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Weekly Weather Event -Week of July 20th

July 24, 2020

As of this writing, Tropical Storms Gonzalo and Hanna are active storms within the Atlantic. Gonzalo is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the southern Windward Islands, bringing rain, strong winds, and possible flash flooding conditions. Hanna is expected to bring heavy rainfall along the Texas and upper Louisiana coasts. In addition to the rainfall, storm surges will likely lead to flooding and dangerous surf and rip currents.

In the United States, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Central Pacific Hurricane Center monitor tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Pacific, and the Central Pacific. The NHC is made up of several units, though the general public is most familiar with the work of the Hurricane Specialist Unit. Their jobs include issuing analysis, forecasts, advisories, watches, and warnings for the United States and its Caribbean territories while also providing recommendations to the World Meteorological Organization. The Hurrican Specialist Unit also trains emergency managers and representatives from other countries impacted by tropical storms as part of its outreach program.

There are multiple other units within the NHC. The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch specializes in marine forecasting and tropical meteorology. The Technology and Science Branch develops new forecasting tools and techniques with the aid of other governmental and academic agencies, and the Storm Surge Unit within the branch provides analysis of sea level rise during tropical cyclone events. The Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes unit coordinates tropical cyclone reconnaissance missions between the Hurricane Hunters and the NHC. Finally, the Hurricane Liaison Team helps communicate information between the NHC, the National Weather Service, and emergency managers at the federal, state, and local level.