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Subject: I9) What computer software is available
for tracking tropical cyclones?
Contributed by Tom Berg
(Note that this does not constitute an endorsement of any product.)
Free Tropical Cyclone Tracking programs
- Eye of the Storm
Latest version 1.01, 1999
Eye of the Storm is a Windows based hurricane tracking program
for your Windows based personal computer (Windows 95 or later).
With Eye of the Storm, you can monitor the path of Atlantic and
Pacific tropical storms using an interactive 3D map. Storms and
storm tracks are plotted against a three dimensional projection
of the east and west coasts of the United States.
Price
- Personal Edition FREE
- Advanced Edition - $21.45
Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
Online internet service for advisories - YES
http://www.starstonesoftware.com/eots/
StarstoneSoftware
100 State Road 419, Suite 280
Winter Springs, FL 32708
- EZTrack (Windows) --
A Windows-based tropical storm tracking package for the Atlantic only.
Web site for download -- America Online
- JStrack (Windows/UNIX) -- JStrack is a freeware
hurricane tracking program for Unix and Windows 9x/ME/NT/2k/XP.
It should also run on a Mac, (feedback from Mac users requested!).
Version 2.0.0 on 20 Oct 2002
Key features include:
- automatic data updates via incoming e-mail (WX-ATLAN) or FTP
from NHC/TPC server (a filter "reads" the NHC products and
extracts the data)
- three maps, courtesy of Ron Murphy, NWS Birmingham: Overall
picture, US East Coast, and US Gulf Coast + S. FL.
- plots wind radii (default is for current/forecast positions
only).
After all, you need to know where the storm's WINDS are, not just
where the eye is.
- plots NHC/TPC probabilities data (via menu---see next item)
- menu associated with any past/current storm position from
which you can plot/remove forecast positions, wind radii,
and probabilities, view details on the storm (wind speeds,
course, etc.), view the NHC/TPC products associated with
that time/position, and so on.
- given user's home coordinates, 'X' plotted at that point on
the map
- given user's home coordinates, JStrack can warn the user
if the storm is currently within a given number (def. 60)
of nautical miles, or is forecast to come within that distance
(this part assumes a straight line between forecast points,
and should not be considered 100% accurate!)
- ability to run user-defined commands when storm data is
updated for a storm currently on the screen and/or for a new
storm, and/or for situations where the storm is, or is
forecast to be,
within the above distance in nautical miles. This can be used
to wake you up in a situation where the storm is a potential
threat, and missing an advisory could put you in a dangerous
situation. It has also been used by at least three web sites
to do a screen capture and update a web page (for 24x7 ops).
For more info, screen pics, etc., see
http://www.purl.org/net/jstrack or contact
Jim Graham.
- StormTrakker --
StormTrakker is a plotter/database program for tracking
Atlantic basin tropical cyclones. Among its many features are
over 30 regional and detailed maps covering the tropical
Atlantic basin, Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and all US
mainland coastal areas in detail. TPC/NHC forecasts are
supported. Databases are included for all tropical cyclones
from 1900-1998 for the historical searching and plotting
options. Tropical storm and hurricane force wind radii are also
supported. Also provides the capability to enter the computer
model forecasted positions for plotting.
Web site for download --
http://www.flinet.com/~mbryson/stormtrk.htm
- Tropical Storm Tracker (DOS) --
A DOS-based tropical storm tracking package for the Atlantic only.
Web site for download --
http://users.nbn.net/~fweaver/trak/atpctrkr.zip
Priced Tropical Cyclone Tracking programs
- Eye of the Storm (Internet Edition) --
Eye of the Storm is a Windows based hurricane tracking program
for your Windows based personal computer (Windows 95 or later).
With Eye of the Storm, you can monitor the path of Atlantic and
Pacific tropical storms using an interactive 3D map. Storms and
storm tracks are plotted against a three dimensional projection
of the east and west coasts of the United States.
Eye of the Storm
Web site for download --
http://www.starstonesoftware.com/eots/
StarstoneSoftware
100 State Road 419, Suite 280
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Cost -- $ 19.95
- Global Tracks (Windows) --
Global Tracks contains over 10,000 historical tracks of hurricanes and
typhoons, dating back as far as 1886. This can be helpful tool in
forecasting a hurricane's future track. The software automatically ingests
the current hurricane and typhoon information from different hurricane
agencies and plots directly onto your desktop. There is a distance
calculator that will tell you the precise distance from the eye to any point
on the map you choose. You can create your own color maps or use a
predefined map from Global Tracks library. It also displays the closest
point of approach to any selected city.
Global Tracks
Latest version 6.11
Price
- $35.95 for new users for a CD
- $32.95 for new users download
Platforms -- Windows 98 or higher 486MHZ processor
and modem with internet access
Online internet service for advisories - YES
Web site for download --
www.extremewx.com
- Go' Canes (DOS) --
GO 'CANES is a DOS program. It was designed to be as fast and
as configurable as possible. It includes eight preconfigured
plotting maps (including one for the Eastern Pacific), plus two
user configurable maps. It will plot single storms as well as lists
of storms. There is a tag feature for building storm lists.
Go 'Canes
Latest version 1.1, 1995
Price - $15.00
Platforms -- DOS
Online internet service for advisories - NO
Web site for download --
ftp://www.hcane.com/software/gcanes.zip
- Hurricane Watch 2000 --
An easy method for recording and displaying hurricane
information. Storm tracks are displayed on a world view high
resolution globe that can be easily zoomed to any location.
Bearing, distance and ETA to your home or any geographic
location can be instantly displayed.
Hurricane Watch 2000
Latest version 1.4, 1999
Price - $20.00
Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
Online internet service for advisories - YES
Web site for download --
http://members.aol.com/jgraff/hcane.htm
- HurrTrak --
Shareware version of most detailed tracking software available.
Price listed is for latest full version, 10.0, actual price.
HURRTRAK
Latest version 10.0, 1999
Price $330.00
Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
Online internet service for advisories - YES
$300.00 per year
Web site for download --
http://www.pcwp.com/
- Merlin --
MERLIN graphically displays storm track/intensity on-screen,
utilizing color and b/w tracking maps. Combine this with
MERLIN's neural net (artificial intelligence) and mathematical
modeling (RITA) capability, to generate forecasts of future
storm activity. MERLIN's advisory, history and statistics are
updated automatically with each new data entry.
Merlin
Latest version 2.3c, 1999
Price - $39.00
Platforms -- Windows 3.1/95/98
Online Internet service for advisories - NO
Web site for download --
http://www.tmparker.com/merlin/
- Personal Hurricane Center --
The Personal Hurricane Center can plot ship and buoy observations,
computer model forecasts, and aircraft reconnaissance data. It
also comes with an archived Atlantic databasewith every storm
since 1851 and eastern Pacific storms since 1949. An updated
release scheduled for August 2004 will also have an archive
of central Pacific storms.
The software is available for 30 free trial uses, after which
you must register. The first 200 customers will get it for
$15, thereafter it may be purchased for $30.
Personal Hurricane Center
Web site for download --
http://www.personalhurricanecenter.com
Cost -- $ 30.00
- Storm (DOS) --
Storm is a DOS-based program. Storm tracks can be stored in
files on disk for future use. Storm data can be entered and
reports printed on the storm's location by date and time. In
addition, graphical tracking maps showing the storm's position
and track can be generated. STORM generates hardcopy plots
using an Epson or Laserjet printer or an HP Plotter. You can
track to one of 47 included cities or enter the coordinates of
your own city.
Storm
Web site for download --
http://casi.simplenet.com/wxsoftware/storm61.zip
Cost -- $ 25.00
- Tempest Hunter (Windows) --
Tempest Hunter is a Tropical Storm / Hurricane Tracker and
Analysis Program for Windows 3.x . Some features include:
- Plot 1 storm in detailed observation mode or in auto mode.
- Plot and Compare 2 Tropical Systems.
- Plot all Tropical Systems for a Year.
- Analyze past storm track to within 1 degree, Wave
Prediction and City Analysis.
- Text Plot a Tropical System or an entire season.
- Save Map Plots to File or Printer.
- Contains a Database of over 800 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes
- Add / Edit new Tropical System Data.
Tempest Hunter
Web site for download --
http://www.alberts.com/authorpages/00013278/prod_703s.htm
Cost -- $ 10.00
- Tracking the Eye --
View the movement of the storm on a map of the eastern United
States and the Caribbean. Graph and full color printing. Track
storm information including type of storm, storm coordinates,
wind speed and pressure, direction and speed of travel, date
and time of coordinates, damage, and more. Print your storm
map. Track up to 40 storms at once. Includes data for over 750
historical storms from 1900 to 1996.
Tracking The Eye
Latest version 5.5, 1999
Price - $24.95
Platforms -- Windows 95/98/NT
Online Internet service for advisories - YES
$24.95 first year, $9.95 per year thereafter
Web site for download --
http://www.hurricanesoftware.com/hurricane/hurricane.htm
- Tropical Cyclone Tracker -- Track world-wide hurricanes (Atlantic in
the shareware version). It will get a wide variety of info directly
from the internet. It can forecast the course quite accurately
and will calculate arrival times. Comes with storm tracks back
to 1886.
Tropical Cyclone Tracking System (TCT)
Latest version 2.1, 1998
Price - $29.95
Platforms -- Windows 95/98
Online Internet service for advisories - YES
Free
Web site for download --
http://members.tripod.com/~TropicalWx/TCTMain.html
- WinStorm (Windows) --
WinStorm is a hurricane tracking application for MS Windows.
You enter the data, and it plots the track. The historical
record contains over 900 tracks from the present back to 1886.
You can create new tracks and plot those, plot any or all of
the old ones, and print the tracks you have plotted.
WinStorm
Latest version 2.25a, 1998
Price - $25.00
Platforms -- Windows 95/98
Online Internet service for advisories - NO
Web site for download --
http://www.ghg.net/kingram/
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