: Useful Links...Many More Coming

Posted by: atmosweather, 1:24 AM GMT on February 24, 2007

Yep, it's time for another Atlantic hurricane season! The 2008 edition officially began yesterday and has immediately announced itself with the development of Tropical Storm Arthur. If you live in a hurricane-prone state, even those up to 100 miles inland, now is the time to finish your preparations! Please do not wait until a major hurricane is bearing down on you. All information regarding hurricanes, safety, and how to prepare can be found on the National Hurricane Center's Preparedness Website (En Espanol), and is also available through most disaster relief organizations. This season is predicted, both by NOAA's official hurricane outlook and various unofficial long-range forecasts, to be another active one in line with the pattern that has continued since 1995. However, making forecasts for a six month period is very tough, especially when you are talking about the tropics. No one knows what the 2008 season will bring, so the only thing we can do is watch it unfold, and prepare for whatever comes our way.

Unfortunately, you will have to put up with me for a few months...lol! I probably won't keep an updated blog for the tropics since we have many talented and well-informed forecasters already doing this everyday, which can only be a blessing for those who need such accurate information. But I will be around the blogs as mych as I can be, and I'm always willing help out in my limited ways. A few months ago I would never have imagined myself coming back here, but my passion for meteorology returned eventually. I have decided to pursue educational opportunities both in school and outside of school that will hopefully make me a better forecaster, and have already completed a five month long internship at NWS Peachtree City in Georgia. One day, I hope to complete a masters degree in meterology and become a useful member of the Weather Underground. I will do my very best to be around throughout as much of the season as possible, and it will be our 4th hurricane season on the blogs. This place has changed a lot over the course of these last four years (I will never forget the days when it was just a few of us hanging around lefty's and Dr. Masters' blog!), but it still remains an incredible community of passionate members who educate, inform, advise, and comfort each other in the best possible manner. This is such a special place with many special individuals, and I am truly honored to be a very small part of it. As always, I look forward to speaking with you all, about the tropics, about weather in general, and most importantly, about life. I would not want it any other way =)

Rich

TROPICAL LINKS SECTION: Arranged By Type

Blogs and Text Forecasts:

Bob's (weatherguy03) Tropics Blog - The best place I know to find information on tropical threats.
Bob's Tropical Outlook for 2008
Dr. Masters' Blog
NHC Atlantic Tropical Outlook
NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion
NHC Eastern Pacific Tropical Outlook
NHC Eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion

Create your own visitor map!

NWS Watches and Warnings - Click for local hazards and forecasts.

Unisys Surface Analysis - Click to enlarge the image and for previous and regional surface maps. Other Unisys products can be found here.

GFS 00z 500 mb Plot
GFS 00z Surface Plot
All 00z GFS products

GFS 06z 500 mb Plot
GFS 06z Surface Plot
All 06z GFS products

GFS 12z 500 mb Plot
GFS 12z Surface Plot
All 12z GFS products

GFS 18z 500 mb Plot
GFS 18z Surface Plot
All 18z GFS products

GFS Data Extractor - Enter the ICAO (for example, Jacksonville would be entered as KJAX) and choose the images you want.

All 10-Day Models Page from Unisys

Model Forecast Soundings - Choose the model, then the forecast time, and the way you want the information displayed. Then click on the list of station ID's and find your city or closest city.

NWS Melbourne Local WRF Model - Lots of different variables and conditions to select from here. Gives a 24 hour Florida forecast from the NCEP WRF model using the Enviornmental Modeling System.

National Hazard Threats - Climate Prediction Center forecasted weather hazards for the next 7-14 days

SPC 1-3 Day Convective Outlooks - Click each image for enlarged graphic and discussion.

Current Mesoscale Discussions Page

NASA's GISS - Easily one of the most comprehensive sites on the web! Contains a wealth of information on climate, global weather, research, and much more. Research papers, articles, and news briefings can be found here, and all data, statistics, and images (which are extensive and extremely useful) are located here. Thanks to skyepony for giving me this great link!