Meterology 401: Hurricane Tracking Workshop
How to Read Hurricane Models, Charts, and Maps
What you will learn
how the computer models read the hurricance using data from airplanes
how to track a tropical system using public weather tools and models
learning to read surface weather maps and conditions needed for hurricanes
when to consult other advanced weather tracking tools for help in the future
Why take this course?
This course is designed to give you an introduction to the basics of reading and tracking a hurricane on a map. It will include learning about some of the well known supercomputer models like the GFS, EURO, and the consensus blend of models 9 which is an best avg of 30 models combined basically)that you would hear about on your local weather broadcast.
We will first define the prime conditions needed for a hurricane and show you how to read the signs and symbols used on maps and data provided by the National Hurricane Center. Other models are discussed in passing and this is not intended to show you the best model but give you a broad overview of what the look for when reading hurricane analysis 3-5 days out in the infamous "cone of uncertainty". As always hazards with hurricanes can occur outside of the cone and also it should be noted that the cone shows the center track of the storm and that landfall location is not as important as impacts.
However, knowing where to look for signs and how to read them at a base level is important. We will also discuss briefly water vapor images, steering currents such as the persistent Bermuda High or dips in the jet stream towards the south of the US that happen around this time of year in America etc...
You should enjoy this course and use the websites in your everyday discussion and hurricane planning. It is not an exact science but its getting so much better than in the 1960's when RADAR and recon planes where just starting to get going with the weather.