News

Now available: v02r01, which includes the update for 2008

New interactive track mapping using the IBTrACS WMS

Vision

Providing tropical cyclone best track data in a centralized location to aid our understanding of the distribution, frequency, and intensity of tropical cyclones worldwide.

Introduction

The intent of the IBTrACS project is to overcome data availability issues, and to freely disseminate this new global dataset. This was achieved by working directly with all the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers and other international centers and individuals to create a global best track dataset, merging storm information from multiple centers into one product and archiving the data for public use.

One of the goals of the project is for the data processing methods to remain open, such that desired user feedback on data quality is more easily collected. Also, data provenance is completely recorded so all observations and corrections, either through rigorous quality control or user feedback, may be tracked. Data are then provided in various formats given the diversity of the tropical cyclone (TC) data user community.

Caveat on Official Tropical Cyclone Track Data

The IBTrACS best track files are created by combining many data sources for each basin (from RSMCs and other agencies). As such the IBTrACS dataset is considered unofficial and does not replace the official WMO best tracks for tropical cyclones. For official track and intensity information, users should obtain data directly from the RSMC responsible for the basin of interest

Herein, the term Official IBTrACS Dataset format only refers to the format of the dataset archived at NCDC in order to differentiate from the other formats also provided and not to the dataset in any official capacity from the WMO.