How To Read The Public Advisory
Tropical Cyclone Public Advisory Format
The TCP begins with a headline, then followed by these sections: summary, watches and warnings, discussion and outlook, hazards, and next advisory. Each section of the TCP begins with a specific header text string. Each header is preceded by two blank lines, and is followed by a line of dashes (to give the appearance of an underline).
- Summary. This section summarizes the essential facts of the tropical cyclone (location, intensity, etc.) in a fixed format.
- Header (example): SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
- In the summary section header, UTC time will always be given with four characters (e.g., 0300 UTC). No other numerical values in this section will appear with leading zeros.
- The summary section follows a fixed format, containing lines for the location, geographical reference(s), maximum winds, direction of movement, and minimum pressure. The section
will always contain at least one geographical reference, but not more than two. Geographical reference lines begin with the keyword ABOUT. In the summary section, all
directions are abbreviated (e.g., N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, etc.) If the forward speed is zero, the motion will be given as STATIONARY.
- Watches and Warnings. This is a free text section that makes use of keywords to identify specific content regarding watches and warnings. Watch/warning definitions and call to action statements
may also appear in this section.
- Header: WATCHES AND WARNINGS
- Whenever watches or warnings are issued, continue in effect, or are discontinued, the watch/warning section will contain the following two keyword strings:
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...
- Changes to watches and warnings since the last TCP or TCU (Tropical Cyclone Update) will be listed in paragraph form, one change per paragraph.
- The summary of active watches and warnings will appear as a bulleted list, grouped by warning type. Each grouping will begin with a statement such as
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR.... Each watch or warning segment that follows will appear on a separate line beginning with an asterisk. However, watches or warnings that encompass entire
islands or jurisdictions may be grouped together as a single segment, e.g.:
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* ANTIGUA...BARBUDA...ANGUILLA...AND ST. MARTIN
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF GUANTANAMO AND HOLGUIN
- When a watch or warning is introduced for a new major geographical area, the watch/warning section should contain a definition of the watch or warning. These
definitions may also be included at other times. The definitions will appear after the list of active watches and warnings in effect. Other statements
(e.g., "INTERESTS IN THE LEEWARD ISLANDS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF BILL...") may also appear in this location.
- Discussion and outlook. This is a free text section with no keywords. It will describe the current location and motion, maximum winds, extent of hurricane and
tropical storm winds, and minimum pressure. It will provide a general outlook for the track and intensity of the cyclone over the next 24-48 hours.
- Header: DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
- Hazards. A free text section that uses keywords to identify the typical threats of a tropical cyclone.
- Header: HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
- Most paragraphs in this section will begin with one of the following keywords: STORM SURGE, WIND, RAINFALL, TORNADOES, SURF, or OTHER.
- Next advisory: This free text section will indicate the time of the next complete advisory, and intermediate advisory(ies), if any. If this is the last advisory, and the
system will be discussed subsequently in another NWS product, that product will be identified.
TCP Example 1
000
WTNT34 KNHC 120241
TCPAT4
BULLETIN
HURRICANE IKE ADVISORY NUMBER 44
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092008
1000 PM CDT THU SEP 11 2008
...IKE CONTINUES TO GROW IN SIZE BUT HAS NOT STRENGTHENED YET...
...HURRICANE WARNING ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN GULF COAST...
SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...25.5N 88.4W
ABOUT 580 MI...930 KM ESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS
ABOUT 470 MI...760 KM ESE OF GALVESTON TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...160 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...945 MB...27.91 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...
A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA TO
BAFFIN BAY TEXAS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM SOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY TO
PORT MANSFIELD TEXAS.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA TO BAFFIN BAY TEXAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* EAST OF MORGAN CITY TO THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA BORDER...INCLUDING
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN
* SOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. A WARNING IS TYPICALLY ISSUED 36
HOURS BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE
WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR
DANGEROUS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE
RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 36 HOURS.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR
LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 1000 PM CDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 25.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.4 WEST. IKE IS MOVING TOWARD
THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/H. A GENERAL WEST-
NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO...AND THE
CENTER OF IKE SHOULD BE VERY NEAR THE COAST BY LATE FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
IKE IS FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE PRIOR TO REACHING THE
COASTLINE.
IKE REMAINS A VERY LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 275 MILES...445 KM.
THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A NOAA HURRICANE
HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS 945 MB...27.91 INCHES.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE...STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS AS MUCH AS 10 TO 15
FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE COAST WITHIN THE HURRICANE WARNING
AREA...WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...NEAR AND TO THE
EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER OF IKE MAKES LANDFALL. STORM SURGE WILL
RAISE WATER LEVELS AS MUCH AS 5 TO 7 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG
THE COAST WITHIN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA ALONG THE NORTHERN
GULF COAST. THE SURGE COULD PENETRATE AS FAR INLAND AS ABOUT 10
MILES FROM THE SHORE WITH DEPTH GRADUALLY DECREASING AS THE WATER
MOVES INLAND.
WIND...BECAUSE IKE IS A VERY LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE...WEATHER WILL
DETERIORATE ALONG THE COASTLINE LONG BEFORE THE CENTER REACHES THE
COAST. HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH NORTHWESTERN GULF
COAST WITHIN THE WARNING AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TO FIRST REACH TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH FRIDAY MORNING...MAKING
OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT
LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
RAINFALL...IKE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 10
INCHES ALONG THE CENTRAL AND UPPER TEXAS COAST AND OVER PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES
POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER
PORTIONS OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA.
NEXT ADVISORY
--------------
NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...100 AM CDT.
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...400 AM CDT.
$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN
NNNN
TCP Example 2
000
WTPZ35 KNHC 100238
TCPEP5
BULLETIN
HURRICANE LINDA ADVISORY NUMBER 12
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP152009
800 PM PDT WED SEP 09 2009
...LINDA BECOMES A HURRICANE...THE SIXTH HURRICANE OF THE EASTERN
PACIFIC SEASON...
SUMMARY OF 800 PM PDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...17.1N 129.4W
ABOUT 1325 MI...2135 KM WSW OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 320 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...984 MB...29.06 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 800 PM PDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE LINDA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 17.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 129.4 WEST. LINDA IS MOVING
TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH...9 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION
IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND
THURSDAY...WITH LINDA FORECAST TO WEAKEN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES...35 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO
125 MILES...205 KM.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 984 MB...29.06 INCHES.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
NONE.
NEXT ADVISORY
--------------
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...200 AM PDT.
$$
FORECASTER BEVEN
NNNN
TCP Example 3 (Example 2 in the old format)
ZCZC MIATCPEP5 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
BULLETIN
HURRICANE LINDA ADVISORY NUMBER 12
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP152009
800 PM PDT WED SEP 09 2009
...LINDA BECOMES A HURRICANE...THE SIXTH HURRICANE OF THE EASTERN
PACIFIC SEASON...
AT 800 PM PDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE LINDA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 17.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 129.4 WEST OR ABOUT 1325 MILES
...2135 KM...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA.
LINDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH...9 KM/HR...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND
THURSDAY...WITH LINDA FORECAST TO WEAKEN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES...35 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO
125 MILES...205 KM.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 984 MB...29.06 INCHES.
...SUMMARY OF 800 PM PDT INFORMATION...
LOCATION...17.1N 129.4W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHWEST OR 320 DEGREES AT 6 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...984 MB
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
200 AM PDT.
$$
FORECASTER BEVEN
NNNN
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