Tropical Weather

National Hurricane Center- Update on Products & Services for 2013

• New use Tropical Cyclone Update, use of tropical cyclone watch/warnings for post-tropical cyclones, planned extension of time period covered by Tropical Weather Outlook, Audio Podcasts available when the media pool is activated, Tropical Cyclone forecast cone size reduced, etc...




• Extension of Experimental Danger Graphic and Satellite Rainfall

A User’s Guide to Hurricane Products - Updated April 2013

National Hurricane Center Product Description Document

Text Product Descriptions

Public Advisory, Forecast Advisories, Forecast Discussion, Tropical Outlook, Tropical Weather Reports, etc...

Graphical Product Description

Track Forecast Cone,Surface Wind Field, Maximum 1-Minute Wind Speed Probability, Surface Wind Speed Probabilities, Cumulative Wind History,Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook,Storm Surge Probabilities & Storm Surge Probabilities

HURRICANE - maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

TROPICAL STORM - a strong area of low pressure associated with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph. It is at this point a tropical cyclone gets a name.
 

TROPICAL DEPRESSION - an organized area of low pressure where sustained surface winds are 38 mph or less.
 

HURRICANE WATCH - an announcement that hurricane conditions are possible within the specified area issued by the National Hurricane Center. Because outside preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, watches are issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
 

HURRICANE WARNING - an announcement that hurricane conditions are expected within the specified area issued by the National Hurricane Center. Because outside preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
 

TROPICAL STORM WATCH - an announcement that tropical-storm conditions are possible within the specified area issued by the National Hurricane Center. Because outside preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, watches are issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
 

TROPICAL STORM WARNING -  an announcement that tropical-storm conditions are expected within the specified area issued by the National Hurricane Center. Because outside preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office.
 

TROPICAL CYCLONE IMPACTS - Graphical Hurricane Local Statement

BE PREPARED:

Local Tropical Weather Briefing Page

Archive of Hurricane Season - NHC

Climatology - Tropical Cyclones

El Nino/La Nina Current Conditions & Discussion

FAQs about Hurricanes

Glossary: Tropical Terms

Historical Hurricane Tracks - interactive database

Hurricane Awareness

Hurricane Flooding: A Deadly Inland Danger

Hurricane Outlook

Hurricanes & the Oil Spill - factsheet

National Data Buoy Center

Natural Hazard Statistics

National Hurricane Awareness Week

Rip Currents

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Sea Surface Temperature Analysis

Tropical Cyclones - pdf brochure - updated April 2013

Western Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart

Local Definitions / Preparedness Page