That track is unbelievable. Rove must have been testing his weather machine.
Seriously though - that is really hard to imagine it would do a 180 like that!
“Good Morning FIJI! Now that the hurricane has passed by to the south and is heading out to sea - lets check in with Susi and what is on the school lunch menus today!”
And realize that in the Southern hemisphere on that track, the south side of the eye has the worst conditions.
In 94 we were trying to make the cut between 2 typhoons in westpac as part of an exercise with the Japanese and S. Koreans. Both of the typhoons decided to head for middle ground with us in the middle. Both had to make ~a 90* change from track to do it.
Not a good scenario for anyone. Lost radar masts, sonar domes, helo blades, water of the carrier bow...I had a blast...most everyone else got seasick. XO was very displeased with the chipper LT :)