Plain-English guides
Hurricane basics
Everything you need to understand the forecast when a storm is coming.
Hurricane categories explainedWhat Category 1 through 5 mean, the wind speeds for each, and why storm surge and rain can be deadlier than the category suggests.Watch vs. warningHurricane watch vs. hurricane warning, tropical storm and storm surge watches and warnings, and what to do when each one is issued for your area.Spaghetti models explainedWhat hurricane spaghetti models are, what GFS, Euro, HAFS and the consensus mean, how they differ from the NHC cone, and how to read them without panicking.When is hurricane season?Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. When it peaks, when the Gulf Coast is most at risk, and how to stay ready all year.Hurricane prep guideWhat to do before the season, when a storm forms, when a warning is issued, and after it passes.
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Local storm-prep businessesGeneral information, not an official forecast. Always follow the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service and your local emergency management.