JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The National Hurricane Center in Miami is making changes to forecast products and will be issuing new ones for the first time to help warn the public of life-threatening conditions.
Among the new products issued will be a storm surge Inundation map. This experimental product provides valuable new information on the storm surge hazard associated with tropical cyclones, by highlighting geographical areas where inundation from storm surge could occur and the height above ground that the water could reach.
The map depicts inundation levels that have a 10 percent chance of being exceeded, and can be thought of as representing a reasonable worst-case scenario for any individual location.
Recommended Videos
The first map will usually be issued at the same time as the initial hurricane watch or, in some cases, with a tropical storm watch. The map is based on the latest forecast track and intensity for the tropical cyclone, and takes into account likely forecast errors. The map is subject to change every six hours in association with each new NHC full advisory.
Other revisions will include a smaller forecast "cone of uncertainty", the elimination of the intensification forecast as well as enhancing the Tropical Weather Outlook product that highlights possible areas of development.
You can read the entire press release and the details of the changes listed above here.
Hurricane season begins June 1.