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 within a designated area covering the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Pacific Ocean. Located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, the NHC plays a crucial role in providing early warnings and critical information for hurricane preparedness and safety.
1902: Hurricane Warning Responsibility Shifts to Washington, D.C.
In 1902, the responsibility for hurricane warnings and advisories was transferred to the central office in Washington, D.C., which would later become the National Meteorological Center and Weather Prediction Center.
1935: Regional Hurricane Offices Take Over, Atlantic Hurricane Season Established
The year 1935 marked a shift in hurricane forecasting as regional hurricane offices assumed the responsibility of issuing warnings and advisories. The concept of the Atlantic hurricane season was also established, leading to focused monitoring for tropical cyclones during specific periods.
1943: Jacksonville Hurricane Warning Office Moves to Miami
In 1943, the hurricane warning office relocated from Jacksonville to Miami, Florida, marking a significant move towards what would become the future home of the National Hurricane Center.
1947: Tropical Cyclone Naming Using Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet Begins
The year 1947 saw the initiation of a standardized naming system for Atlantic tropical cyclones, utilizing the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
1950: Miami Hurricane Warning Office Begins Annual Hurricane Season Summaries
Starting in 1950, the Miami Hurricane Warning Office took on the task of compiling and publishing annual summaries of hurricane seasons, contributing to a growing body of knowledge and analysis.
1953: Human Names Given to Tropical Storms
A notable shift occurred in 1953 when the United States Weather Bureau began assigning human names to storms reaching tropical storm intensity, a practice that continues today.
1954: One-Day Hurricane Forecast Introduced
In a step towards more extended forecasting, one-day forecasts were incorporated into hurricane advisories in 1954.
July 1, 1956: National Hurricane Information Center Established in Miami
On July 1, 1956, the National Hurricane Information Center was established in Miami, Florida, centralizing all hurricane-related data from various United States Weather Bureau offices.
July 1, 1958: Miami Hurricane Warning Office Relocates
The Miami Hurricane Warning Office was moved from the Lindsey Hopkins Hotel to the Aviation Building, located 4 miles northwest, on July 1, 1958.
1958: Tropical Cyclone Reports Available Since 1958
Since 1958, the NHC has been diligently compiling and making available detailed tropical cyclone reports for each storm in the Atlantic basin. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of the cyclone's life cycle, meteorological data, and impacts.
1961: Hurricane Forecasts Extended to Two Days
Building on previous advancements, hurricane forecasts were extended to two days in 1961, enhancing preparedness efforts.
1964: Three-Day Hurricane Forecasts and Modern Report Format
The year 1964 saw two significant developments: the extension of hurricane forecasts to three days and the standardization of the Miami HWO tropical cyclone reports into their present-day format.
1965: Miami HWO Becomes NHC
The Miami HWO, having moved to the University of Miami campus in 1964, was formally designated as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in 1965.
1967: Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch Established
The year 1967 saw the formation of the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB), initially known as the Tropical Satellite Analysis and Forecast unit and the Tropical Analysis Center, within the NHC.
1973: National Meteorological Center Assumes Inland Tropical Depression Responsibility
In 1973, the National Meteorological Center (later renamed the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center) assumed the critical role of monitoring and issuing advisories for inland tropical depressions.
1977: World Meteorological Organization Takes Over Atlantic Hurricane Naming
A significant change occurred in 1977 when the World Meteorological Organization took over the responsibility of managing the naming list for Atlantic hurricanes.
1978: NHC Relocates to IRE Financial Building
The year 1978 saw the NHC relocate its offices from the University of Miami campus to the IRE Financial Building, situated across U.S. Highway 1.
1979: Male Names Included in Hurricane Naming List
In a move towards gender inclusivity, the hurricane naming list began incorporating male names starting in the 1979 season.
1983: Hurricane Warning Offices Remain Active
Hurricane warning offices continued to play a vital role in monitoring and issuing warnings for tropical cyclones past 1983, highlighting their continued importance.
1984: NHC Becomes Independent from Miami Weather Service Forecast Office
In 1984, a significant organizational change took place, separating the NHC from the Miami Weather Service Forecast Office. This meant that the meteorologist in charge at Miami no longer held a supervisory position over the NHC director.
1987: Lixion Avila Begins Career at NHC
The year 1987 marked the beginning of Lixion Avila's tenure at the NHC, where he would become a respected senior hurricane specialist.
1988: NHC Assumes Responsibility for Eastern Pacific Tropical Cyclones
Expanding its area of responsibility, the NHC took over the monitoring and forecasting of eastern Pacific tropical cyclones in 1988 following the closure of the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center in San Francisco.
1988: Tropical Cyclone Reports Available for Eastern Pacific Since 1988
Expanding its coverage, the NHC began providing detailed tropical cyclone reports for the Eastern Pacific basin in 1988, offering valuable insights into these storms.
1992: Hurricane Andrew Damages NHC Equipment
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused significant damage to the NHC's and Miami State Weather Forecast offices, destroying the WSR-57 weather radar and anemometer on the roof.
April 1993: WSR-88D NEXRAD Radar System Installed
April 1993 marked a significant technological advancement with the installation of a WSR-88D NEXRAD radar system near Metro Zoo, replacing the previous radar destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
1995: Hurricane Specialists at the NHC
From 1995 to 2010, the specialized team known as the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU) within the NHC played a critical role as the primary meteorologists responsible for predicting the behavior of tropical storms.
1995: NHC Moves to Hurricane-Resistant Facility, Renamed Tropical Prediction Center
In 1995, the NHC relocated to a new, purpose-built, hurricane-resistant facility on the Florida International University campus, designed to withstand winds up to 130 mph. Coinciding with this move, the center was renamed the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC). Despite this name change, the hurricane specialists were organized into a distinct NHC unit within the TPC, separating them from the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch.
1999: Stacy Stewart Joins the NHC
In 1999, Stacy Stewart, who would later become a senior hurricane specialist, joined the NHC, bringing his expertise to the team.
1999: Tropical Cyclone Reports Renamed
In 1999, the NHC changed the name of its tropical cyclone reports, previously known as "Preliminary Reports," reflecting a shift towards a more finalized and comprehensive analysis.
2001: Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) Launch
In 2001, the Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) was launched as a collaborative effort between NOAA and the US Weather Research Program with the aim of accelerating the integration of tropical cyclone research into operational forecasting.
2001: Five-Day Hurricane Forecasts Implemented
In 2001, a significant leap in forecasting capabilities allowed for the extension of hurricane forecasts to five days, significantly improving long-range preparedness.
2008: NHC Budget and Staffing
In the fiscal year of 2008, the NHC operated with a budget of $6.8 million and employed a staff of 66, including 12 managers. This information highlights the resources and personnel dedicated to the critical task of hurricane forecasting.
October 1, 2010: Tropical Prediction Center Renamed to National Hurricane Center
On October 1, 2010, the organization underwent another name change, reverting from the Tropical Prediction Center back to its well-known title, the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The internal structure was also adjusted, with the group previously known as the NHC becoming the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU).
2010: Hurricane Specialists' Role and Responsibilities
Continuing their essential work past 2010, the hurricane specialists operate on rotating eight-hour shifts throughout the hurricane season, from May to November, diligently monitoring weather systems in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans. Their responsibilities include issuing advisories every six hours for any developing tropical or subtropical cyclone until it dissipates. The frequency of public advisories increases when a storm, particularly one expected to reach tropical storm or hurricane strength, poses a threat to land. The specialists collaborate closely with officials in potentially affected countries, providing crucial forecasts, recommendations for watches and warnings, ensuring coordinated preparedness and response efforts.
2013: Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Renamed
The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center underwent a name change in 2013, reflecting evolving roles and responsibilities within the meteorological community.
2015: Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) 20% Improvement Goal
The Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (HFIP) set a goal in 2015 to achieve a 20% enhancement in the numerical weather prediction models used by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
April 30, 2020: Senior Hurricane Specialist Lixion Avila Retires
On April 30, 2020, Lixion Avila, a senior hurricane specialist who dedicated his career to the NHC since 1987, retired, marking the end of an era.
2020: Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) 50% Improvement Goal
By 2020, the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (HFIP) aimed to attain a 50% improvement in tropical cyclone track forecasting and intensity guidance.
January 3, 2022: Senior Hurricane Specialist Stacy Stewart Retires
Stacy Stewart, another esteemed figure at the NHC, announced his retirement on January 3, 2022, after serving since 1999. Stewart, who also served in the U.S. Navy reserves, decided to retire due to health reasons stemming from injuries sustained in Iraq.