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:
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 ...
