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Glossary of common terms
CLOSEST POINT OF APPROACH (CPA)
Point where hurricane eye makes closest contact to shore without actually making landfall.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING
A warning that significant wind-forced flooding is to be expected along low-lying coastal areas if weather patterns develop as forecast.
COASTAL FLOOD WATCH
An alert that significant wind-forced flooding is to be expected along low-lying coastal areas if weather patterns develop as forecast.
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Local government organization created in accordance with the provision of Florida Statutes 252.31-252.60 to discharge emergency management responsibilities and functions of the County.
COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
The county facility that serves as a central location for the coordination and control of all emergency preparedness and response activities.
EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS)
A system designed to permit government officials to issue up-to-date and continuous emergency information and instructions to the public in case of a threatened or actual emergency.
EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION
Information which is disseminated primarily, but not unconditionally, at the actual time of an emergency; and in addition to providing information as such, frequently directs actions, instructions, and transmits direct orders.
EMERGENCY PUBLIC SHELTER
Generally a public school or other such structure designated by County officials as a place of shelter.
EVACUATION TIME
The lead time that a populated coastal jurisdiction must have to safely relocate all residents of vulnerable areas from an approaching hurricane. This time can also be perceived as the necessary amount of time between the issuance of the local official evacuation order and the arrival of sustained tropical storm winds (40 mph) and/or flooding.
EXTENT OF EVACUATION
The identification of vulnerable people who must evacuate as a result of various hurricane scenarios, based on estimated inundation areas and/or dwelling units susceptible to hurricane force winds.
FLOOD WARNING
Indicates the expected severity of flooding (minor, moderate, or major), as well as where and when the flooding will begin.
FORWARD SPEED (HURRICANE)
HURRICANE HURRICANE ADVISORIES HURRICANE EYE HURRICANE EYE LANDFALL HURRICANE PATH OR TRACK HURRICANE SEASON HURRICANE WARNING HURRICANE WATCH NOAA WEATHER RADIO PRE-EYE LANDFALL TIME PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO) SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY SPECIAL MARINE WARNING SQUALL STORM SURGE TROPICAL STORM WARNING
The term is used when winds reach constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. These winds blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm center of extremely low pressure known as the eye of the hurricane. Around the rim of the eye, winds may gust to more than 200 miles per hour. The entire storm dominates the ocean surface and lower atmosphere over tens of thousands of square miles.
Notices numbered consecutively for each storm, describing the present and forecasted position and intensity of the storm. Advisories are issued at six-hour intervals. Bulletins provide additional information. Each message gives the name, eye position, intensity, and forecast movement of the storm.
The relatively calm area near the center of the storm. In this area winds are light and the sky is often partly covered by clouds.
The point in time when the eye, or physical center of the hurricane reaches the coastline from the hurricane’s approach over water.
Line of movement (propagation) of the eye through an area.
The portion of the year having relatively high incidence of hurricanes. In the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, it is usually regarded as the period from June 1st through November 30th.
An alert added to a hurricane advisory when hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours. Hurricane warnings identify coastal areas where winds of at least 74 miles per hour are expected to occur. A warning may also describe coastal areas where dangerously high water or exceptionally high waves are forecast, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.
An alert added to a hurricane advisory covering a specified area and duration. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are a real possibility; it does not mean they are imminent. When a hurricane watch is issued, everyone in the area covered by the watch should listen for further advisories and be prepared to act quickly if hurricane warnings are issued.
A twenty-four hour continuous broadcast of existing and forecasted weather conditions.
The time before actual hurricane eye landfall or CPA within which evacuation cannot be carried out because of earlier effects such as the inundation of evacuation routes from the storm surge or rainfall and the arrival of sustained gale force winds. It is composed of the time of arrival of sustained gale force winds or the time roadway inundation from storm surge/rainfall begins, whichever comes first.
An individual appointed by County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to be responsible for the formulating and coordinating of emergency public information with both the electronic and written media, ensuring that accurate information is being released to the general public.
Indicates that severe thunderstorms have been sighted or indicated on radar.
Indicates that conditions are favorable for lightning, damaging winds greater than 58 miles and hail and/or heavy rainfall.
A warning of winds from 20 to 33 knots inclusive or for sea conditions either forecasted or occurring which are considered potentially hazardous to small boats in coastal waters.
A warning for hazardous weather conditions, usually of short duration, not adequately covered by existing marine warnings. Such weather conditions include sustained winds or gusts of 35 knots or more with a duration of 2 hours or less.
A sudden increase of wind speed by at least 18 miles per hour (16 knots) and rising to 25 miles per hour (22 knots) or more and lasting for at least one minute.
The high and forceful dome of wind-driven waters sweeping along the coastline near where the eye makes landfall or passes close to the coast.
Is defined as sustained winds within the range 39-63 miles an hour either predicted or occurring.
Sorry I ment Audio Swap not Swamp i dont know where the “m” came from.