Hurricane Projections based on advertiser needs?

Some of the local media here sensationalize these storms at the first opportunity and milk them for all they are worth. I guess their advertisers who make millions in plywood sales, supplies, etc expect no less. The first image is the St Pete Times projection and the 2nd image is from the National Hurricane center. Tell me they don't pander to fear and panic to manipulate people's behavior (local media outlets). Disgusting:

http://www.floridaforecast.com/accuw...ges/uhaj_2.jpg

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics...F/151553W5.gif

<font color="#000002"><font size="1">[ September 15, 2004 02:39 PM: Message edited by: G L ]</font></font>

<font color="#000002" size="1">[ September 15, 2004 02:43 PM: Message edited by: G L ]</font>

It appears to me that they both show Florida as a fairly high probability target.

Both projections are fairly similar.

If you consider several hundred miles apart for the eye and the different directions they take as "similar" you have a point. True, Florida is a "possible" landing for all the models. Why did the St Pete Times post ONLY the model that shows it hitting Florida and ending it directly in Tampa? Greed. [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img]

<font size = 7><marquee>Storm Watch Cincinnati.</marquee>

<font size = 6 color = red> The White Death is Coming!! Better get to Kroger before all the bread and milk is gone! Hardware stores report hoarding of snow shovels!</font></font>

<font color="#000002" size="1">[ September 15, 2004 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Aurora Leigh ]</font>

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Originally posted by G L:
If you consider several hundred miles apart for the eye and the different directions they take as "similar" you have a point. True, Florida is a "possible" landing for all the models. Why did the St Pete Times post ONLY the model that shows it hitting Florida and ending it directly in Tampa? Greed. [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img]

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't see that line as saying "That's where the hurricane is going to hit." Rather, I see it as saying, "This is the path it would have to take to Tampa-Saint Pete out of a wide possible range.

The model shown by the newspaper absolutely does not show it only hitting Tampa. It definitely shows a wide range the hurricane could travel. Actually, both models do.

<font color="#000002" size="1">[ September 15, 2004 04:47 PM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>

Yep, if you focus on the centerline they're different, but if you look at the outside envelope they're very similar. [img]graemlins/rain.gif[/img]

It's the center line that most people focus on. The St Pete Times shows it coming on a straight path right to Tampa Bay. The St Pete Times sucks. Must be why you defend them reason. Birds of a feather and all...

It looks like Florida is relatively safe from Jeanne. Except for more rain, of course.

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Originally posted by gae:
It looks like Florida is relatively safe from Jeanne. Except for more rain, of course.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I cannot maintain my tan if we keep having all these rainy weekends and that just isn't right. [img]graemlins/whatever.gif[/img]

Quote:

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Originally posted by LanDroid:
Yep, if you focus on the centerline they're different, but if you look at the outside envelope they're very similar. [img]graemlins/rain.gif[/img]

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Exactly. The center line means nothing, except maybe an indicator of where St. Pete lies in the scheme of everything.

Also, the chart was made by Accuweather an organization independent of the newspaper, so the general course of the hurricane was not developed by the St. Pete Times, and would have absolutely nothing to do with appeasing the advertisers of this particular newspaper.