National hurricane center...

National Hurricane Center, Miami: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is situated in Miami, Florida and is considered to be one of the most sophisticated and experienced weather centers. The National Hurricane Center is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has the overall responsibility for research and forecasts on climate and weather. It is responsible to the government of the United States of America. The current director of the National Hurricane Center is X. William Proenza.

It has a 24-hour watching brief from 15 May till the end of November. The centre generates hurricane warnings and news for all who need to know the results of storms. The need may arise out of the kind of work they do or evacuation. This applies not only to the United States, but also the neighboring countries, to makes it easier for governments to evacuate the population, if need arises.

To simplify this process, the forecasters constantly study the upper atmosphere winds and the satellite pictures, along with the potential stability of the atmosphere. Whenever they spot something, they call the US Navy and Air Force to dispatch aircraft for flying into the storms and dropping instruments to record development. After observing various weather forecast models from around the world, the National Hurricane Center issues advisories, grading them every three hours when hurricane watches are posted. This assists in saving lives throughout the US and bordering countries.

National Weather Service: The NOAA National Hurricane Center, Miami is a part of the NOAA, the National Weather Service, which is the focal point for information on hurricane warning and forecast programs for almost 50 years now. Their main mission is saving lives, mitigating property loss and improving economic efficiency, by issuing the best forecasts, warnings and watches on hazardous tropical weather and by adding to the public’s knowledge of the impending danger.

National Hurricane Center prediction for Hurricane Rita and Katrina: According to the National Hurricane Center prediction for Hurricane Rita, the hurricane was most likely to make a landfall in Texas, but would be anywhere from northwest Mexico to southwest Louisiana. Immediately after the National Hurricane Center prediction, Houston being one of the nation’s fourth most-populous cities had clogged highways as residents scurried to leave.

Similarly, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts had rightly foretold that Katrina would intensify to the strength of a hurricane before landfall. Various hurricane warnings and watches were issued 19.5 hours and 31.5 hours before landfall, respectively. During the 2006 North Atlantic hurricane season, NHC (NOAA) predicted 13 to 16 storms with eight to ten hurricane possibilities, out of which four to six were labeled 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

National Hurricane Center operations in Canada: The National Hurricane Centers in Dartmouth and Miami regularly consult each other and coordinate the positions and tracks of all storms that are a threat to Canada. Canada relies on the National Hurricane Center and the American media and forecasts for information on storms. For instance, when Hurricane Gloria was to hit Canada, the National Hurricane Center declared it to be the ‘Storm of the Century’.