Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclones and hurricanes are xxx. They are the No.1 hazard for the US, causing xxx of loss.

- how do they make an impact

Impacts

Hurricanes pose hazards related to coastal flooding, erosion, and movement of contaminants in highly populated areas. Damage to natural systems can have long-term ecological consequences. The USGS applies a broad range of expertise to assess these hazards, forecast their impacts, understand potential risks, and use this knowledge to inform preparedness, response and recovery.

Dataset Information

The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS)

National Hurricane Center Historical Database

Context: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) performs detailed post-storm analysis of each tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin, which includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, as well as the North Pacific Ocean. This comprehensive examination utilizes all available observations to officially assess the cyclone's history, including data not available in real-time. The NHC is also committed to regularly updating the historical record as new analyses are reviewed.

Visualization

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

a geographical map showing the tracks of selected cyclones from both the Atlantic and Pacific basins. Blue lines represent Atlantic cyclones, while green lines represent Pacific cyclones. This map provides a visual representation of the paths taken by these cyclones.

Content: The NHC releases the tropical cyclone historical data in a database known as HURDAT (HURricane DATabase). This repository consists of the Atlantic HURDAT2 and the NE/NC Pacific HURDAT2 databases. They provide six-hourly updates on various aspects of all known tropical and subtropical cyclones, including their location, maximum winds, and central pressure. Since 2004, the database also includes the size of these cyclones.

• Data Type: Gridded, historical database
• Coverage: Atlantic basin, North Pacific Ocean
• Temporal Resolution: Six-hourly intervals
• Variables:
  • Location (Latitude, Longitude)
  • Maximum Winds (knots)
  • Central Pressure (millibars)
  • Size parameters (nautical miles, post-2004)
• File Format: CSV, PDF
• Update Frequency: Post-storm analysis, with regular updates

Sample Entry

Below is an example of how data is recorded in the HURDAT database:

ID	Name	Date	Time	Event	Status	Latitude	Longitude	Maximum Wind
AL011851	UNNAMED	18510625	0		HU	28.0N	94.8W	80
AL011851	UNNAMED	18510625	600		HU	28.0N	95.4W	80

Usage

Researchers, meteorologists, and the public can utilize the HURDAT databases for various purposes, such as climatological studies, risk assessment, and educational projects.

Accessing the Data

The HURDAT databases can be accessed through the following links:

• https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Data_Storm.html
• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/
• NASA tropical cyclone: https://disasters-nasa.hub.arcgis.com/ also soil moisture.
• storm-tide monitoring: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/storm-tide-monitoring#overview
• National hurricane center: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/102341.shtml?cone#contents USGS Hurricane resources: https://www.usgs.gov/hurricanes
• storm events database by NOAA: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/
• severe weather data inventory by NOAA https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/severe-weather-data-inventory view https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/swdi/
• usgs total water level and coastal change forecast viewer: https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/research/twlviewer/
• flooding and storm surge associated with storms will also