Why are there Two Hurricane Models, the European Model and the American Model when physics and statistics are the same everywhere?

Question

Why are there Two Hurricane Models, the European Model and the American Model when physics and statistics are the same everywhere?

In: 293

Answer 1

Ex-meterology student here, the different models “weight” atmospheric data in different ways, which causes different outcomes.

For example, if the Euro model weighs a low pressure developing deeper, that would impact the direction of a hurricane may travel. If another model says the low pressure won’t develop that much, then the hurricane goes somewhere else. Usually, the models will get in agreement the closer to the forecast time happens, which is why an official Hurricane warning only happens like, 36 hours out.