Sandy spurs change in hurricane warnings
Stung by criticism in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the National Weather Service has decided to change the way that forecasters handle major storms, so that hurricane experts can keep issuing advisories even after a storm has become post-tropical.
"Beginning 1 June 2013, the National Weather Service (NWS) is adopting two important changes in the way it handles post-tropical cyclones," read an advisory issued today by the NWS and National Hurricane Center.
"Our forecasters now have more flexibility to effectively communicate the threat posed by transitioning tropical systems," said the director of the Weather Service, Louis Uccelini.
As today's announcement noted, the National Weather Service had taken a lot of flak over how Hurricane Sandy was dealt with last year, as it changed from a hurricane into a post-tropical-cyclone" as it took aim at the New Jersey and New York coastline.
Because Sandy was not officially a "hurricane" as it turned into what some refer to as "Super Storm Sandy," the Hurricane Center did not issue hurricane or tropical storm warnings and watches for those areas.
But the impact of the storm obviously was much like a hurricane, as the damaged coastal communities of New Jersey are still trying to rebuild.
Today's change means that forecasters will have the ability to trumpet a hurricane warning if needed - even if the storm is not "officially" a hurricane any more.
Looking back at the work of the National Hurricane Center on Sandy, the forecast discussions issued by the NHC certainly warned of the possibility of severe damage from the storm to New Jersey and surrounding areas:
"HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE COAST BETWEEN CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA AND CHATHAM MASSACHUSETTS. THIS INCLUDES THE TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND TO SMITH POINT... THE MIDDLE AND UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY...DELAWARE BAY...AND THE COASTS OF THE NORTHERN DELMARVA PENINSULA...NEW JERSEY...THE NEW YORK CITY AREA...LONG ISLAND...CONNECTICUT...AND RHODE ISLAND."
That was from the 11 pm EDT public advisory by the National Hurricane Center the day before Sandy hit the New Jersey coast.
But if you look at the watches and warnings associated with the storm, no tropical storm or hurricane warnings were ever issued north of the Pamlico Sound - that's down in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
You can see some of the archived graphics of how the watches and warnings stopped at the Outer Banks on the National Hurricane Center web site.
Also, here is the statement put out today by the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center:
Beginning 1 June 2013, the National Weather Service (NWS) is adopting two important changes in the way it handles post-tropical cyclones (closed areas of low-pressure that were once tropical cyclones but no longer qualify for that designation). These changes were motivated by experiences associated with Hurricane Sandy last fall. The first of these changes gives the NWS the option to continue issuing formal advisories on post-tropical cyclones, in those cases when the system continues to pose a significant threat to life and property, and when a transfer of responsibility to another office would result in an unacceptable discontinuity in service. The second change would give the NWS the option to keep hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings in place for those systems.
Beginning 1 June, the following new NWS watch/warning definitions will go into effect:
- Hurricane/Typhoon Warning: An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds (24 hours for the Western North Pacific). The warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.
- Hurricane Watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or higher are possible within the specified area in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds.
- Tropical Storm Warning: An announcement that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph or 63 to 118 km/hr) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours (24 hours for the Western North Pacific) in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.
- Tropical Storm Watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph or 63 to 118 km/hr) are possible within the specified area within 48 hours in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.
Stung by criticism in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the National Weather Service has decided to change the way that forecasters handle major storms, so that hurricane experts can keep issuing advisories even after a storm has become post-tropical. "Beginning 1 June 2013, the National Weather Service (NWS) is adopting ...
