Proposed Improvements to the NHC Public Advisory
Customer feedback suggests that there is a need for a more user-friendly format to the NHC Public Advisory. Users have expressed
difficulty in finding pertinent warning, storm and impact information in the public advisory, especially when there is a significant
amount of information to convey. The need for a format that separates certain sections of the advisory is most evident when a
tropical storm or hurricane is close to making landfall.
NHC proposes changes to the basic format of the public advisory, including changes to the storm information summary, adding
section headers, and providing more structure to the watches and warnings section.
The Katrina and Linda examples below show the storm summary information at the beginning of the product.
The example for Dolly places the storm information in its current location near the end of the product while retaining watch/warning
information at the beginning.
NHC requests your comments about the proposed changes and you
may send us an email with your feedback.
Example 2 Hurricane Linda: current format – proposed format
Example 3 Hurricane Dolly: current format – proposed format
BULLETIN HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 10 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2005 ...EYE OF KATRINA MOVING SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY... A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST FROM JUPITER INLET SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY...INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL THE FLORIDA KEYS AND FLORIDA BAY FROM KEY WEST NORTHWARD...AND ALONG THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA FROM LONGBOAT KEY SOUTH AND EASTWARD TO SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM NORTH OF LONGBOAT KEY TO ANCLOTE KEY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND TROPICAL STORM WATCH ALONG THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA NORTH OF JUPITER HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.7 WEST OR ABOUT 35 MILES... SOUTHWEST OF MIAMI FLORIDA OR 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD. KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO FRIDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED WHILE KATRINA IS OVER LAND. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 10 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES. EARLIER THIS EVENING A WIND GUST TO 87 MPH WAS RECORDED AT MIAMI NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AND 81 MPH AT THE TAMIAMI AIRPORT. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 984 MB...29.06 INCHES. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW SOUTH OF VENICE AND IN FLORIDA BAY. STORM SURGE SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE ALONG THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT OVER SOUTH FLORIDA...AND THE FLORIDA KEYS. TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 TO 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE OVER EASTERN FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS. REPEATING THE 11 PM EDT POSITION...25.5 N... 80.7 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...SOUTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 75 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 984 MB. INTERMEDIATE ADVISORIES WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1 AM EDT AND 3 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 5 AM EDT. FORECASTER AVILA
BULLETIN HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 10 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2005 ...EYE OF KATRINA MOVING SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST INFORMATION ---------------------------------- LOCATION...25.5N 80.7W ABOUT 35 MILES...55 KM SW OF MIAMI FLORIDA ABOUT 20 MILES...30 KM NW OF HOMESTEAD FLORIDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/HR PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST-SOUTHWEST OR 265 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/HR MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...984 MB...29.06 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... -THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND TROPICAL STORM WATCH ALONG THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA NORTH OF JUPITER HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. SUMMARY OF WARNINGS AND WATCHES IN EFFECT... A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... -THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST FROM JUPITER INLET SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY...INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... -ALL THE FLORIDA KEYS AND FLORIDA BAY FROM KEY WEST NORTHWARD -THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA FROM LONGBOAT KEY SOUTH AND EASTWARD TO SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR... -THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM NORTH OF LONGBOAT KEY TO ANCLOTE KEY. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.GENERALLY WITHIN 24 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. INTERESTS ELSEWHERE ALONG THE GULF COAST OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF KATRINA. 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 ------------------------------ KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH...13 KM/HR AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...130 KM/HR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS ANTICIPATED WHILE KATRINA IS OVER LAND...AND IT COULD WEAKEN TO A TROPICAL STORM EARLY ON FRIDAY. RESTRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY...AND KATRINA COULD BECOME A DANGEROUS HURRICANE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IN 2 TO 3 DAYS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 10 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES. A WIND GUST TO 87 MPH...140 KM/HR WAS RECORDED AT MIAMI NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AND 81 MPH...131 KM/HR AT THE TAMIAMI AIRPORT THIS EVENING. THE MINIMUM PRESSURE WAS DETERMINED FROM AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT. STORM HAZARDS ------------- STORM SURGE FLOODING...2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW SOUTH OF VENICE AND IN FLORIDA BAY. STORM SURGE SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE ALONG THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. RAINFALL...KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT OVER SOUTH FLORIDA...AND THE FLORIDA KEYS. TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 TO 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. TORNADOES...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE OVER EASTERN FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS. NEXT ADVISORY...ISSUED BY NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER --------------------------------------------------- NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORIES...100 AM AND 300 AM EDT. NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 AM EDT. $$ FORECASTER AVILA
BULLETIN HURRICANE LINDA ADVISORY NUMBER 12 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP152009 800 PM PDT WED SEP 09 2009 ...LINDA BECOMES A HURRICANE...THE SIXTH HURRICANE OF THE EASTERN PACIFIC SEASON... AT 800 PM PDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE LINDA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 129.4 WEST OR ABOUT 1325 MILES ...2135 KM...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA. LINDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH...9 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...WITH LINDA FORECAST TO WEAKEN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES...35 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 125 MILES...205 KM. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 984 MB...29.06 INCHES. ...SUMMARY OF 800 PM PDT INFORMATION... LOCATION...17.1N 129.4W MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHWEST OR 320 DEGREES AT 6 MPH MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...984 MB THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 AM PDT. $$ FORECASTER BEVEN
BULLETIN HURRICANE LINDA ADVISORY NUMBER 12 NWS TPC/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 INFORMATION ---------------------------------- LOCATION...17.1N 129.4W ABOUT 1325 MILES...2135 KM WSW OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/HR PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHWEST OR 320 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/HR 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 ------------------------------ 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. STORM HAZARDS ------------- NONE FOR LAND AREAS. NEXT ADVISORY...ISSUED BY NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER --------------------------------------------------- NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...200 AM PDT. $$ FORECASTER BEVEN
BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM DOLLY ADVISORY NUMBER 5 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042008 1100 AM EDT MON JUL 21 2008 ...DOLLY NOW OVER THE WARM WATERS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO... AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COAST FROM BROWNSVILLE NORTHWARD TO PORT O'CONNOR. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. AT 1100 AM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COAST FROM NORTH OF PORT O'CONNOR TO SAN LUIS PASS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. AT 1100 AM EDT...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH FROM RIO SAN FERNANDO MEXICO NORTHWARD TO THE U.S. BORDER...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FROM LA PESCA MEXICO NORTHWARD TO RIO SAN FERNANDO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM THE BORDER WITH BELIZE TO CAMPECHE MEXICO. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 1100 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DOLLY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.5 WEST OR ABOUT 55 MILES... 90 KM...NORTH-NORTHEAST OF PROGRESO MEXICO. DOLLY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR. A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF MOTION. ON THIS TRACK...DOLLY WILL BE APPROACHING THE COAST OF THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY WEDNESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST...AND DOLLY COULD BECOME A HURRICANE BY TOMORROW. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM FROM THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON RECENT AIRCRAFT DATA IS 1005 MB...29.68 INCHES. DOLLY IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF TWO TO FOUR INCHES ACROSS THE NORTHERN YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS UP TO SIX INCHES. REPEATING THE 1100 AM EDT POSITION...22.1 N...89.5 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 PM EDT. $$ FORECASTER KNABB
BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM DOLLY ADVISORY NUMBER 5 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042008 1100 AM EDT MON JUL 21 2008 ...DOLLY NOW OVER THE WARM WATERS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO... WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... -A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COAST FROM BROWNSVILLE NORTHWARD TO PORT O'CONNOR. -A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COAST FROM NORTH OF PORT O'CONNOR TO SAN LUIS PASS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA... GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. -THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH FROM RIO SAN FERNANDO MEXICO NORTHWARD TO THE U.S. BORDER...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FROM LA PESCA MEXICO NORTHWARD TO RIO SAN FERNANDO. SUMMARY OF WARNINGS AND WATCHES IN EFFECT... A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR... -TEXAS COAST FROM BROWNSVILLE TO PORT O.CONNER -COAST OF MEXICO FROM RIO SAN FERNANDO TO U.S. BORDER. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... -THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM THE BORDER WITH BELIZE TO CAMPECHE MEXICO. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR... -TEXAS COAST FROM NORTH OF PORT O.CONNER TO SAN LUIS PASS -COAST OF MEXICO FROM LAS PESCA TO SOUTH OF RIO SAN FERNANDO A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 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 ------------------------------ THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DOLLY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.5 WEST OR ABOUT 55 MILES... 90 KM...NORTH- NORTHEAST OF PROGRESO MEXICO. DOLLY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR. A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF MOTION. ON THIS TRACK...DOLLY WILL BE APPROACHING THE COAST OF THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY WEDNESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST...AND DOLLY COULD BECOME A HURRICANE BY TOMORROW. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM FROM THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS BASED ON RECENT AIRCRAFT DATA. STORM HAZARDS ------------- RAINFALL...TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHERN YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS UP TO 6 INCHES. SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST INFORMATION ---------------------------------- LOCATION...22.1N 89.5W ABOUT 55 MILES...90 KM NNE OF PROGRESSO MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/HR PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST-NORTHWEST OR 285 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/HR MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES NEXT ADVISORY...ISSUED BY NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER --------------------------------------------------- NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...200 PM EDT. NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM EDT. $$ FORECASTER KNABB
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