Exaggeration of Wind Conditions in Hurricane Floyd and Other Tropical Cyclones

Abstract

In recent years the United States has developed a number of networks of automatic weather stations producing data accessible via the Internet and, in may cases, also by telephone. In September 1999 the passage of Hurricane Floyd up the East Coast of the United States was monitored by many of these stations. In this paper wind speed reports are compared with the statements issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), paying particular attention to those areas experiencing “hurricane-force” conditions. Considerable differences are found between the statements of wind conditions issued by the NHC and reports from official recording stations, the NHC often grossly overstating the severity of the conditions. Similar situations in other recent tropical cyclones are also cited. Recommendations are made for changes in the NHC’s practices to avoid such situations occurring in the future.