History of National Hurricane Center in Timeline
The National Hurricane Center (NHC), a division of NOAA/National Weather Service, monitors and forecasts tropical weather systems in specific regions of the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific Oceans. Located on the campus of Florida International University in Miami, Florida, it provides crucial information for public safety and preparedness regarding hurricanes and tropical storms. Their area of responsibility spans from the Prime Meridian to the 140th meridian west, and poleward to the 30th/31st parallels north.
1935: Hurricane Warning Responsibility Shifted to Regional Offices and Atlantic Hurricane Season Established
In 1935, hurricane warning/advisory responsibility was transferred to regional hurricane offices. The concept of the Atlantic hurricane season was established to monitor tropical cyclones, and hurricane advisories were issued every six hours.
1947: Tropical Cyclone Naming Began
In 1947, naming of Atlantic tropical cyclones began using the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
1950: Annual Hurricane Season Summary Articles Prepared
In 1950, the Miami Hurricane Warning Office started preparing annual hurricane season summary articles.
1953: Storms Named with Human Names
In the 1953 Atlantic season, the United States Weather Bureau started naming storms reaching tropical storm intensity with human names.
1954: Hurricane Advisories Extended One Day into the Future
In 1954, forecasts within the hurricane advisories were issued one day into the future.
1958: Tropical Cyclone Report for Every Tropical Cyclone in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Ocean Basins
In 1958, the agency issues a tropical cyclone report on every tropical cyclone in the Atlantic.
1961: Hurricane Advisories Extended Two Days into the Future
In 1961, forecasts within hurricane advisories were extended to two days into the future.
1964: Hurricane Advisories Extended Three Days into the Future and Miami HWO Moved to University of Miami
In 1964, forecasts within hurricane advisories were extended to three days into the future. Also in 1964, the Miami HWO moved to the campus of the University of Miami and began producing tropical cyclone reports in modern format.
1965: Miami HWO Referred to as NHC
In 1965, the Miami HWO was referred to as the NHC.
1967: Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch Created
In 1967, the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) was created as part of the National Hurricane Center.
1973: National Meteorological Center Gained Advisory Responsibility for Inland Tropical Depressions
In 1973, the National Meteorological Center gained advisory responsibility for tracking and publicizing inland tropical depressions.
1977: World Meteorological Organization Assumed Control of Atlantic Hurricane Naming List
In 1977, the World Meteorological Organization took over control of the Atlantic hurricane naming list.
1978: NHC Offices Moved Off the Campus of the University of Miami
In 1978, the NHC's offices relocated off the University of Miami campus.
1979: Male Names Added to Hurricane List
In the 1979 season, male names were incorporated into the hurricane naming list.
1983: Hurricane Warning Offices Remained Active
In 1983, hurricane warning offices remained active.
1984: NHC Separated from Miami Weather Service Forecast Office
In 1984, the NHC became independent from the Miami Weather Service Forecast Office.
1987: Lixion Avila Started at the NHC
In 1987, Lixion Avila started at the NHC
1988: NHC Gained Responsibility for Eastern Pacific Tropical Cyclones
In 1988, the NHC assumed responsibility for eastern Pacific tropical cyclones after the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center in San Francisco was decommissioned.
1988: Tropical Cyclone Report for Every Tropical Cyclone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Basins
In 1988, the agency issues a tropical cyclone report on every tropical cyclone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean basins.
1992: Hurricane Andrew Damaged NHC Facilities
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed the WSR-57 weather radar and the anemometer on the roof of NHC's/the Miami State Weather Forecast offices.
April 1993: WSR-88D NEXRAD System Installed
In April 1993, a WSR-88D NEXRAD system was installed near Metro Zoo to replace the radar damaged by Hurricane Andrew.
1995: Hurricane Specialists within the Hurricane Specialist Unit
From 1995 through 2010, hurricane specialists within the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU) were the chief meteorologists that predicted the actions of tropical storms.
1995: NHC Moved to New Facility and Renamed Tropical Prediction Center
In 1995, the NHC moved into a new hurricane-resistant facility on the campus of Florida International University and was renamed the Tropical Prediction Center.
1999: Stacy Stewart Started at the NHC
In 1999, Stacy Stewart started at the NHC.
1999: Reports were formally known as Preliminary Reports
Up until 1999, the reports were formally known as Preliminary Reports.
2001: Hurricane Advisories Extended Five Days into the Future
In 2001, forecasts within hurricane advisories were extended to five days into the future.
2001: Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) Established
Since 2001, the Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) was established to speed up the transfer of tropical cyclone-related research into forecast operations.
2008: NHC Budget Information for Fiscal Year 2008
For the fiscal year of 2008, the budget for the NHC was $6.8 million, and the staff had 66 members.
October 1, 2010: Tropical Prediction Center Renamed NHC
On October 1, 2010, the Tropical Prediction Center was renamed the NHC, and the original NHC group became known as the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU).
2010: Hurricane Specialists within the Hurricane Specialist Unit
From 1995 through 2010, hurricane specialists within the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU) were the chief meteorologists that predicted the actions of tropical storms.
2013: The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Renamed for the Second Time
In 2013, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center was renamed for the second time.
2015: Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) Goal
The Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) five-year goal is to lead to a 20 percent improvement within the numerical weather prediction models provided by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction to NHC by 2015.
April 30, 2020: Senior Hurricane Specialist Lixion Avila Retired
On April 30, 2020, Lixion Avila, a senior hurricane specialist, retired after working at the NHC since 1987.
2020: Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) Goal
The Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) five-year goal is to lead to a 50 percent improvement within tropical cyclone track forecasting and intensity guidance by 2020.
January 3, 2022: Senior Hurricane Specialist Stacy Stewart Retired
On January 3, 2022, Stacy Stewart, a senior hurricane specialist and U.S. Navy reservist, retired after working at the NHC since 1999.
