SSHWS modification???? NHC wants comments.

[beagleagle23]

Sorry if repost.

Link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/feedback/2011/sshws.php

*stickied by vbhoutex*

[wxman57]

Hadn't seen that before, thanks.

[artist]

Sorry if repost.

Link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/feedback/2011/sshws.php

this, in my opinion, is simply a waste of the time and money it would take to change categories by simply 1 mile per hour difference on the top end.

The only advantage I could see is if a top end 3 was a 4, more poeple might take better notice. But still, by 1 mile an hour difference, I don't really think it would.

[artist]

what is everyone elses opinion on this?

[Florida1118]

I honestly dont care that much. Their the experts, if they see it fit that alright by me. If they dont, then fine by me.

[vbhoutex]

I think their reasoning is sound, but whether it really needs to be done I am not so sure.

[x-y-no]

Seems to me the simpler solution is to report the wind-speed in knots in all products. Forget about doing conversions. But then I'm a lifetime sailor so I think in knots - this may just be my bias showing up.

If they must keep doing conversions, I suppose the proposed change makes sense.

[Tireman4]

I guess......Will it matter that much? Public perception, perhaps...?

[RL3AO]

Makes sense to me. Not sure why they are asking. Just do it.

[LarryWx]

On a side nore, notice that the width of cat. 4 increases to 28 mph from 26 mph. Compare that to only 15 mph for cat. 2. Is that ok or should the categories have more uniform sizes? Opinions?

[southerngale]

Makes sense to me. Not sure why they are asking. Just do it.

Ditto.

[Zampanò]

Makes sense to me. Not sure why they are asking. Just do it.

Ditto.

Thirded. It makes perfect sense, and would alleviate some confusion for forecasters. The average member of the public wouldn't even notice or care.

[plasticup]

I sent them this:

I spent an embarrassingly long time working on the Wikipedia Tropical Cyclone portal. We were bothered by this same problem and, the internet being what it is, many tempers exploded over it. Although your adjustment of the scale would erase just one minor element of confusion, I can attest that there are many of us who would greatly appreciate the clarity.

On a side nore, notice that the width of cat. 4 increases to 28 mph from 26 mph. Compare that to only 15 mph for cat. 2. Is that ok or should the categories have more uniform sizes? Opinions?

No, you are thinking about it wrong. The NHC estimates wind speed in 5 knot increments. Previously, the Cat 4 interval was 114-135 knots. Storms with estimated wind speeds of 115, 120, 125, 130, and 135 knots were designated Category 4. Going forward with a Cat 4 window of 113-136 knots does not affect which storms are included.

The only difference is that when they convert from knots to mph and then round to the nearest 5 mph, the mph rating still falls into the right category.

[P.K.]

As others have said I'm not sure how this really makes any difference especially as the base units are kts.

I've said it before but personally I'd reduce the scale to three 64kt+ categories in line with the other RSMCs (Inlcuding the JMA if you look at the Japanese advisories) but I can't ever see that happening.

[LarryWx]

On a side nore, notice that the width of cat. 4 increases to 28 mph from 26 mph. Compare that to only 15 mph for cat. 2. Is that ok or should the categories have more uniform sizes? Opinions?

No, you are thinking about it wrong. The NHC estimates wind speed in 5 knot increments. Previously, the Cat 4 interval was 114-135 knots. Storms with estimated wind speeds of 115, 120, 125, 130, and 135 knots were designated Category 4. Going forward with a Cat 4 window of 113-136 knots does not affect which storms are included.

The only difference is that when they convert from knots to mph and then round to the nearest 5 mph, the mph rating still falls into the right category.

I follow you. However, I'm still wondering about there being five different storm strengths for cat. 4 vs. only three for each of cat. 1-3 even before this mod. Should cat. 4 be wider than the 1-3 cat.'s?