Definitions

HURRICANE SEASON - June through November for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea & Gulf of Mexico. Peak threat to United States is from the middle of August through late October.HURRICANE - maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION - an organized area of low pressure where sustained surface winds are 38 mph or less.

 TROPICAL STORM - a strong area of low pressure associated with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph. It is at this point a tropical cyclone gets a name.

 SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE - The scale provides examples of the type of damages and impacts in the United States associated with winds of the indicated intensity.
(Storm Surge and Flooding Prediction Dropped in New Scale)

Watches/Warnings

HURRICANE WARNING - issued by the National Hurricane Center when hurricane conditions are expected in coastal areas within 36 hours or less.

HURRICANE WATCH - issued by the National Hurricane Center when hurricane conditions are possible in coastal areas generally within 48 hours.

 TROPICAL STORM WARNING - issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions are expected in coastal areas within 36 hours or less.

 TROPICAL STORM WATCH - issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions are possible in coastal areas generally within 48 hours.

National Hurricane Center Products

Changes: 2010 & 2009

TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY - contains a list of all current watches and warnings on a tropical cyclone. It also includes the cyclone position, current motion, maximum sustained winds and the estimated or measured minimum central pressure. How to read this product.

 TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST ADVISORY - contains a list of all current watches and warnings on a tropical or subtropical cyclone, as well as the current latitude and longitude coordinates, intensity, and system motion. The advisory contains forecasts of the cyclone positions, intensities, and wind fields for 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours from the current synoptic time. How to read this product.

 TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK - issued four times a day during the hurricane season. The outlook is a discussion of significant areas of disturbed weather and their potential for development out to 48 hours.

 TROPICAL WEATHER SUMMARY - is a summary is issued on the first of every month during the hurricane season. It describes the previous month's tropical cyclone activity and gives details on the cyclones as known at that time. The last Tropical Weather Summary of the season gives an brief account of the whole season.