Advisory
|
... Official
information issued by Tropical Cyclone Centers, such as the National
Hurricane Center near Miami, FL. Describes all tropical cyclone watches
and warnings in effect along with details concerning locations,
intensity, movement, and precautions that should be taken. Advisories
are also issued to describe tropical cyclones prior to the issuance of
watches and warnings and subtropical cyclones. |
| Beach
Erosion |
... the
carrying and wearing away of beach materials, such as sand or rocks, by
wave action, currents tides or wind. |
| Beaufort
Scale |
... a scale
that indicates the wind speed using the effect wind has on certain
farmiliar objects. |
| "Bomb" |
...
indicates an expected rapid intensification of a cyclone (low pressure)
with surface pressure expected to fall by at least 24 milibars in 24
hour. |
|
Coastal Flood Statement |
... Keeps
the public and cooperating agencies informed of the status of existing
coastal flood watches and warnings, as well as provides an update on
local conditions. Also used to cancel a watch or warning. |
Coastal
Flooding
. |
... the
inundation of land areas along the ocean coast caused by sea waters over
and above normal tidal action that may be originate from the ocean
front, back bays, sounds, or other bodies of ocean water. |
Coastal Flood Warning
|
... issued
when tidal flooding or storm induced flooding is occurring, imminent or
highly likely along coastal areas within approximately the next 12
hours. A coastal flood watch alerts coastal residents to the
possibility of flooding. A coastal flood warning means that flooding is
imminent or occurring. Coastal waters extend out 100 nautical miles. |
|
Coastal Flood Watch |
... issued
when conditions are favorable for tidal flooding or storm induced
flooding along coastal areas within approximately 12 to 36 hours. |
|
Coastal Waters |
... the
marine area, including bays, harbors and sounds extending from the coast
to 20 nautical miles offshore. |
| Crest |
... highest
point in a wave. |
Dusk
. |
...
Dusk or civil dusk is
the time at which the
sun is 6
degrees below the
horizon in the
evening. At this time objects are distinguishable but there is no longer
enough light to perform any outdoor activities. |
| Fathom |
... unit of
depth in the ocean equal to 6 feet. |
| Fetch |
... the
marine area in which waves are generated by winds consisting of a near
constant direction and speed. |
| Freezing
Spray |
... an
accumulation of freezing water droplets on a vessel caused by a
combination of the wind, water, air temperature and vessel temperature.
|
| Gale
Warning. |
... issued
for sustained winds or frequent gusts of 34 to 47 knots, not associated
with a tropical storm. Can be issued up to 24 hours before the
conditions are expected. |
Greenwich Mean Time
|
...
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the
mean solar time
at the
Royal Greenwich Observatory
in
Greenwich near
London in
England, which by
convention is at 0 degrees geographic
longitude. |
| Heavy
Surf |
... large
waves breaking on or near the shore resulting from swells spawned by a
distant storm. |
| Heavy
Surf Advisory. |
... issued
for heavy surf that poses a threat to life and/or property. Such
advisories may be issued alone or in conjunction with coastal flood
watches or warnings. |
| High |
... an area
of high pressure usually accompanied by anticyclonic (clockwise) outward
flow. |
|
High Seas |
... that
portion of the Atlantic Ocean which extends from 20 to 40 nm off the
East Coast to 35 W. |
Horizon
|
...
The horizon is the
line that separates
earth from
sky. The
distance of the horizon on earth, in a plain (standing on the ground or
on a tower, or from a plane) or on a hill or mountain surrounded by
plains, is approximately kilometers, where h is the height in meters of
the eyes. Examples: Standing on the ground with h = 1.70 m,
the horizon is at a distance of 4.7 km. Standing on a hill or
tower of 100 m height, the horizon is at a distance of 36 km
|
|
Hurricane Eye |
... The
relatively calm area in the center of the storm. In this area, winds are
relatively light and the sky often is only partly covered by clouds. |
|
Hurricane Eye Wall |
... The area
surrounding the hurricane eye. Usually the most intense winds of the
hurricane are located here. |
Hurricane Season
. |
... The part
of the year having a relatively high incidence of hurricanes. In the
Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and central Pacific, the hurricane
season is from June through November. |
|
Hurricane Local Statement. |
... A public
release in or near the threatened area giving specific details on
weather conditions, evacuation decisions made by local officials, and
other necessary precautions to protect life and property. |
|
Hurricane Watch |
... An
announcement for specific locations that a hurricane poses a possible
threat generally within 36 hours. |
Hurricane Warning
. |
... A
warning that sustained surface winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher are
expected in specified coastal areas within 24 hours or less. A hurricane
warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water and/or
exceptionally high waves continue even though winds may be less than
hurricane force. |
|
Inland High Wind Watches For Hurricane Force Winds |
... Issued
for inland locations when hurricane force winds are anticipated beyond
the coastal areas though the actual occurrence, timing, and location are
still uncertain. |
| Knot |
... is equal
to 1 nautical miles per hour or 1.15 statue miles (the length of 1
minute latitude) per hour. |
| Land
Breeze |
... a wind
that blows from the land towards a body of water. Also known as an
offshore breeze. It occurs when the land is colder than the water.
|
| Lightning |
... any form
of visible electrical discharges produced by thunderstorms |
| Low |
... an area
of low pressure usually accompanied by cyclonic (counterclockwise)
inward flow. |
|
Marine Weather Statement |
... issued
to provide mariners with details on significant or potentially hazardous
conditions. |
| Mean
Lower Low Water |
... a tidal
datum which corresponds to the average mean of the lower low tide
heights of a mixed tide observed over a specific 19 year period.
|
| Nautical
Mile (nm) |
... unit of
distance used for marine navigation and is equal to 1.15 statue miles.
|
| Neap Tide |
... occurs
at the first and third quarters of the moon. |
Offshore Waters
. |
... the
portion of the ocean, gulfs and seas beyond the coastal waters extending
to a specified distance from the coastline (usually 100 nm), a specified
depth, or covering an area defined by specific latitude and longitude
points. |
|
Rip Currents |
... are
narrow channels of water flowing seaward from the beach through breaking
waves in the surf zones. They can rapidly carry a person into deeper
waters. |
| Sea
Breeze |
... a wind
that flows from a sea or ocean towards a land mass. Also known as an
onshore breeze. It occurs when the land is warmer than the water.
|
|
Significant Wave Height |
... the
average wave height of the 1/3 highest waves reported by an experienced
observer. |
| Small
Craft Advisory |
... issued
for sustained winds or frequent gusts of 25 to 33 knots and/or seas 5
feet or higher. Can be issued up to 12 hours before the conditions are
expected. |
Special Marine Warning
.
|
... issued
to convey information regarding hazardous convective activity or other
short-term weather events occurring over the water or which may impact
those on the water. For brief or sudden occurrence of sustained winds or
frequent gusts 34 knots or greater. Usually in association with
thunderstorms and/or waterspouts. |
| Spring
Tide. |
... tides of
increased range or tidal currents of increased speed that occur
semimonthly as a result of the new moon or the full moon. |
Squall
. |
... a sudden
wind increase characterized by a duration of minutes and followed by a
sudden decrease in winds (an increase in wind speed of 16 knots or more
and sustained at 20 knots or more for at least 1 minute). |
St.
Elmo's Fire
. |
... the glow
on a masthead produced by an extreme buildup of electrical charge.
Unprotected mariners should immediately move to shelter when this
phenomena occurs. Lightning may strike the mast within five minutes
after it begins to glow. |
Storm Summary
. |
.... Issued
by the National Hurricane Center after subtropical and tropical cyclones
have moved inland and advisories have been discontinued. These summaries
are initiated when and if flash flood watches are posted in the
conterminous U.S. because of an approaching system. |
Storm
Surge
.
|
... the
difference between the astronomical tide and the observed tide. An
abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a tropical cyclone. The height
is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the
level that would have occurred in the absence of the storm. |
| Storm
Tide. |
... the
actual water level resulting from the astronomical tide plus the storm
surge. This term is used interchangeably with "hurricane tide". |
| Storm
Warning |
... issued
for sustained winds or frequent gusts of 48 knots or higher, not
associated with a tropical storm. Can be issued up to 24 hours before
the conditions are expected. |
| Swell |
... wind
generated waves that have traveled out of their area of origin. Swells
exhibit smoother, more regular and uniform crests and longer wave
periods than wind waves. |
Sunrise (see
Twilight)
. |
...
Sunrise, also called sunup in some
American English
dialects, is the
time at which the first part of the
Sun appears above
the
horizon in the
east. Sunrise should not be confused with
dawn, which is
the (variously defined) point at which the sky begins to lighten, some
time before the sun itself appears, ending
twilight.
|
Sunset (see
Twilight)
. |
...
Sunset, also called sundown in some
American English
dialects, is the
time at which the
Sun disappears
below the
horizon in the
west. It should
not be confused with
dusk, which is
the (variously defined) point at which darkness falls, some time after
the Sun itself sets (which begins
twilight).
|
| Surf |
... the
waves in the area between the shoreline and the outermost limit of
breakers. |
Tidal
Piling
|
...
abnormally high water levels caused by an accumulation of successive
incoming tides that do not allow the water to completely drain due to
opposing strong winds and/or waves/swells. |
| Tide |
... the
periodic rise and fall of water resulting from the gravitational
interactions between the Earth, Moon and Sun. |
| Tide
Anomaly |
... actual
water level minus the tide table predictions. |
| Tide
Cycle |
... the
periodic changes in the intensity of tides caused primarily by the
varying relations between the Earth, Moon and Sun. |
| Tide
Times |
... are
given in local time on NOAA Weather Radio (EST or EDT). |
|
Tropical Disturbance Statement (Special) |
... Issued
to furnish information on strong formative, nondepression systems. It
focuses on major threats of the disturbance, such as the potential for
torrential rains on island or inland areas. |
|
Tropical Cyclone Conditions
(Strike Probability Forecast) |
... The
probability, in percent, that the cyclone center will pass within 50
miles to the right or 75 miles to the left of the listed locations
within the indicated time period when looking at the coast in the
direction of the cyclone's movement. |
Tropical Cyclone Public Advisories
|
... Serve as
the primary tropical cyclone information products issued by Tropical
Cyclone Centers for the general public. They are issued after a
confirmed tropical cyclone has developed. Sub-group product names in
this category are: Special Public Advisory, Intermediate Public
Advisory, Tropical Depression Advisory, Subtropical Cyclone Public
Advisory, and Special Public Subtropical Forecast/Advisory. |
|
Tropical Cyclone Updates |
... Brief
statements issued in lieu of or preceding special advisories to inform
of significant changes in a tropical cyclone, or to post or cancel
watches and warnings. |
Tropical Storm Watch
|
... An
announcement that a tropical storm or tropical storm conditions pose a
threat to coastal areas generally within 36 hours. A tropical storm
watch is not usually issued if a tropical cyclone is forecast to attain
hurricane strength. |
|
Tropical Storm Warning |
... A
warning that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) inclusive
are expected in specified coastal areas within 24 hours. |
Tropical Weather Discussion & Outlook & Summary
. |
... The
discussion describes significant synoptic (large-scale) weather features
in the tropics. The outlook discusses significant areas of disturbed
weather in the tropics and subtropics and their potential for tropical
cyclone development out to 48 hours. The summary is prepared after each
month to summarize the previous month's tropical cyclone activity and
the reasons why. |
| Trough |
... lowest
point in a wave. |
Twilight
|
...
Nautical twilight begins and ends when the centre of the refracted
disk of the sun is greater than 12 degrees below the horizon. This is
the time when sailors can take reliable star sights of well known stars,
using a visible horizon for reference. |
Universal Time
|
...
Universal Time (UT) is a timescale based on the rotation of the
Earth. It is a
modern continuation of the
Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT), i.e., the mean solar time on the
meridian of
Greenwich, England, which is the conventional 0-meridian for geographic
longitude. GMT is sometimes used, incorrectly, as a
synonym for UTC.
|
|
Waterspout |
... a
tornado over water - a rapidly rotating column of air extending from the
a cumulonimbus cloud with a circulation that reaches the surface of
water. |
| Wave
Height |
... height
from crest to trough. |
| Wave
Length |
... distance
from crest (trough) to the next crest (trough). |
| Wave
Period |
... time
between consecutive crests (troughs) to pass a fixed point. |
| Wind Wave |
... local
waves of short period generated from the action of wind only on the
water surface. |
