As we continue to track Hurricane Matthew, Tropical Storm
Nicole and any other weather event that manifests, it helps to understand the roles
of the various organizations behind the forecasts and weather data that we rely
upon.
The purpose of the
National Hurricane Center (NHC) is to save lives, mitigate property
loss, and improve economic efficiency by issuing the best watches, warnings,
forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather events and by increasing
understanding of these hazards. When
tropical
storm or hurricane
conditions are expected within 48 hours, the NHC issues watches and
warnings providing updated data, forecasts and imagery that tracks the weather
event’s movement throughout the affected area.
In order to provide the information to fulfill its purpose, the
NHC relies on the collaboration of multiple units and subunits.
The Hurricane
Specialist Unit (HSU) is the watchdog of the operation keeping a close eye on
tropical cyclones and areas of disturbances.
The HSU issues coastal tropical cyclone watches and warnings for
the United States and its Caribbean territories. The HSU also provides preparedness training
and exaction to emergency managers and representatives.
The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) generates
analyses and forecasts over the tropical and subtropical eastern North and
South Pacific and the North Atlantic basins year-round. The TAFB supports the
HSU by providing tropical cyclone position and intensity estimates. The TAFB also provides satellite-based
rainfall estimates for the international community.
The Technology & Science Branch (TSB) holds a pivotal
role in the creation and further development of the Automated Tropical Cyclone
Forecasting (ATCF) system, which is used to incorporate various data and model
outputs and to generate tropical cyclone forecasts. In addition, TSB maintains
a number of statistical and dynamical models used in predicting both tropical
cyclone behavior and associated weather conditions.
The Storm Surge Unit, which is part of the Technology
& Science Branch, forecasts the abnormal rise in sea level accompanying
tropical cyclones using the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes
(SLOSH) computer model. The Storm Surge Unit prepares storm surge atlases for
use by emergency managers in developing evacuation procedures for coastal
areas.
The Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All
Hurricanes (CARCAH) unit is a remote operating location of the 53rd Weather
Reconnaissance Squadron (Hurricane Hunters). CARCAH's mission is to coordinate
all tropical cyclone operational reconnaissance in accordance with the National
Hurricane Operations Plan. CARCAH also play an integral role in gathering
intelligence associated with winter events in support of the National Winter
Storms Operations Plan. CARCAH carries
out missions in advance of the high-impact weather events forecasted to affect
the U.S.
The Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT), comprised of emergency
managers and NWS meteorologists and hydrologists, is tasked with the quick,
accurate dissemination of information among the NHC, the National Weather
Service (NOAA/NWS), and the emergency management community. These
communications address the progress and threat level of storms with affected Federal,
state, and local officials by video and/or teleconferences with the NHC, FEMA
and other Federal agencies, state Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), Weather
Prediction Center (WPC), Storm Prediction Center (SPC), and River Forecast
Centers (RFCs).
The news updates, radar data, and multi-day forecasts that
forewarn target areas allowing time for preparations, evacuations and risk
management, are the result of the National Hurricane Center’s assembly line of
information.
Posted by Anaysa Gallardo Stutzman
