Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Contents

1. Overview
2. Changes for 2009
3. Explanation of the Graphical TWO
4. Probabilistic Genesis Forecasts
5. Methodology
6. Availability
7. Examples
8. Potential Benefits of a Graphical TWO
9. References

6. Availability

The Graphical TWO will be issued four times per day during the 2009 hurricane season. The Eastern Pacific season begins May 15th, while the Atlantic season begins June 1st. Both seasons officially end November 30th.

For both basins, the Graphical TWO will be issued at the following times:

2:00 AM EDT   (1:00 AM EST)
8:00 AM EDT   (7:00 AM EST)
2:00 PM EDT   (1:00 PM EST)
8:00 PM EDT   (7:00 PM EST)

The graphics will be available at the following web addresses:

Atlantic:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_atl.shtml
East Pacific:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_epac.shtml

Beginning in 2009, the NHC will issue special text and graphical TWOs when important changes with areas of disturbed weather need to be conveyed before the next scheduled release of the TWO. The Special TWO can also be used on a recurring basis for disturbances outside of the normal hurricane season when routine TWOs are not issued. The Special TWOs will be issued under the same product headers and will replace the previously issued regular or special graphical or text TWO. In previous years, when significant changes required an update of the TWO, a separate product, the Special Tropical Disturbance Statement (DSA), was issued. The NHC is eliminating the Special Tropical Disturbance Statement (DSA), and the only NHC product that contains explicit information on the genesis potential of a disturbance will be the text and graphical TWOs.

Next:  Examples