The goal of hurricane preparedness week is to inform the public about
hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be utilized when
you take action. This information can be used to save lives at work,
home, while on the Road, or on the water. Each day of hurricane
preparedness week features a unique topic relevant to education and
awareness. Hurricane season is generally considered to be from June
1st until November 30th for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of
Mexico.
Today we will focus on the forecast process of issuing watches,
warnings, and statements. The first step in the forecast process
is to acquire quality observational data. The National Weather
Service (nws) and NHC (national hurricane center) have many tools
to monitor tropical systems over the vast oceans. Satellites are the
main tool, although buoys and ship reports provide valuable surface
data. Buoys are observational platforms that float on the oceans
surface, and measure wave height, water and air temperatures, and
wind speed and direction. As the storms move closer to land,
observations from reconnaissance aircraft, radiosondes, and automated
surface observing systems (asos) positioned along the coast are also
used.
All the observational data is ingested into supercomputers that
perform millions of calculations to generate predictions of
hurricane movement and intensity. The model output is used as
guidance during the forecast coordination process. The local weather
forecast office (wfo) will have internal coordination calls with the
National Hurricane Center (nhc). Once the wfo’s and the NHC agree on
a course of action, then the NHC will issue the appropriate watches
and warnings for the affected coastal areas.
WFO Birmingham will also issue several different products when
tropical storm or hurricane force winds are expected across central
Alabama. These products include…
Inland tropical storm/hurricane watches (issued 36 hours in advance
of tropical storm/hurricane force winds)….and inland tropical
storm/hurricane warnings (issued 24 hours in advance of tropical
storm/hurricane force winds). Both of these products will be issued
with the bhmnpwbmx.
A hurricane local statement (hls). This product is designed to inform
media, local decision makers, and the public of the storms anticipated
effects on the local area…as well as current watches and warnings in
place.
What can you do…
When you hear of a tropical storm or Hurricane Watch or warning,
pay special attention to its expected arrival time and local
impacts, such as high winds and flooding.
Monitor NOAA Weather Radio and media for the latest storm information.
Hurricane preparedness week continues on Friday with information on
preparedness.
To get specific storm information with maps, visit these web sites.
National Hurricane Center
www.NHC.NOAA.Gov
National Weather Service southern region
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/srh/tropicalwx/tropical.Php
National Weather Service Birmingham, Alabama
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/bmx
Source: NOAA.gov
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