Re: THE 2015 BEANPOT.. ain't no deflate-gate
Jeff Masters at Weather Underground, The Weather Channel, and all of the local stations are reliant on the same models, with three being the most used: 1) GFS Model (Global Forecast System, based on a 1 degree x 1 degree grid spacing, also known at the "American Model," 2) NAM(ETA) Model (North American, 0.11 degree x 0.11 degree grid spacing), and 3) ECMWF (European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts, also known as the "European Model"). The first two models are managed by NWS/NOAA (the National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). All three models are derived from satellite data and continuous runs on supercomputers. Sometimes the models do not agree, such as the ECMWF nailed the blocking high pressure system that sent Hurricane Sandy on its dog leg west, whereas failed by overestimating the snowfall in New York City about two weeks ago (it is all about pressure gradients, storm tracks, etc). But, all three models forecasted correctly the big snow dump on southern New England. The local TV and radio broadcast meteorologists who discuss the different models are the ones to trust the most, IMHO.