New NHC Products - A Summary

With hurricane season just around  the corner, I thought I would take a minute and summarize the the new National Hurricane Center products which will be implemented for the 2013 season. The names for the 2013 Atlantic season are also included herein.

Tropical Cyclone Update
The TCU will be now issued to announce significant changes in storm intelligence during period between regularly scheduled advisories. The TCU will also provide a flow of information regarding storm characteristics such as the location of the center of the storm during periods when watches and warnings are in effect.

Advisories, Watches and Warnings for Post-Tropical Systems
Advisories, Watches and Warnings will now be used to provide information on storms even if they become post-tropical in nature. This will allow for the continuity of information provided to the public as well as continuity in product development between the National Hurricane Center and local National Weather Service Forecast Offices.

Hurricane Watches and Warnings
Watches and Warnings will be issued 36 hours and 48 hours respectively in advance of the forecast arrival of hurricane force winds (74 MPH) and will now include post-tropical systems.

Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings
Watches and Warnings will be issued 36 hours and 48 hours respectively in advance of the forecast arrival of tropical storm force winds (39 MPH) and will also now include post-tropical systems.

Comment: This change is a positive approach to ensuring that the threats and hazards associated with tropical systems are continuous and provided in a way in which emergency managers and the public are accustomed to receiving them. 

Tropical Weather Outlook
The Tropical Weather Outlook (TWO) will be extended from 48 hours to five (5) days, pending completion of technical issues associated with this. NOAA expects to begin the five day TWO sometime during July or August. See here for more details.

Audio Podcasts
Podcasts will be available upon activation of the media pool which generally occurs on the issuance of a Hurricane Watch.

Storm Surge Products
Probabilistic Storm Surge products will be available when a Hurricane Watch or Warnings has been issued for any part of the U.S. coast.

2013 Atlantic Storm Names 
Andrea, Barry, Chantal
Dorian, Erin, Fernand
Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid
Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo
Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo
Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya
Van, Wendy

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Steven Kuhr
Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History
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