The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is gearing up for the 2026 hurricane season with new and improved forecast cone graphics, aimed at providing communities with better preparation tools for tropical storms and hurricanes. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to enhance public safety messaging and advance understanding of the hazards associated with these natural disasters.
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One of the key enhancements for the upcoming hurricane season is the incorporation of tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for inland areas in the forecast cone. This addition follows a successful experimental phase in the previous year, which demonstrated the effectiveness of including inland watches and warnings to help communities better prepare for the dangers posed by tropical cyclone winds.
The new cone graphic will now encompass all land-based tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings in effect for the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. By using a single shading for the entire 5-day outlook cone and introducing symbols for areas where both a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are in effect, the updated graphic aims to provide a comprehensive overview of potential hazards.
Additionally, the NHC will introduce a new experimental version of the Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Cone for the 2026 season. This experimental cone will use ellipses anchored at each forecast point to capture a range of possibilities for the speed and direction of the tropical cyclone’s forecast path. By including 90% of forecast track possibilities instead of the traditional 67% forecast error, the experimental cone seeks to offer a more nuanced and accurate representation of potential storm paths.
In addition to the enhanced forecast cone graphics, the NHC will also introduce new storm surge products and services for the Hawaiian Islands. These products will include storm surge watches and warnings, as well as a peak storm surge graphic, providing probability-based forecasts of water and storm surge levels within 72 hours of hurricane impacts.
Overall, these new and improved products and services represent a significant step forward in the NHC’s efforts to empower communities to prepare earlier and more effectively for tropical storms and hurricanes. By providing more detailed and comprehensive information, the NHC aims to enhance public safety and resilience in the face of these potentially devastating weather events.
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References:
– National Hurricane Center. (2026, March 24). National Hurricane Center to issue new forecast cone graphics for 2026 hurricane season. https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/national-hurricane-center-to-issue-new-forecast-cone-graphics-for-2026-hurricane-season
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