National Hurricane Center (NHC)

Overview

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is a component of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), part of NOAA's National Weather Service. It is located on the main campus of Florida International University in Miami, where it is co-located with the National Weather Service Miami-South Florida Weather Forecast Office.

Mission and Vision

The NHC's mission is to save lives, mitigate property loss, and improve economic efficiency by issuing the best watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and by increasing understanding of these hazards. Its vision is to be America's calm, clear, and trusted voice in the eye of the storm and, with its partners, to enable communities to be safe from tropical weather threats.

How the Center Works

Hurricane Specialist Unit — Maintains a continuous watch on tropical cyclones and areas of disturbed weather in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins, issues coastal tropical cyclone watches and warnings for the United States and its Caribbean territories, and trains U.S. emergency managers and representatives from many other countries affected by tropical cyclones.

Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch — Produces year-round analyses and forecasts for the tropical and subtropical eastern North and South Pacific and the North Atlantic, including high seas and offshore waters forecasts, and supports hurricane operations with storm position and intensity estimates.

Technology & Science Branch — Develops new tools and techniques for tropical weather prediction and supports the center's computer and communications systems, including the NHC website.

Storm Surge Unit — Forecasts storm surge using the SLOSH computer model and prepares storm surge atlases that emergency managers use to plan coastal evacuations.

CARCAH — A remote operating location of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters, which coordinates reconnaissance flights into tropical cyclones.

Hurricane Liaison Team — Emergency managers and National Weather Service meteorologists and hydrologists who keep federal, state, and local officials informed about a storm's progress and threat.