What's the weather like in the ports I'm visiting?
Is there a tropical storm approaching?
How do I learn more about being prepared? | Active Weather Alerts (NOAA) | RSS Feeds (NOAA) | NWS - Local Weather | Met Office (UK) |
| Real-time Weather Sites | Weather.com | WeatherBug | Weather Underground |
Topics covered in this article:
Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tsunamis, Tides & Currents; Volcano Eruptions
Cruise lines will do everything to keep passengers and crew safe. A cruise is rarely canceled because of weather, even hurricanes. The cruise lines monitor progress of any storms both in their main offices and onboard the vessels. They work closely with the various weather services, such as NOAA and NHC, to make determinations about itinerary deviations.
In the event of an actual Tropical Storm Warning or other Alert, consult this blog for Cruise Line Alerts. Every attempt will be made to provide timely updates in the event of weather emergencies.
See where ships are relative to tropical storms
Interactive tracking map (real-time ship tracking)
Climate Prediction Center (CPC) meteorologists and oceanographers review climate and weather observations and data along with model results; assess their meaning, significance, and current status; and likely future climate impacts. Their findings are issued as assessments, advisories, special outlook discussions, and bulletins.
Hurricane season goes from June 1st through November. We will publish outlook and storm-specific articles to assist you in your cruise planning and travels. The links here can be useful for up to the minute information. What is a hurricane?
A Hurricane Preparedness Web site has been launched by NOAA. The goal of this Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.
National Hurricane Center (NHC) Active Storms
NASA Hurricane Tracking NASA Hurricane Education
Useful Web Sites for Tropical Storm Information
- NOAA Web Site - Weather alerts, historical data, outlooks
- Hurricane Preparedness - learn about hurricane hazards and make a plan
- Real-time Monitoring (Atlantic) - current atmospheric and oceanic conditions
- Real-time Monitoring (E. Pacific) - current atmospheric and oceanic conditions
- National Hurricane Center - graphical tropical weather outlook, marine forecast
- Canadian Hurricane Centre - graphical tropical weather outlook, marine forecast
- National Weather Service - maps, forecasts, satellite images, warnings
- Marine Forecasts - regionally focused information for mariners
- Climate Glossary - learn the terminology so that you are better prepared
- Colorado State University - Tropical Meteorology Project's Forecasts
- Historical Hurricane Tracks website - learn about historical tropical cyclones
- Climate Prediction Center (CPC) - expert assessments of climate and weather
- FEMA Hurricane Info - disaster info, plan & prepare, recover & rebuild
- Tropical Cyclone Hazards - damaging winds aren't the only danger
- The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale - updated 2010 and accepted by NWS
- Practical Guide to Hurricane Tracking & Plotting - very informative private site; also locals reporting
Related Blog Posts
- 2010 Hurricane Preparedness Call to Action
- Hurricane Preparedness for Cruisers
- Be Prepared for Hurricanes
- Above Average 2010 Hurricane Forecast
- NOAA 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
- NOAA 2010 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook
- NOAA 2010 Central Pacific Hurricane Prediction
- Hurricane Hazards - Inland Flooding
- Huricane Hazards - High Winds
- Hurricane Hazards - Storm Surge
- Hurricane Preparedness Week 2010
- Travel With Protection Against Unexpected
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| Rip Current Safety Tips |
A tropical storm in the West Pacific, when it intensifies, becomes a Typhoon. A typhoon is a tropical storm with sustained winds in excess of 119 km/h or approximately 74 mph. If the same storm were in the Atlantic, it would be called a hurricane.
- Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo - Typhoon Centre
- Tropical Cyclone Forecast Track
- Hong Kong Observatory (Tropical Cyclone Track)
- WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center
- NRL Monterey Marine Meteorology Division (Code 7500) Tropical Cyclone Page
- Tropical RAMSDIS Online (Satellite Images)
- Canadian Hurricane Centre
- HurricaneZone.net
- Chart Converting Zulu Time to Local Time Example: 301500Z = 11:00 AM EDT on the 30th
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of long ocean waves. Each individual wave crest can last 5 to 15 minutes or more and extensively flood coastal areas. The danger can continue for many hours after the initial wave as subsequent waves arrive. As we've seen recently, these can be spawned by major earthquakes, such as the one in Chile.
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| Click here for More Links |
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
- West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
- Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre
- International Tsunami Information Center
- Japan Meterology Agency
- NOAA Tsunami Page (Chile event Feb 27, 2010)
- Propagation animation
- TsunamiReady™
DART® real-time tsunami monitoring systems, developed by PMEL, are positioned at strategic locations throughout the ocean and play a critical role in tsunami forecasting.
DART® (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis)
Tides & Currents
- NOAA CO-OPS - Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services
- NOS Tide Data - High Water data, Alerts, state and regional data
- Tide & Current Predictor - University of SC data
- National Data Buoy Center - real-time data from NDBC
- Marine Prediction Center - Ocean Prediction Center products
- Naval Oceanography Portal - public access
Volcanic Activity
- Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) - location and movement of clouds of volcanic ash
- National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) - UK Air Navigation Services Provider
- EUROCONTROL Air Traffic Control
- Met Office - The UK’s National Weather Service
- British Geological Survey (BGS)
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland
- More information from NOAA about volcanoes
- Volcanism Blog
- EUMETSAT - Monitoring weather and climate from space (volcanic ash page)
- NASA Earth Observatory - images, stories, discoveries about climate and the environment
- SI / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report - published Wednesday
- Latest U.S. Volcano Alerts and Updates - Volcano Hazards Program (VHP)
- Volcano Hazards - volcano education: types of hazards
