
Post by
YourMomSA | 2020-07-14 | 14:25:31
Regarding the crushing of spirits as approaching opportunities fade... I think that has something to do with the nature of the GFS model. Forecasts further into the future are modeled with wider increments. If a large system is in a nice spot with a 12-hour duration, it can produce a faster run projection than if it moves from less ideal locations into and out of that spot over time. As the forecast becomes more current, the model includes more realistic movement of that system, which can become less optimistic. I'm not sure if I'm right or not, but that's my theory. Particularly when the predicted times table is showing a sudden great time that only lasts for a few hours... If it's a wide window where a whole day looks good, then this situation is less likely to be crushed.
I suppose it can also work out the other way... If you have to navigate a light patch at the start or finish, increased granularity of the forecast may help to establish faster routes through the quagmire. But... if a route has much of this in it, then it probably isn't going to be a great route anyway.
In other words, I think the "predicted times" table is prone to more extremes (both good and bad) further out, and then settles toward mean as it becomes current.