We have revived a letter from a Warning Coordination Meteorologist
Greetings Glen Ames Robotics Team!
I am happy to answer your questions regarding typhoons:
1. What are some important things people who live in typhoon-prone areas should know/do to protect them from the harm of typhoons?
The first and main thing is to have a disaster plan before a typhoon/hurricane strikes. This is something that should be done well before typhoon season. A plan should involve at least the following:
- Having enough food/water/medicine to last several days.
- Knowing if you live in an evacuation zone. If so, know where you will be if a storm threatens.
- Protect your home with storm shutters and make necessary repairs to ensure a home is well protected.
- Remain informed of the storm's progress as it approaches and heed the advice of local officials, especially if told to evacuate.
2. Are there any ways to predict a typhoon that you can see/tell easily?
Nowadays, we have plenty of technology to assist in making accurate forecasts of where typhoons/hurricanes may strike. We use satellite imagery to continuously monitor the storm's progress hundreds and even thousands of miles away. We use sophisticated computer models to guide us in determining where the storm may go. We fly "hurricane hunter" planes into hurricanes and typhoons to measure the wind speeds and barometric pressure inside the storm as well as around it. We also launch weather balloons 2-4 times a day from hundreds of locations in order to provide data of the atmosphere into the computer models.
Thanks for sending in your questions and if you have any others, please feel free to send me an email!
Good luck!
Robert
Robert Molleda
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service
Miami/South Florida Forecast Office
11691 SW 17th ST
Miami, FL 33165
I am happy to answer your questions regarding typhoons:
1. What are some important things people who live in typhoon-prone areas should know/do to protect them from the harm of typhoons?
The first and main thing is to have a disaster plan before a typhoon/hurricane strikes. This is something that should be done well before typhoon season. A plan should involve at least the following:
- Having enough food/water/medicine to last several days.
- Knowing if you live in an evacuation zone. If so, know where you will be if a storm threatens.
- Protect your home with storm shutters and make necessary repairs to ensure a home is well protected.
- Remain informed of the storm's progress as it approaches and heed the advice of local officials, especially if told to evacuate.
2. Are there any ways to predict a typhoon that you can see/tell easily?
Nowadays, we have plenty of technology to assist in making accurate forecasts of where typhoons/hurricanes may strike. We use satellite imagery to continuously monitor the storm's progress hundreds and even thousands of miles away. We use sophisticated computer models to guide us in determining where the storm may go. We fly "hurricane hunter" planes into hurricanes and typhoons to measure the wind speeds and barometric pressure inside the storm as well as around it. We also launch weather balloons 2-4 times a day from hundreds of locations in order to provide data of the atmosphere into the computer models.
Thanks for sending in your questions and if you have any others, please feel free to send me an email!
Good luck!
Robert
Robert Molleda
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service
Miami/South Florida Forecast Office
11691 SW 17th ST
Miami, FL 33165