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How To Read The Forecast/Advisory


The Forecast/Advisory is generally composed of several easily identified sections. These sections if present in the advisory will always occur in the order specified here.

Click on each section title to see the section highlighted and read the brief description of the section contents in the example Forecast/Advisory from Hurricane Isabel.

The Basic Sections of the Forecast/Advisory

  1. WMO Header
  2. Watches/Warnings and News
  3. Storm Location
  4. Storm Movement
  5. Minimum Central Pressure
  6. Eye Size Estimate
  7. Max Sustained Wind, Wind Radii, and 12-Foot Wave Height Radii Section
  8. Repeat
  9. 12-Hour Forecast
  10. 24-Hour Forecast
  11. 36-Hour Forecast
  12. 48-Hour Forecast
  13. 72-Hour Forecast
  14. 96-Hour Forecast
  15. 120-Hour Forecast
  16. Request for Ship Reports
  17. Next Advisory
Click here to highlight all of the basic sections.
000
WTNT23 KNHC 180229
TCMAT3

HURRICANE ISABEL FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 42
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL132003
1500 UTC TUE SEP 16 2003

AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LITTLE
RIVER INLET SOUTH CAROLINA TO CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE
PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NORTH BEACH
MARYLAND...AND THE TIDAL POTOMAC. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT
HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY
WITHIN 36 HOURS.

HURRICANE WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT.

AT 11 AM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT SOUTH OF
LITTLE RIVER INLET TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA. A
TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED NORTH OF THE HURRICANE WATCH
AREA LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT.


Watches/Warnings and News Section

This section contains important news as well as any Watches and/or Warnings (hurricane and/or tropical storm) that have been issued or discontinued for coastal areas.

<< Previous Section  -- Back to top  -- Next Section >>
HURRICANE CENTER LOCATED NEAR 27.4N 71.2W AT 16/1500Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 20 NM

PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 330 DEGREES AT 7 KT

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 959 MB

EYE DIAMETER 25 NM
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 90 KT WITH GUSTS TO 110 KT.
64 KT.......105NE 90SE 40SW 70NW.
50 KT.......140NE 140SE 60SW 90NW.
34 KT.......200NE 200SE 100SW 150NW.
12 FT SEAS..600NE 300SE 300SW 600NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.

REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 27.4N 71.2W AT 16/1500Z
AT 16/1200Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 27.0N 71.0W

FORECAST VALID 17/0000Z 28.4N 71.8W
MAX WIND 85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.
64 KT...105NE 90SE 40SW 70NW.
50 KT...140NE 140SE 60SW 90NW.
34 KT...200NE 200SE 100SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 17/1200Z 29.9N 72.6W
MAX WIND 85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.
64 KT...105NE 90SE 40SW 70NW.
50 KT...140NE 140SE 60SW 90NW.
34 KT...200NE 200SE 100SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 18/0000Z 31.7N 73.9W
MAX WIND 90 KT...GUSTS 110 KT.
64 KT...105NE 90SE 40SW 70NW.
50 KT...140NE 140SE 60SW 90NW.
34 KT...200NE 200SE 100SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 18/1200Z 33.8N 75.6W
MAX WIND 95 KT...GUSTS 115 KT.
50 KT...150NE 150SE 90SW 120NW.
34 KT...250NE 200SE 125SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 19/1200Z 39.0N 79.0W...INLAND
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
34 KT...250NE 200SE 0SW 0NW.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 275 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 375 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY

OUTLOOK VALID 20/1200Z 47.0N 78.5W...EXTRATROPICAL
MAX WIND 30 KT...GUSTS 40 KT.

OUTLOOK VALID 21/1200Z 54.0N 71.0W...EXTRATROPICAL
MAX WIND 30 KT...GUSTS 40 KT.

REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 27.4N 71.2W

NEXT ADVISORY AT 16/2100Z

FORECASTER FRANKLIN