With storms of this magnitude, don't they begin to overpower existing weather conditions, troughs, etc? Katrina was expected to go in around Panama City initially, IIRC, and kept moving west in spite of all predictions. Just curious about your opinion on the likelihood of something similar happening with Wilma.
Storms can "make their own weather" but that's more likely when the steering currents are weak. I don't think that's the case here, given the radical right turn and acceleration that the models are predicting. I try to avoid forecasts. I like extrapolations, much safer.
Coupla things...
One, if my math is correct, this beast has gone from tropical styorm to Cat-5 record holder in less than 24 hours, yes?
Two, looking at the projected path, it appears that Wilma included, every front inch of the Gulf Coast has gotten hit or will get hit this year with the exception of from Houston SW to the US/Mexico border. I guess we know where Alpha can be expected to make landfall?