History of National Hurricane Center in Timeline

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is a division of the NOAA/National Weather Service. It tracks and predicts tropical weather systems in specific regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, providing crucial information for public safety. Located in Miami, Florida on the campus of Florida International University, it monitors weather patterns between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th parallel north in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the 31st parallel north in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

1902: Hurricane warning services shift to Washington, D.C.

In 1902, hurricane warning services, previously based in Jamaica and Cuba, shifted to Washington, D.C. The central office in Washington then assumed hurricane warning/advisory responsibility.

1935: Regional hurricane offices assume advisory responsibility and the concept of the Atlantic hurricane season is established.

In 1935, hurricane advisory responsibility passed to regional hurricane offices, and the concept of the Atlantic hurricane season was established to maintain vigilant monitoring for tropical cyclones during specific times of the year. Hurricane advisories issued every six hours by the regional hurricane offices also began at this time.

1943: Jacksonville hurricane warning office moved to Miami, Florida

In 1943, the Jacksonville hurricane warning office was moved to Miami, Florida.

1947: Tropical cyclone naming began for Atlantic tropical cyclones

In 1947, the naming of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic began using the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.

1950: Miami Hurricane Warning Office began preparing annual hurricane season summary articles

In 1950, the Miami Hurricane Warning Office started the preparation of annual hurricane season summary articles.

1953: Storms reaching tropical storm intensity were named with human names.

In the 1953 Atlantic season, the United States Weather Bureau began naming storms, which reach tropical storm intensity, with human names.

1954: Forecasts extended to one day into the future

In 1954, forecasts within the hurricane advisories were extended to one day into the future.

July 1, 1956: National Hurricane Information Center established

On July 1, 1956, the National Hurricane Information Center was established in Miami, Florida as a central repository for all hurricane-related information from the United States Weather Bureau office.

July 1, 1958: Miami Hurricane Warning Office moved to the Aviation Building

On July 1, 1958, the Miami Hurricane Warning Office (HWO) moved from the Lindsey Hopkins Hotel to the Aviation Building, 4 miles (6.4 km) to the northwest.

1958: Tropical cyclone reports available since 1958

Since 1958, the agency issues a tropical cyclone report on every tropical cyclone in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Ocean basins.

1961: Forecasts extended to two days into the future

In 1961, forecasts within the hurricane advisories were extended to two days into the future.

1964: Forecasts extended to three days into the future; Miami HWO moved to the University of Miami campus; Modern format for tropical cyclone reports began

In 1964, forecasts within the hurricane advisories were extended to three days into the future. The Miami HWO also moved to the campus of the University of Miami, and the Miami HWO tropical cyclone reports took on their 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 (TAFB) 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 tracking 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 the Atlantic hurricane naming list

In 1977, the World Meteorological Organization assumed 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 moved off the campus of the University of Miami across U.S. Highway 1 to the IRE Financial Building.

1979: Male names added into the hurricane list

In 1979, male names were added into the hurricane list.

1983: Hurricane warning offices remained active

In 1983, the hurricane warning offices remained active.

1984: NHC separated from the Miami Weather Service Forecast Office

In 1984, the NHC was separated from the Miami Weather Service Forecast Office, meaning the meteorologist in charge at Miami was no longer in a supervisory position over the hurricane center director.

1988: NHC gained responsibility for eastern Pacific tropical cyclones.

In 1988, the NHC gained responsibility for eastern Pacific tropical cyclones as the former Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center in San Francisco was decommissioned.

1988: Tropical cyclone reports available since 1988 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Since 1988, the agency issues a tropical cyclone report on every tropical cyclone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean basins.

1992: Hurricane Andrew damaged NHC's weather equipment

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew blew the WSR-57 weather radar and the anemometer off the roof of NHC's/the Miami State Weather Forecast offices.

April 1993: WSR-88D NEXRAD system installed near Metro Zoo

In April 1993, the damaged WSR-57 weather radar was replaced with a WSR-88D NEXRAD system installed near Metro Zoo, near where Hurricane Andrew made landfall.

1995: NHC also known as Tropical Prediction Center

From 1995 to 2010, the NHC was also known as the Tropical Prediction Center.

1995: NHC moved to a hurricane-resistant facility and was renamed the Tropical Prediction Center

In 1995, the NHC moved into a new hurricane-resistant facility on the campus of Florida International University, capable of withstanding 130 mph winds. Its name was also changed to the Tropical Prediction Center in 1995.

1999: Preliminary Reports formally known as Tropical cyclone reports

Up until 1999, tropical cyclone reports were formally known as Preliminary Reports.

2001: Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) joint operation began.

In 2001, The Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) is a joint operation between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and United States Weather Research Program to speed up the transfer of tropical cyclone-related research into forecast operations.

2001: Forecasts extended to five days into the future

In 2001, forecasts within the hurricane advisories were extended to five days into the future.

2008: NHC Budget for fiscal year 2008

For the fiscal year of 2008, the budget for the NHC was $6.8 million. The NHC staff has 66 members including 12 managers. The NHC is one of nine national centers which compose the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP).

October 1, 2010: Tropical Prediction Center renamed NHC

On October 1, 2010, the Tropical Prediction Center was renamed the NHC, and the group formerly known as the NHC became known as the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU).

2010: Hurricane specialists within the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU) are the chief meteorologists that predict the actions of tropical storms

In 2010, the hurricane specialists within the Hurricane Specialist Unit (HSU) are the chief meteorologists that predict the actions of tropical storms

2013: National Meteorological Center renamed Hydrometeorological Prediction Center for a second time

In 2013, the National Meteorological Center duties were renamed Hydrometeorological Prediction Center for a second time.

2015: Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) five-year goal leads to a 20 percent improvement

In 2015, 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.

April 30, 2020: Senior hurricane specialist Lixion Avila retired after working at the NHC since 1987.

On April 30, 2020, senior hurricane specialist Lixion Avila retired after working at the NHC since 1987.

2020: Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program's (HFIP) five-year goal leads to a 50 percent improvement

In 2020, 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.

January 3, 2022: Senior hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart retired after working at the NHC since 1999.

On January 3, 2022, senior hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart retired after working at the NHC since 1999. He retired due to surgeries and post-surgical effects after being injured in Iraq.

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