AN OPERATIONAL TECHNIQUE FOR RELATING THE MOVEMENT OF EXISTING TROPICAL CYCLONES TO PAST TRACKS 1

Abstract

The HURRAN (hurricane analog) technique for selecting analogs for an existing tropical storm or hurricane is described. This fully computerized program examines tracks of all Atlantic tropical storms or hurricanes since 1886, and those that have designated characteristics similar to an existing storm are selected and identified. Positions of storms selected as analogs are determined at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hr after the initial time. Probability ellipses are computed from the resulting arrays and plotted on an 2, y (CALCOMP) offline plotter. The program also has the option of computing the probability that the storm center will be located within a fixed distance of a given point at a specific time. Operational use of HURRAN during the 1969 hurricane season, including both its utility and limitations, is described.