Ed DunhamAdministrator
(Former Meteorologist & CFHC Forum Moderator (Ed Passed Away on May 14, 2017))
Sun Jul 31 2011 05:37 PM
Re: Large Wave East of Caribbean Slowly Organizing

I think that by issuing a Special Tropical Weather Outlook the NHC has done a good job of providing the necessary alert. The folks on the Islands are not as dependent as others might be on NHC - if something is heading their way they prepare. By NHC Definition:

Tropical Storm Warning:
An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours.


Tropical Storm Watch:
An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within the specified area within 48 hours.

Except for flooding, modest TS conditions are usually tolerable - and although I certainly would not recommend such a short notice, even one hour meets the criteria of 'within'.
ED


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