Hurricanes: Science and Society: Hurricane Forecast Regions and Centers

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Hurricane Forecast Regions and Centers

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an agency of the United Nations (UN), has designated specific Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWCs) throughout the world as agencies responsible for issuing tropical cyclone forecasts and warnings in each of the ocean basins. A list of ocean basins and the responsible RSMCs and TCWCs are shown in the following figure:

Locations of the RSMCs and TCWCs and their ocean basins of forecast responsibility. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (RSMC Miami) is responsible for both the North Atlantic basin (region 1) and the part of the Northeast Pacific basin from the west coast of North America to 140°W longitude (eastern part of region 2). NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center (RSMC Honolulu) is responsible for the rest of the Northeast Pacific from 140°W to 180° longitude, also sometimes referred to as the North Central Pacific basin (western part of region 2). The Japan Meteorological Agency (RSMC Tokyo) is officially responsible for the Northwest Pacific basin (region 3), but forecast duties are shared by China, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. The Indian Meteorological Department (RSMC New Delhi) is officially responsible for the North Indian basin (region 4), but forecast duties are shared by India, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, and Sri Lanka. Meteo-France (RSMC La Reunion) is officially responsible for the Southwest Indian basin (region 5) but forecast duties are shared by Reunion Island, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Kenya. TCWCs within the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Perth and Darwin) and the Meteorology and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia share responsibility for the Southeast Indian basin, including many seas and gulfs near Australia (region 6). TCWCs within the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Brisbane), the Meteorological Service of New Zealand (Wellington), and the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service (Port Moresby), as well as the Fiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi) share responsibility for the South Pacific basin (region 7 and eastern part of region 6). Image credit: NOAA/AOML.

Forecasts are also issued by other agencies not specifically designated by the WMO, including the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the Canadian Hurricane Centre, and various private companies. While private companies typically create specialized hurricane forecasts primarily for their clients, some of these companies share certain products they develop with governmental agencies or the general public free of charge.

For all tropical cyclones that may impact the United States (excluding Hawaii), the NHC is the primary institution responsible for issuing hurricane forecasts. United States watches and warnings are jointly determined by the NHC and local National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs). Before, during, and after a U.S. landfall, NWS WFOs provide forecasts of local hurricane impacts, including storm surge, wind damage, and inland flooding from rainfall (see Hurricane Hazards and Impacts).

Photograph of forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Image credit: NOAA/NHC.

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