Public Information Statement

NOUS41 KWBC 051428
PNSWSH

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 10-01
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
930 AM EST TUE JAN 5 2010

TO:          SUBSCRIBERS:
             -FAMILY OF SERVICES
             -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
             -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
             -NOAAPORT  
              OTHER NWS PARTNERS...USERS AND EMPLOYEES

FROM:        THERESE Z. PIERCE
             CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH

SUBJECT:     CHANGE TO ISSUANCE CRITERIA FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE
             WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
             HURRICANE CENTER: EFFECTIVE FOR 2010 HURRICANE
             SEASON 

EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2010 HURRICANE SEASON... THE NATIONAL 
HURRICANE CENTER /NHC/ WILL IMPLEMENT NEW ISSUANCE CRITERIA TO 
INCREASE THE LEAD TIME ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCHES 
AND WARNINGS BY 12 HOURS. THIS INCREASE IN LEAD TIME HAS BEEN 
MADE POSSIBLE BY IMPROVEMENTS IN TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACK 
FORECASTING OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES. THE CHANGE IS EFFECTIVE 
ON MAY 15 2010 FOR THE EASTERN PACIFIC HURRICANE BASIN AND ON 
JUNE 1 2010 FOR THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE BASIN.

TROPICAL STORM WATCHES WILL GENERALLY BE ISSUED WHEN TROPICAL 
STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST WITHIN 48 HOURS.  
TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THESE CONDITIONS ARE 
EXPECTED WITHIN 36 HOURS.  

SIMILAR INCREASES IN LEAD TIME WILL APPLY TO HURRICANE WATCHES 
AND WARNINGS. THE HURRICANE WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL GENERALLY 
BE TIMED TO PROVIDE 48 AND 36 HOURS OF NOTICE...RESPECTIVELY... 
BEFORE THE ONSET OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS. THIS THRESHOLD 
FORCES A SUSPENSION OF MANY HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES.

DETAILED DEFINITIONS FOR TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE WATCHES 
AND WARNINGS ARE POSTED ON LINE AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS:

 HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/WATCHWARN_CHANGES.SHTML

TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCHES AND WARNINGS FROM NHC ARE CONVEYED 
THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FORECAST PRODUCTS:

ATLANTIC HURRICANE BASIN:
PRODUCT TYPE LINE                    AWIPS ID/S   WMO HEADINGS
TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY     TCPAT1-5     WTNT31-35 KNHC
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST/ADVISORY   TCMAT1-5     WTNT21-25 KNHC
TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCH/WARNING       TCVAT1-5     WTNT81-85 KNHC


EASTERN PACIFIC HURRICANE BASIN:
PRODUCT TYPE LINE                    AWIPS ID/S   WMO HEADINGS
TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY     TCPEP1-5     WTPZ31-35 KNHC
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST/ADVISORY   TCMEP1-5     WTPZ21-25 KNHC
TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCH/WARNING       TCVEP1-5     WTPZ81-85 KNHC

THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE AWIPS IDENTIFIERS...WMO PRODUCT 
HEADINGS OR PRODUCT ISSUANCE TIMES FOR THE ABOVE PRODUCTS.   

THE NHC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL METEOROLOGICAL DECISIONS 
CONCERNING FORECASTING OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL SYSTEMS FOR 
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN...NORTH OF THE 
EQUATOR AND EAST OF 140 DEGREES WEST LONGITUDE.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT:
  JAMES FRANKLIN
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
  NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
  11691 SW 17TH STREET 
  MIAMI FLORIDA 33165
  305-229-4475

NATIONAL SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:

  HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF/HTM

$$
NNNN