The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is located in Miami, Florida as a part of the Miami National Weather Service Office. The NHC is divided into several specialty areas that work to improve hurricane forecasting and research.
The goal of the National Hurricane Center is to save lives. Through prevention of losses in both the human and economic sectors, the importance of the NHC is hardly arguable. The center is responsible for forecasting and issuing tropical storm watches, warnings, evacuation plans, and more. Forecasters research both historic hurricanes and current trends in hurricane frequency and intensity.
The NHC is composed of several units. The Hurricane Specialists Unit (HSU) monitors tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins. The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) monitors the tropical and subtropical eastern North and South Pacific and the North Atlantic basins. The Technical Support Branch (TSB) develops new tools and techniques used for tropical weather prediction. The Storm Surge Unit forecasts storm surges using the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) computer model. The Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes (CARCAH) unit coordinates missions including the Hurricane Hunter missions. The Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT) supports hurricane response operations within the National Weather Service and with emergency teams. Take a Virtual Tour of the National Hurricane Center now for even more information and video inside the NHC.