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FAQ: Real Time Hurricane Information

Where can I get real-time advisories for tropical cyclones?

Contributed by Chris Landsea

There are two good ways to get these. Either have the advisories sent directly to you via email or visit sites via the World Wide Web.

• Option 1: Advisories automatically sent to you WX-ATLAN was created for people who want receive, as an email, tropical bulletins originating from the US National Hurricane Center on Atlantic tropical systems. To get information as to how to sign up onto WX-ATLAN, click here.
  
• Option 2: Get the advisories via surfing the Web. The World Wide Web is a great source for real-time tropical cyclone advisories. For brevity here are some reliable http sites (provided by Gary Gray):
  • Atlantic Tropical Weather Center (Everything)
    
  • Weather Underground (Everything)
    
  • SUNY Brockport Hurricane Page (Search tool for text products)
    
  • Terrapin Associates (JAVA animated storm tracking)
    
  • Storm 2000 (News, advisories, images, etc.)
    
  • Tampa Bay Online (Local info and advisories)
    
    

Where can I get real-time tropical weather analyses ?

Contributed by Gary Gray

• HurricaneTrack.com (daily storm analyses and forecast blog)
• Atlantic Tropical Weather Center (Sfc plots, text data, imagery, etc.)
  
• Hurricane City (News and information concerning Atlantic tropical weather)
  
• The Caribbean Hurricane Page (News and info from the Caribbean)
  
• Weather Underground (Surface reports and sat pix)
  
• GRADS Tropical Page (Tropical analysis graphics)
  
• NWS Marine Fax Charts (Many charts - .TIF format)
  
• Central Florida Hurricane Center (News on current storms and conditions)
  
  

Where can I get real-time ship and buoy data?

Contributed by Gary Gray

• StormPulse.com (interactive storm tracking and buoy data)
• PSU Offshore Wx Data (Full text source of ship and buoy data)
  
• Atlantic Tropical Wx Center (Links to various ship and buoy data sources)
  

 

Where can I get real-time sea surface temperature and tide data?

Contributed by Gary Gray


Sea Surface Temperatures

• Weather Underground (Basic SST map)
  
• SSEC (Global SST image)
  
• U-Wisc SSEC (GOES SST estimate)
  

Tides

• National Ocean Service Tides Online
  

 

Where can I get real-time satellite pictures and satellite products?

Contributed by Gary Gray

• CIMSS - U of Wisconsin tropical cyclone satellite products
  
• CIRA (Another major source of general satellite imagery)
  
• NOAA GOES site (Official NOAA GOES web page)
  
• Atlantic Tropical Wx Center (Links to many sat sources, including loops)
  
• Weather Underground (Links to key satellite images)
  
• FSU Explores! (Excellent Atlantic pix, linked from other sites)
  
• UNISYS (GOES-East and West satellite imagery)
  
• Orlando Sentinel (Atlantic and Gulf sat pix)
  
• Storm 2000 (Tropical sat pix - courtesy of AccuWeather)
  
• Texas Skywarn (Several sat pix links, and two mpeg loops)
  
• UCAR (Large source of general satellite data)
  
• Nottingham (Primary source for Meteosat - Eastern Atlantic sat pix)
  
• Intellicast (Atlantic satellite images)
  
  

Where can I get real-time radar data?

Contributed by Gary Gray

• Weather Underground (Regional radar pix)
  
• Atlantic Tropical Wx Center (Some coastal radar shots)
  
• UNISYS (Coarse U.S. radar image)
  
• Storm 2000 (U.S. regional radar images - Courtesy of AccuWeather)
  
• Texas Skywarn (Several radar images, mainly Texas)
  
• Intellicast (Primary internet radar site)
  

 

Where can I get real-time hurricane aircraft reconnaissance data?

Contributed by Gary Gray

• USAF Hurricane Hunters (History, decoding info, and links to current data)
  
• Atlantic Tropical Wx Center (Links to all recon data)
  
• FUNET (Decoding info)
  
• FSU Explores! (All recon reports and information)
  

 

Where can I get real-time model forecasts of tropical cyclone motion?

Contributed by Gary Gray

• UNISYS (ETA, MesoETA, NGM, AVN, RUC, MRF, and ECMWF)
  
• COLA/IGES (RUC, ETA, AVN, and MRF)
  
• Albany (NGM, ETA, and Meso-ETA)
  
• U-Wisc (ETA, NGM, AVN, and MRF)
  
• Millennium Weather (TRANTECH model)
  
  

What computer software is available for tracking tropical cyclones?

Contributed by Tom Berg


(Note that this does not constitute an endorsement of any product.)

• Eye of the Storm
  Latest version 1.01, 1999
  Eye of the Storm is a Windows based hurricane tracking program for your Windows based personal computer (Windows 95 or later). With Eye of the Storm, you can monitor the path of Atlantic and Pacific tropical storms using an interactive 3D map. Storms and storm tracks are plotted against a three dimensional projection of the east and west coasts of the United States.
  
  • Personal Edition FREE
    
  • Advanced Edition - $21.45
  Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
  Online internet service for advisories - YES
  http://www.starstonesoftware.com/eots/
  StarstoneSoftware 100 State Road 419, Suite 280 Winter Springs, FL 32708

• EZTrack (Windows) -- A Windows-based tropical storm tracking package for the Atlantic only.
  

• JStrack (Windows/UNIX) -- JStrack is a freeware hurricane tracking program for Unix and Windows 9x/ME/NT/2k/XP. It should also run on a Mac, (feedback from Mac users requested!). Version 2.0.0 on 20 Oct 2002
  
  Key features include:

• automatic data updates via incoming e-mail (WX-ATLAN) or FTP from NHC/TPC server (a filter "reads" the NHC products and extracts the data)
• three maps, courtesy of Ron Murphy, NWS Birmingham: Overall picture, US East Coast, and US Gulf Coast + S. FL
• plots wind radii (default is for current/forecast positions only). After all, you need to know where the storm's WINDS are, not just where the eye is
• plots NHC/TPC probabilities data (via menu---see next item)
• menu associated with any past/current storm position from which you can plot/remove forecast positions, wind radii, and probabilities, view details on the storm (wind speeds, course, etc.), view the NHC/TPC products associated with that time/position, and so on.
• given user's home coordinates, 'X' plotted at that point on the map
• given user's home coordinates, JStrack can warn the user if the storm is currently within a given number (def. 60) of nautical miles, or is forecast to come within that distance (this part assumes a straight line between forecast points, and should not be considered 100% accurate!)
• ability to run user-defined commands when storm data is updated for a storm currently on the screen and/or for a new storm, and/or for situations where the storm is, or is forecast to be, within the above distance in nautical miles. This can be used to wake you up in a situation where the storm is a potential threat, and missing an advisory could put you in a dangerous situation. It has also been used by at least three web sites to do a screen capture and update a web page (for 24x7 ops).

For more info, screen pics, etc., see http://www.purl.org/net/jstrack or contact Jim Graham.

• StormTrakker -- StormTrakker is a plotter/database program for tracking Atlantic basin tropical cyclones. Among its many features are over 30 regional and detailed maps covering the tropical Atlantic basin, Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and all US mainland coastal areas in detail. TPC/NHC forecasts are supported. Databases are included for all tropical cyclones from 1900-1998 for the historical searching and plotting options. Tropical storm and hurricane force wind radii are also supported. Also provides the capability to enter the computer model forecasted positions for plotting.

• Tropical Storm Tracker (DOS) -- A DOS-based tropical storm tracking package for the Atlantic only.
  
  

• Eye of the Storm (Internet Edition) -- Eye of the Storm is a Windows based hurricane tracking program for your Windows based personal computer (Windows 95 or later). With Eye of the Storm, you can monitor the path of Atlantic and Pacific tropical storms using an interactive 3D map. Storms and storm tracks are plotted against a three dimensional projection of the east and west coasts of the United States.
  Web site for download -- http://www.starstonesoftware.com/eots/
  StarstoneSoftware 100 State Road 419, Suite 280 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Cost -- $ 19.95

• Global Tracks (Windows) -- Global Tracks contains over 10,000 historical tracks of hurricanes and typhoons, dating back as far as 1886. This can be a helpful tool in forecasting a hurricane's future track. The software automatically ingests the current hurricane and typhoon information from different hurricane agencies and plots directly onto your desktop. There is a distance calculator that will tell you the precise distance from the eye to any point on the map you choose. You can create your own color maps or use a predefined map from Global Tracks library. It also displays the closest point of approach to any selected city.
  Latest version 6.11
  Price
  
  • $35.95 for new users for a CD
  • $32.95 for new users download
  Platforms -- Windows 98 or higher 486MHZ processor and modem with internet access
  Online internet service for advisories - YES
  Web site for download -- www.extremewx.com

• Go' Canes (DOS) -- GO 'CANES is a DOS program. It was designed to be as fast and as configurable as possible. It includes eight preconfigured plotting maps (including one for the Eastern Pacific), plus two user configurable maps. It will plot single storms as well as lists of storms. There is a tag feature for building storm lists.
  Latest version 1.1, 1995
  Price - $15.00
  Platforms -- DOS
  Online internet service for advisories - NO
  
  
• Hurricane Watch 2000 -- An easy method for recording and displaying hurricane information. Storm tracks are displayed on a world view high resolution globe that can be easily zoomed to any location. Bearing, distance and ETA to your home or any geographic location can be instantly displayed.
  Latest version 1.4, 1999
  Price - $20.00
  Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
  Online internet service for advisories - YES
  
  
• HurricaneMapping.com -- HurricaneMapping.com offers the most comprehensive and direct solutions-- Live data feeds and historical storm archives in the versatile Shapefile and KML formats for display in ESRI's ArcGIS and Google Earth; real-time tracking of storms worldwide using official forecast data from the NHC, CPHC, and JTWC; advanced map layers such as wind probabilities and forecast error swaths to help you analyze the threat; illustration made quick and easy with presentation-ready symbology and labeling built into the map datasets.
  Price - KML subscription only- $150/year, Shapefile subscription only- $350/year, Combined KML and Shapefile subscriptions- $450/year
  Web site for download -- http://www.hurricanemapping.com
  

• HurrTrak -- Shareware version of most detailed tracking software available. Price listed is for latest full version, 10.0, actual price.
  Latest version 10.0, 1999
  Price - $330.00
  Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
  Online internet service for advisories - YES
  $300.00 per year
  Web site for download -- http://www.pcwp.com/
  
  
• Merlin -- MERLIN graphically displays storm track/intensity on-screen, utilizing color and b/w tracking maps. Combine this with MERLIN's neural net (artificial intelligence) and mathematical modeling (RITA) capability, to generate forecasts of future storm activity. MERLIN's advisory, history and statistics are updated automatically with each new data entry.
  Latest version 2.3c, 1999
  Price - $39.00
  Platforms -- Windows 3.1/95/98
  Online Internet service for advisories - NO
  Web site for download -- http://www.tmparker.com/merlin/
  
  
• Personal Hurricane Center --
  The Personal Hurricane Center can plot ship and buoy observations, computer model forecasts, and aircraft reconnaissance data. It also comes with an archived Atlantic database with every storm since 1851 and eastern Pacific storms since 1949. An updated release scheduled for August 2004 will also have an archive of central Pacific storms.
  The software is available for 30 free trial uses, after which you must register. The first 200 customers will get it for $15, thereafter it may be purchased for $30.
  Web site for download -- http://www.personalhurricanecenter.com
  Cost -- $ 30.00
  
  
• Storm (DOS) --
  Storm is a DOS-based program. Storm tracks can be stored in files on disk for future use. Storm data can be entered and reports printed on the storm's location by date and time. In addition, graphical tracking maps showing the storm's position and track can be generated. STORM generates hardcopy plots using an Epson or Laserjet printer or an HP Plotter. You can track to one of 47 included cities or enter the coordinates of your own city.
  Cost -- $ 25.00
  
  
• Tempest Hunter (Windows) --
  Tempest Hunter is a Tropical Storm / Hurricane Tracker and Analysis Program for Windows 3.x . Some features include:
  • Plot 1 storm in detailed observation mode or in auto mode.
  • Plot and compare 2 tropical systems.
  • Plot all tropical systems for a year.
  • Analyze past storm track to within 1 degree, wave prediction and city analysis.
  • Text plot a tropical system or an entire season.
  • Save map plots to file or printer.
  • Contains a database of over 800 tropical storms and hurricanes.
  • Add / edit new tropical system data.
  Cost -- $ 10.00
  
  
• Tracking the Eye -- View the movement of the storm on a map of the eastern United States and the Caribbean. Graph and full color printing. Track storm information including type of storm, storm coordinates, wind speed and pressure, direction and speed of travel, date and time of coordinates, damage, and more. Print your storm map. Track up to 40 storms at once. Includes data for over 750 historical storms from 1900 to 1996.
  Latest version 5.5, 1999
  Price - $24.95
  Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
  Online Internet service for advisories - YES
  $24.95 first year, $9.95 per year thereafter
  
  
• Tropical Cyclone Tracker -- Track world-wide hurricanes (Atlantic in the shareware version). It will get a wide variety of info directly from the internet. It can forecast the course quite accurately and will calculate arrival times. Comes with storm tracks back to 1886.
  Latest version 2.1, 1998
  Price - $29.95
  Platforms -- Windows 95/98
  Online Internet service for advisories - YES
  
  
• WinStorm (Windows) -- WinStorm is a hurricane tracking application for MS Windows. You enter the data, and it plots the track. The historical record contains over 900 tracks from the present back to 1886. You can create new tracks and plot those, plot any or all of the old ones, and print the tracks you have plotted. Latest version 2.25a, 1998
  Price - $25.00
  Platforms -- Windows 95/98
  Online Internet service for advisories - NO
  

How can I get hurricane information when I'm not at my computer?

provided by the National Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center offers a variety of services to make sure you stay informed about tropical activity even when you are away from your television or computer. Some of these services are :

• NOAA Weather Radio
  The easiest way to stay informed is to have an inexpensive portable radio which picks up NOAA Weather Radio. These are available in numerous stores in a host of designs and features. For more info on this try here.
  


• Radio Fax
  For mariners at sea, there are a variety of ways and frequencies that you can use to keep updated on tropical developments. Go here.
  
  
• Wireless
  NHC/TPC Tropical Cyclone text advisories, aircraft reconnaissance messages, and Tropical Analysis and Forecasting Branch text forecasts and discussions are available to Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) capable cell phones and Portable Digital Assistants (PDA). For more information on how to set up your cell phone or PDA go here.
  


• E-Mail
  If you can check your email while away from your home computer you might consider subscribing to one of NHC's mailing lists. To see how go here.
  


• RSS Feeds
  If your computer has a news aggregator or feed reader you can set it up to receive RSS feeds from NHC. For all the info go here.