what all the other Mets are saying about this potential monster storm.

So feel free to post what your local met says starting with the 11 pm newscast!

[cajungal]

New Orleans News Bob Breck is saying WNW, then bend back to the west. Florida seems to be in the bullseye. But, front is coming down next week and with the dip in the jetstream, should block it from coming in the gulf.

My opinion is that if it hits south Florida and crosses like Andrew, it would have no where else to go but Gulf. Bob Breck is convinced Gulf Coast is safe.

[HouTXmetro]

Here in Houston they consensus is it will curve out to sea. However they are now hinting the East Coast may not be out of the woods.

[LaBreeze]

Local mets here have mentioned Frances, but are not overly concerned. They seem to be counting on the front coming in and saving the Gulf Coast. Not very concerned at all it seems and I suppose they would know best. Of course, my personal opinion is always, "Never turn your back to the water."

[palmettogal]

JIM NAILED HUGO'S PATH CORRECTLY. I FIND HIS TAKE INTERESTING ON HURRICANES.

****** Tropical Weather Discussion ******

Updated at 5:10 p.m., Thursday, August 26, 2004

HURRICANE FRANCES:

.....At 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Hurricane Frances was located at latitude 13.7 N, longitude 46.4 W or about 1005 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It was moving west-northwest at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.

.....Frances has strengthened rapidly during the day. It is now a category 1 hurricane and further strengthening is expected. It could become a category 2 hurricane by tomorrow. Further strengthening into a major hurricane is possible this weekend.

.....The computer models are in more agreement as what this hurricane may do over the next 3 to 5 days. It will continue to move toward the west-northwest for the next 2 to 3 days.

.....However, a ridge of high pressure will build and extend from the Azores to Bermuda to the east coast of the U.S. This should turn the hurricane more to the west in the 3 to 5 day range. It should pass north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

.....This will be watched closely as it could affect the Bahamas and the Southeast by the end of next week.

[ericinmia]

In Miami:

WSVN: "Bill Kamal"
Great intesification probable. Kept reiterating that storm was VERY far away, about 1.5 to 2 weeks. Strangely didn't explain anything about its track other than showing the official track.


WPLG: "Don Noe"
Good looking storm, going to head north westerly, and then turning wnw to west on Monday... Showed their version of the track... which was a little more northly than that of NHC?

That is about it for now...

-Eric

[TS Zack]

Bob Breck said the trough over the Southeast in about 3 or 4 days will take the system North. I do not see that happening that trough will be too quick to move out.

[Derek Ortt]

really is insignificant what the local mets say as they spend the vast majority of their time focusing on their local area. It would be the same as me giving a winter storm forecast

[LaBreeze]

Exactly Derek. Big story here is the possiblity of the frontal boundary getting close to us and maybe bringing us some drier air and cooler temps. Ahhh! Am looking forward to it.

[Ixolib]

New Orleans News Bob Breck is saying WNW, then bend back to the west. Florida seems to be in the bullseye. But, front is coming down next week and with the dip in the jetstream, should block it from coming in the gulf.

My opinion is that if it hits south Florida and crosses like Andrew, it would have no where else to go but Gulf. Bob Breck is convinced Gulf Coast is safe.

Yeah... but what would "Nash" say??

[SeaBrz_FL]

From TOM TERRY tonight (11:20 PM) WFTV Orlando:

"There is nothing in the way ... troughs, highs, etc... stopping Frances. Too early to tell her exact destination, but the Hurricane Center is getting concerned. She should be a Cat 3 on Tuesday."

[Karebear]

Here in Maryland, WBAL, just said moving WNW, but to soon to say yet where it will go. Still ten days out. Will know hopefully by Labor Day, but
could impact MD. They are watching it very closely.
I learned from Isabel. I have plenty of batteries, radio,etc... all in a kit ready for use. Just need to restock the water. May sound crazy, but by next week if they keep saying we are watching it
real closely there will be no water.

[WeatherNole]

really is insignificant what the local mets say as they spend the vast majority of their time focusing on their local area. It would be the same as me giving a winter storm forecast

No offense Derek, but that just simply isn't true for many television mets, including myself. Sure, I spend a lot of time deriving my local forecast - mostly in the afternoon when I first get to work. To be honest, it's not all that difficult forecasting in the southeast in the summertime, but I still devote the needed time to do it. However, I also spend a fair amount of time at home in the mornings and at work in the evenings looking over tropical analyses and forecast products. I do this so that I can interject some informed opinions during my weathercasts and not just regurgitate the public advisory from NHC. I'd like to think that my opinions matter to my viewers. That's what this thread is about. What are the local tv mets (and non-mets ) saying?

We don't have enough air time to get into a lengthy discussion on all the possibilities of track and intensity, and why they are different. (That's what this place is good for ). Nonetheless, I'd hope that our viewers find our thoughts to be "significant".

Mike

--

[LaBreeze]

Looking forward to your posts WeatherNole.

[HurricaneJim]

Ricjmond CH 12 made mention of it, showed the current sat. Said "Maybe" could effect east coast.

Tone of the delivery was more like, "Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on it. Just go back to your Ding Dongs and Krispy Creme and someone will come and scratch your large when it's time to shift your bulk to a storm shelter. There, there baby, don't worry just keep right on being an oblivious idiot with sugar on top."

[Hurricane Cheese]

Certainly sounds like some interesting local perspectives tonight. It will certainly be interesting to say the least about what the local mets continue to say about this potentially powerful hurricane and its possible impact on the US.

Keep us all posted about what your local mets continue to say!

[HeatherAKC]

From NBC-6 Miami this morning. Don't know the forecaster as I was listening to the TV broadcast on the radio.

The met said we should keep our eyes on Frances but that he expects a trough to save South Florida once again.

OK.

[charleston_hugo_veteran]

WCSC:
We will have to watch this one very, very carefully!

[Yankeegirl]

I really dont pay attention to the local mets, they cant seem to get the weather right here for tomorrow, so I really dont have much faith in them.. lol... When they give us a 0% chance of rain it pours all day... and when we have a 100% chance of rain, it doesnt... Go Figure... Time will tell... My thoughts are when they say 30 % chance of rain, its a 70% chance its gonna rain... and that usally works...

[Derek Ortt]

Weathenole,

what I meant was that the local mets have to spend a fair amount of time as well on their local regional forecasts (except Maybe Bryan Norcrosee of Mia as he specializes more in just the tropics and usually other mets come on and do the local forecasts).

Maybe I'm a bit biased since I spend all of my working hours focuses solely on the tropics