Experimental Tropical Cyclone Hazards Graphics
- Overview and Product Description
- Examples of Products: Impact Graphics | Risk Graphics | Threat Graphics
- WFO participation
- Call for Public Feedback
Overview and Product Description
The Tropical Cyclone Hazards Graphics are an experimental, internet-based product suite consisting of four tropical cyclone hazards: wind, tornado, coastal flooding, and inland flooding. Beginning July 1, a suite of four graphics will be generated and posted by selected, coastal Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) for the 2006 Hurricane Season when tropical cyclone watches and/or warnings are issued by the Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center (NHC) for the WFO area of responsibility.These WFO-generated graphics are an assessment by forecasters of the impacts a tropical cyclone could have in their area of responsibility, based on official forecasts and associated uncertainties from the Storm Prediction Center, and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. The graphics will generally be provided by the WFO every six hours while tropical cyclone watches and warnings are in effect for the WFO area of responsibility.
Several participating WFOs will provide Impact Graphics for each of the four tropical cyclone hazards. In addition, several other WFOs will also provide Threat Graphics for each of the four tropical cyclone hazards and also provide Wind Risk Graphics.
- Impacts Graphics will provide an "at-a-glance" summary
for the cumulative impacts expected from the storm. Users must
understand the impacts graphics will provide an overall, areal
impact for each storm hazard, and there may be local differences
in the magnitude of hazard impacts within some areas. Users
must also understand there is uncertainty in the anticipated
areal impacts, due to uncertainties in forecasting the track,
intensity and size of a tropical cyclone.
- Wind Risk Graphics are targeted for users
who have sensitivity to certain critical wind speed thresholds.
The products are based on the official NHC cumulative wind
speed probabilities for tropical storms (34 knot/39 mph), strong
tropical storms (50 knots/58 mph), and hurricanes (64 knots/74
mph).
- Threat Graphics combine the expertise of national centers with local weather forecast offices by considering the forecast magnitude of the hazard, also while accounting for inherent forecast uncertainties. The product is designed to motivate less-sophisticated users to action regarding preparedness activities, while helping to prevent information paralysis. It also highlights the minimum corresponding actions, relating them to potential impacts. For more sophisticated users, this product serves as an excellent starting point for critical decision-making and is a coherent briefing tool.
Examples of Products
Examples of Impacts Graphics: These sample images have been reduced in size. The actual "impact" images are considerably larger. The colors represent varying levels of impact(s) that could occur for each type of hazard.
Each graphic could have up to four color indicators with yellow representing "low impact(s)", orange representing "moderate impact(s)", red representing "high impact(s)" and Fuchsia representing "extremely high impact(s)". Detailed definitions for the impact levels for each of the four hazards are provided with the following sample graphics. Please Note: Each NWS Forecast Office produces graphics for the area it is responsible for. Therefore only counties in that office's area of responsibility will be in color.
| Wind | Tornadoes | Inland Flooding | Coastal Flooding |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
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Examples of Wind Risk Graphics: These sample images are from Hurricane Charley (2004) within 24 hours of landfall. They have been reduced in size; the actual "risk" images are considerably larger. Each color-coded map is created by converting complicated numerical probabilities into easy-to-understand categories of risk (Low, Moderate, and High) according to the indicated wind speed. Currently, the Low category is defined by probabilities ranging from 2% to 9%, the Moderate category is defined by probabilities ranging from 10% to 24%, and the High category is defined by probabilities ranging from 25% to 99%.
To find out more, see our 1 page description of Wind Risk Graphics: pdf
| Tropical Storm Wind Risk |
Strong Tropical Storm Wind Risk |
Hurricane Wind Risk |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Examples of Threat Graphics: Each graphic uses a color-coded threat scale ranging from 0 to 5 for each hazard: Non-threatening, Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, Extreme.
Wind |
Tornadoes |
Inland Flooding |
Coastal Flooding |
Seas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Description of product, pdf |
 Description of product, pdf |
 Description of product, pdf |
 Description of product, pdf |
 |
Combined hazards bar chart
WFO Participation
The following WFOs will provide Impacts Graphics when tropical cyclone watches and warnings are in effect for their respective forecast areas: The following WFOs will provide Threat Graphics and a Wind Risk Graphic when tropical cyclone watches and warnings are in effect for their respective forecast areas:Call for Public Feedback
The National Weather Service asks for your comments on the "Impacts", "Risks" and "Threats" graphics. Please provide feedback between July 1 - November 15, 2006. Individual surveys have been posted for the three graphics:
- Impacts Graphics: http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=TCIG
- Wind Risk Graphics: http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=TCRG
- Threat Graphics: http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=TCT