🚨 Kingsbury; Brookings; Miner; Lake; Moody; McCook; Minnehaha; Turner; Lincoln; Clay: Freeze Watch issued October 15 at 7:26PM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD 🚨 Jerauld; Aurora; Douglas: Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 7:26PM CDT until October 16 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD 🚨 Lyon; Osceola; Dickinson; Sioux; O'Brien; Clay; Plymouth; Cherokee; Buena Vista; Woodbury; Ida; Lincoln; Lyon; Murray; Cottonwood; Nobles; Jackson; Pipestone; Rock; Dixon; Dakota; Union: Freeze Watch issued October 15 at 7:26PM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD 🚨 Gregory; Brule; Charles Mix: Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 7:26PM CDT until October 16 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD 🚨 Montgomery: None 🚨 Wells; Foster; Kidder; Stutsman; Emmons; Logan; La Moure; McIntosh; Dickey: Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 7:19PM CDT until October 16 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND 🚨 Divide; Burke; Renville; Bottineau; Rolette; Williams; Mountrail; McHenry; Pierce; McKenzie; Dunn; Mercer; Oliver; Sheridan; Golden Valley; Billings; Stark; Burleigh; Slope; Hettinger; Grant; Bowman; Adams; Northwest Ward; Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area; Western McLean; Eastern McLean; Western Morton; Eastern Morton; Western Sioux; Eastern Sioux: Freeze Warning issued October 15 at 7:19PM CDT until October 16 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND 🚨 Divide; Burke; Renville; Bottineau; Rolette; Williams; Mountrail; McHenry; Pierce; McKenzie; Dunn; Mercer; Oliver; Sheridan; Golden Valley; Billings; Stark; Burleigh; Slope; Hettinger; Grant; Bowman; Adams; Northwest Ward; Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area; Western McLean; Eastern McLean; Western Morton; Eastern Morton; Western Sioux; Eastern Sioux: Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 7:19PM CDT until October 16 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND 🚨 Cimarron; Dallam; Hartley: Freeze Watch issued October 15 at 7:17PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX 🚨 Texas; Beaver; Sherman; Hansford; Ochiltree; Lipscomb; Moore; Hutchinson; Roberts; Hemphill; Oldham; Potter; Carson; Gray; Deaf Smith; Randall; Armstrong; Palo Duro Canyon: Freeze Watch issued October 15 at 7:17PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Active Tropical Systems & Formation Outlook
A whole-basin summary of all active tropical cyclones and the NHC
Tropical Weather Outlook, generated with the
tropycal
package. Select a storm below for its official forecast and model guidance.
ZCZC MIATCDEP5 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
Tropical Storm Simon Discussion Number 34
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP202026
200 PM MST Thu Oct 15 2026
Simon continues to produce an area of deep convection, though this
activity has lacked a ton of organization today, and appears to
still be displaced to the west of the center of circulation. A RCM-2
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pass that became available after the
prior advisory indicated that most of this convective activity was
also occurring outside of its radius of maximum winds, and has done
little to aid the small circulation. In fact, the peak winds
retrieved from the SAR was only 47 kt. This information, combined
with a Metop-B scatterometer pass that had a peak wind of 39 kt is
justification to bring Simon's intensity down to 45 kt this
advisory, and this may still be generous.
Simon has been drifting rather aimlessly today, and my best guess
at an estimated motion is 320/1 kt. It has been a tough few days
trying to forecast Simon's track, but the model guidance this cycle
is finally coming into better agreement showing that as Simon
becomes a more vertically shallow cyclone, it will primarily be
steered by the low-level flow. To that end, a weak low-level trough
is forecast to drop equatorward to the west of Simon as a strong
pressure gradient develops over northern Mexico as surface ridging
builds in behind a frontal boundary. This flow should help to
finally draw Simon back to the northwest with a speed up in its
forward motion. The latest NHC track forecast is shifted once again
a little further west but also faster, following the latest trends
in the reliable HFIP Corrected Consensus Approach (HCCA) and Google
DeepMind ensemble mean (GDMI).
While the shear over Simon is currently low, it has not taken
advantage of these more favorable conditions, likely due to the
proximity of dry air preventing the convection from organizing. The
vertical wind shear is soon expected to increase significantly out
of the southwest as a deep-layer trough located over the
southwestern United States cuts off and retrogrades back westward.
Simon has already been sensitive to less than pristine conditions,
and this increase in shear will likely be the storm's demise. The
latest NHC forecast now shows gradual weakening continuing over the
next 24-36 h, with Simon becoming a remnant low in 48 h, and fully
dissipating in 72 h. If the latest ECMWF forecast is correct, this
could occur sooner than forecasted here.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 15/2100Z 19.3N 108.2W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 16/0600Z 19.8N 108.7W 40 KT 45 MPH
24H 16/1800Z 20.8N 110.0W 35 KT 40 MPH
36H 17/0600Z 22.0N 111.9W 30 KT 35 MPH
48H 17/1800Z 23.1N 113.6W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
60H 18/0600Z 24.5N 115.0W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
72H 18/1800Z...DISSIPATED
$$
Forecaster Papin
NNNN
ZCZC MIATCDEP1 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
Hurricane Trudy Discussion Number 10
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP212026
300 PM CST Thu Oct 15 2026
Trudy's intensification appears to have temporarily paused. An Air
Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated the hurricane
a few hours ago and reported maximum 700-mb flight-level winds of
84 kt and a central pressure near 978 mb. Satellite imagery shows
an attempt to form an eye, but it has not yet fully cleared out.
The various satellite intensity estimates have changed little over
the past few hours, and the initial intensity remains 80 kt based
on them and the aircraft data. The satellite imagery suggests a
tongue of dry air is wrapping into the cyclone around the north
side of the central dense overcast, and this may be responsible for
the pause in the development.
The initial motion is north-northwestward or 345/5 kt. The
hurricane is currently heading for a weakness in the subtropical
ridge caused by a mid- to upper-level trough extending from the
Yucatan Peninsula westward to central Mexico. During the next 36 h,
this feature should weaken and move eastward, allowing a mid- to
upper-level ridge to develop over Mexico. This evolution should
cause Trudy to turn northwestward roughly parallel to the coast of
Mexico. The bulk of the track guidance keeps the center just
offshore of the coast. However, any track to the right of the
official forecast - such as shown by the GFS - would bring the
center onshore. After 72 h, low- to mid-level ridging to the north
of the cyclone should steer it slowly westward. The new track
forecast is a little to the east of the previous forecast through
36 h, similar to the previous forecast from 36-72 h, and a little
north of the previous forecast from 72-120 h.
Except for the apparent tongue of dry air, conditions appear
favorable for steady to rapid development during the next 24-36 h.
The new intensity forecast keeps the peak intensity of 125 kt from
the previous advisory, which is near or a little above the upper
edge of the intensity guidance. After 36 h, there should be
increasing southwesterly shear that will likely halt development.
Even with the forecast track keeping the center offshore, the
cyclone will likely be close enough to land to cause the cyclone
to weaken. However, any track to the left and farther offshore of
the current forecast would let Trudy stay stronger than currently
forecast, while any track that the brings the center inland would
cause rapid weakening and possibly dissipation. Beyond 72 h, strong
shear should cause continued weakening even though the center is
moving away from land. The intensity forecast follows the overall
trend of the guidance, and it is near the upper edge of the
guidance.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. Trudy is forecast to be a major hurricane as it approaches the
coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico this weekend. There is
an increasing risk of wind, rain, and storm surge impacts. A
Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning have been issued for a
portion of the southwestern Mexican coast, and additional watches
will likely be required further up the coast tonight or Friday.
2. Heavy rainfall associated with Trudy will impact the southwest
Mexican coast between Guerrero and Jalisco through the weekend. This
rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides by the
weekend along and near the southwest Mexican coast in Michoacán,
Colima, and Jalisco, especially in areas along steep terrain.
3. Large swells will begin to affect portions of the coast of
southwestern Mexico Friday and continue through the weekend. These
swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 15/2100Z 13.7N 101.7W 80 KT 90 MPH
12H 16/0600Z 14.3N 101.9W 95 KT 110 MPH
24H 16/1800Z 15.2N 102.2W 115 KT 130 MPH
36H 17/0600Z 16.3N 102.9W 125 KT 145 MPH
48H 17/1…
HAFS and GEFS guidance is only available for storms in the US/NHC domain (Atlantic & East/Central Pacific). For this system, the basin summary and best-track position are shown.
WDPN32 PGTW 152100
MSGID/GENADMIN/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI//
SUBJ/PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TROPICAL STORM 29W (CHAMPI) WARNING NR
006//
RMKS/
1. FOR METEOROLOGISTS.
2. 6 HOUR SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS.
SUMMARY:
INITIAL POSITION: 11.5N 156.5E
INITIAL INTENSITY: 40 KTS
GEOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: 692 NM EAST OF ANDERSEN AFB
MOVEMENT PAST 6 HOURS: WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 KTS
SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT: 15 FEET
SATELLITE ANALYSIS, INITIAL POSITION AND INTENSITY DISCUSSION:
ANIMATED MULTISPECTRAL SATELLITE IMAGERY (MSI) DEPICTS TROPICAL
STORM (TS) 29W FORMING A NASCENT CENTRAL DENSE OVERCAST THAT IS
OBSCURING THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC) BELOW. THE BULK
OF DEEP CONVECTION REMAINS WEST OF THE SYSTEM, IMPACTED BY THE
EASTERLY VERTICAL WIND SHEAR (VWS). A THIN LINE OF CIRRUS OUTFLOW
APPEARS TO BE ATTEMPTING UPSHEAR EXPANSION, A SIGN THE SYSTEM COULD
BE BEGINNING TO RESIST THE PRESSURE AND CONSOLIDATE. THE 151746Z
SSMIS MICROWAVE DATA REVEALS A COMPACT SURFACE CIRCULATION WITH THE
SMALL PATCH OF CENTRAL CONVECTION DISPLACED TO THE WEST, CONFIRMING
THE SLIGHT WESTWARD VERTICAL TILT. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS REVEALS A
FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT, CHARACTERIZED BY LOW (10-15 KTS) VERTICAL
WIND SHEAR (VWS), WARM (29-30 C) SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES (SST),
DECENT (75-100 KJ PER CM SQUARED) OCEAN HEAT CONTENT (OHC) AND
MODERATE OUTFLOW SUPPORTED BY THE EASTERLY FLOW. THE INITIAL
POSITION IS PLACED WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE BASED ON THE AFOREMENTIONED
SSMIS DATA. THE INITIAL INTENSITY OF 40 KTS IS ASSESSED WITH MEDIUM
CONFIDENCE BASED ON THE AGENCY DVORAK FIXES AND THE AUTOMATED CIMSS
INTENSITY ESTIMATES LISTED BELOW.
INITIAL WIND RADII BASIS: PERSISTENCE
CURRENT STEERING MECHANISM: THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE
SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR) CENTERED TO THE NORTH
AGENCY DVORAK AND AUTOMATED FIXES:
PGTW: T3.0 - 45 KTS
RJTD: T2.5 - 35 KTS
RCTP: T3.0 - 45 KTS
CIMSS SATCON: 40 KTS AT 151740Z
CIMSS ADT: 49 KTS AT 151740Z
CIMSS AIDT: 39 KTS AT 151740Z
CIMSS D-MINT: 33 KTS AT 151722Z
CIMSS D-PRINT: 43 KTS AT 151810Z
FORECASTER ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENT: FAVORABLE
VWS: 10-15 KTS
SST: 29-30 CELSIUS
OUTFLOW: MODERATE WESTWARD
ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE:
INITIAL POSITION: HIGH
INITIAL INTENSITY: MEDIUM
INITIAL WIND RADII: LOW
3. FORECAST REASONING.
SIGNIFICANT FORECAST CHANGES: THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO
THE FORECAST FROM THE PREVIOUS WARNING.
FORECAST DISCUSSION: TS 29W (CHAMPI) IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE
STEADILY TRACKING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH TAU 36 WHILE IT
REMAINS ON THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE STEERING STR CENTERED FAR TO
THE NORTH. AT
ABOUT TAU 36, A DEEP-LAYER TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO THE NORTH,
WEAKENING THE RIDGE AND FORCING IT TO RETREAT EASTWARD.
SIMULTANEOUSLY, A SECOND STR IS EXPECTED TO BUILD IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE TROUGH AND ASSUMING STEERING INFLUENCE
OVER 29W FROM TAU 36-120. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION
FROM ONE STR TO THE OTHER, AND THE NEW STEERING ENVIRONMENT WILL
MAINTAIN THE STEADY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TRACK FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE FORECAST PERIOD. REGARDING INTENSITY, 29W IS FORECAST TO
STEADILY INTENSIFY THROUGH TAU 12 WHILE THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO
CONSOLIDATE AND ORGANIZE. FOLLOWING TAU 24, 29W IS FORECAST TO
UNDERGO A PROLONGED PERIOD OF RAPID INTENSIFICATION (RI) IN
RESPONSE TO THE INCREASINGLY FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT IT WILL
ENCOUNTER BETWEEN TAU 24-72. THOUGH VWS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN
APPROXIMATELY 15KTS THROUGH TAU 96, THE EQUATORWARD AND
WESTWARD OUTFLOW CHANNELS ARE EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN AND CHAMPI IS
EXPECTED TO TRACK THROUGH A REGION OF SLIGHTLY HIGHER (100-125 KJ
PER CM SQUARED) OHC. AFTER TAU 72, 29W WILL CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY
GRADUALLY UNTIL PEAKING AT TAU 96. AFTER THAT POINT, 29W WILL
LIKELY MAINTAIN A HIGH INTENSITY, AS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. NAMELY, VWS IS EXPECTED TO DROP TO LESS THAN
10KT…
HAFS and GEFS guidance is only available for storms in the US/NHC domain (Atlantic & East/Central Pacific). For this system, the basin summary and best-track position are shown.
ECMWF 10-m Streamlines
This map visualizes near-surface winds from the ECMWF operational model using streamlines — continuous curves that show the direction of the wind at every point. Streamlines help us visually detect patterns of atmospheric flow, such as jets, troughs, and areas of rotation.
Forecasters at the NHC monitor 10-meter wind fields for signs of a closed low-level circulation — a common feature of early tropical cyclone formation. When streamlines wrap into a tight, circular pattern and form a closed loop, it may signal that a system is transitioning from a disorganized disturbance into a structured cyclone.
This early organization of wind flow is a key threshold in classifying an area as a potential tropical cyclone. While other ingredients like convection and mid-level humidity are also necessary, closed low-level circulation is often the first structural milestone forecasters look for.
Look for small, circular loops in the streamlines over oceanic regions — especially where other environmental factors also align for storm formation.
ECMWF Predictions
No active storm found in ECMWF data at this time.
Environmental Indicators
Hypothetical TC Drift Paths
This map displays hypothetical tropical cyclone (TC) paths projected from genesis-favorable zones identified by an environmental mask. These paths are computed using the Emanuel Beta and Advection Model, a physically based framework that estimates the motion of nascent cyclones by combining steering-level winds and planetary rotation effects.
The model blends winds from two critical pressure levels — 850 hPa (lower troposphere) and 250 hPa (upper troposphere) — weighted toward the lower level where most of a tropical cyclone's mass resides. It also incorporates a background component associated with beta drift, which arises from the variation of the Coriolis force with latitude.
Each pink trajectory represents a storm initialized from a grid cell where all five environmental thresholds were favorable: high CAPE, low vertical wind shear, high mid-level humidity, warm SSTs, and positive low-level vorticity. Arrows darken with time, tracing the cyclone’s evolution in 6-hour steps. These tracks can move over land given the steering winds, but in reality these storms weaken quickly when no longer over warm water. This means the tracks that move over significant would likely die out quickly and are not well represented in this model.
Hypothetical storms often drift westward and poleward, steered by large-scale tropical flow and Earth's rotation — this helps forecasters anticipate where early-stage disturbances might evolve into organized storms.
Pressure & Rainfall (hPa)
This chart shows 24-hour forecasts of surface pressure (in hPa) and precipitation (in mm) for select U.S. cities.
The data comes from the Open-Meteo API,
which sources its predictions from high-resolution numerical weather models like ICON (from the German Weather Service)
and ECMWF's IFS. These are advanced general circulation models (GCMs) that solve physical equations governing the
atmosphere — including thermodynamics, fluid motion, and radiation — to simulate and forecast future states of weather.
A sudden drop in pressure may signal the approach of a developing storm system. Increasing rainfall intensity often
tracks with tropical activity or frontal systems. These paired indicators help visualize evolving atmospheric instability and potential hazards.
NBDC Gulf Buoy Data
This data comes from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), a division of NOAA responsible for monitoring ocean
and atmospheric conditions using moored buoys, coastal stations, and drifting floats. These sensors play a vital role in
tracking tropical cyclone development by recording variables like wind speed,
barometric pressure, air & sea surface temperatures, and wave height — all of which
help determine storm structure and intensification.
A sudden drop in sea-level pressure or a spike in wind gusts can signal rapid cyclone strengthening.
Water temperature above ~26°C is a key fuel source for tropical cyclones. Wave and swell height give insight
into the storm’s reach and energy transfer across the ocean. Monitoring these in real time helps improve forecasts and early warnings.
Wind: E (100°), 17.5 kt | Gust: 19.4 kt
Pressure: 29.96 steady | Air Temp: 83.7 °F
Water Temp: 84.6 °F | Dew Point: 78.8 °F
Swell: 1.3 ft | Wind Wave: 2.6 ft
NWS U.S. Radar
The National Weather Service (NWS) collects radar data using the NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) network —
a nationwide system of over 150 high-resolution Doppler radar stations. Radar works by emitting pulses of energy
that bounce off precipitation (like raindrops, hail, or snow) and return to the radar dish. Doppler radar not only detects the
location and intensity of storms, but also their motion — by measuring shifts in frequency caused by movement of particles toward
or away from the radar site. This allows meteorologists to spot rotating storms and potential tornadoes in real time.
GOES 15-min Satellite
The GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) system is operated by NOAA
and provides continuous weather observation over the Americas. Orbiting 22,300 miles above Earth,
GOES satellites deliver high-resolution imagery every 15 minutes, helping track tropical systems, cloud formation,
and atmospheric motion in real time. The Geocolor imagery shown here combines visible and infrared data
to highlight clouds, land, and sea in a natural-looking format.
GOES Band 13 – Infrared (IR) Imagery
Band 13 (10.3 µm) is one of the most important infrared channels for tropical meteorology, measuring emitted radiation from cloud tops.
Colder colors (red, yellow) signal deep convection, where strong thunderstorms punch through the upper atmosphere.
These features often indicate the early stages of tropical cyclone formation.
Most recent GOES Band 13 image. Provided by NOAA/NESDIS/STAR.