Hurricane forecasts for both Helene and Milton were highly accurate, with meteorologists predicting the path of the storms with remarkable precision. However, despite their success, meteorologists have faced unprecedented skepticism and hostility, with some attributing this to political tension, climate denial, and the spread of misinformation on social media. Social media users have falsely accused meteorologists of steering hurricanes, leading to personal attacks and threats of violence. This wave of opposition has affected meteorologists’ ability to effectively forecast the weather and has taken an emotional toll on them.
Despite the challenges they face, meteorologists have made significant advancements in hurricane forecasting over the past 50 years, with forecast cones becoming more accurate and track errors decreasing. The National Hurricane Center’s forecasts have shown improved alignment with reality, with track errors decreasing significantly since the 1970s. The accuracy of recent storm forecasts, such as Hurricane Milton, has been praised as one of the best in the center’s history. Despite the progress made in hurricane forecasting, meteorologists continue to face skepticism and hostility, which hinders their ability to effectively communicate important information to the public.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com