Editor's note : Here's the latest news on Hurricane Helene as it approaches landfall in Florida's Big Bend.
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The National Hurricane Center's experimental "cone of concern" is getting quite a workout with Tropical Storm Helene.
It's also made residents in the path of Tropical Storm Helene very aware of how far from the storm's center impacts could be felt.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Helene
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While the new cone was launched in August with Ernesto and used again with Hurricane Francine , Helene's large size is making very clear how many people will be affected by what's expected to become a major hurricane before landfall Thursday.
The new cone includes watches and warnings issued for inland counties. The old cone showed watches and warnings only for coastal counties.
Radar images of Tropical Storm Helene
What's the difference between the old cone and new cone of concern used by Hurricane Center?
The new experimental cone reflects watches and warnings issued for interior counties.
Previously, the NHC cone of concern shows the projected path of a tropical storm or hurricane, as well as the timing of the storm and any watches and warnings only for coastal areas.
The new graphic has the same information but also illustrates potential impacts for areas away from the coast.
The watches and warnings will take precedence over the cone, the National Hurricane Center said.
Differences you'll see:
- Watches and warnings for inland counties, not just coastal areas.
- White transparent shading for the entire five-day forecast, instead of white stippling (dots) for the four- and five-day forecast.
Compare cones of concern issued for Tropical Storm Helene
Use the slider to compare the old cone of concern to the experimental version now posted by the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Center hopes new cone stops fixation on Saffir-Simpson Scale
"We're excited. It's a big step forward for us and the people we serve. It's a better way to convey information," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome in a telephone interview in July.
"We hope it gets people to stop fixating on less reliable tools like the Saffir-Simpson Scale . There are more accurate ways to convey actual wind impacts in your community and at your home.
"The Saffir-Simpson Scale doesn't allow you to understand what the actual impact may be where you live. The Saffir-Simpson scale tells you peak wind (associated with a tropical storm or hurricane) but it may not be that over your community.
"A Category 5 hurricane over Vero Beach doesn't mean Category 5 winds everywhere in Vero Beach. That doesn't allow you to deduce impact or threats" where you live. "People misinterpret local impacts, with some overestimating the threat and some underestimating the threat," Rhome said
"Explicit watches and warnings for high winds (in your county) allows you to prepare for tropical storms or hurricanes based on where you are."
With the previous emphasis on watches and warnings issued along Florida's coasts, many inland residents and visitors were unaware of the wind dangers an approaching storm could have well away from the coast. The new cone emphasizes inland watches and warnings.
"The biggest change to the cone is the addition of the inland wind warnings. The National Weather Service has issued those for years. We're placing that information on the (NHC) cone for a more comprehensive view of the threat so people don't have to go to two different websites. All the information is seamlessly merged together."
Where do you find the new 'cone of concern' on National Hurricane Center's website?
- Go to the National Hurricane Center's main website.
- When there's an active storm, you'll find a breakdown of information for each storm, including public advisories and forecast discussions. Click on public advisories for the storm you're interested in. Here's the link for Francine .
- Toward the top of the advisory, there are more links, this time including one for Graphics. Click on graphics. Here's the link for Francine .
- You'll see several different graphics NHC forecasters release on the storm. You'll want to click on the one labeled "Warnings/Cone Static Images."
- Below you'll see an image of the old cone of concern, but above it you'll also see text highlighted in red " Click here for the new experimental cone."
- You're there! The image you see is the new experimental cone showing watches and warnings in effect for inland counties.
NHC plans to keep old cone around for awhile
"The existing cone will still be there. If you're not ready to pivot to the new cone, the old one will still be widely available," Rhome said.
"Any time you launch something new, initially there can be a spin-up education period. There's going to be a period for growth as people get used to new way of viewing their risk."
National Hurricane Center wants public feedback on new cone of concern
"The new one will replace the existing cone after one to two years of feedback.
"If there's clear feedback — the colors aren't right, something isn't clear, the legend is confusing — then we'll make more changes. We want feedback to verify the changes are accomplishing what was intended," Rhome said.
➤ Provide feedback on new cone
"My guess is that there will be opinions for more additions and refinements and then there will be another year of testing with more feedback" before the new cone replaces the current cone, Rhome said.
When the new cone is pulled up on NHC's website, there will be a link to short survey. Rhome said every bit of feedback received will be looked at to determine how to proceed.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Helene
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Helene
Tropical Storm Helene: What you need to know
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New 'cone of concern' shows widespread impacts expected from Tropical Storm Helene
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