Wind Pattern Display

One of the capabilities of the HURRTRAK system is to display an actual or forecast image of the estimated winds across a geographic region. This display is unique because unlike a wind arrow or wind vector display, this image is a solid pattern that covers every “pixel” location on a map. This is best described with the following 2 graphics. The first one shows wind arrows around a storm. The 2^nd image is the same area described with the “wind pattern” display. 

As you can see the 2^nd image provides much more detail than the first. This kind of detail, using Advanced Wind Estimation, does come with a cost… processing time. If not using the pre-processed RI files, depending on screen size, the rendering of this image may take 20 minutes or longer. Fortunately, if you download, the RI files, the rendering time is reduced to less than 1 minute. You can find our more about the Processed RI files on the topic of Plotting Options.

The great advantage of the wind pattern display is that “rougher” areas, that typically reduce sustained winds, are easily depicted. For example on the image below, you can see the higher winds over and leeside of Lake Okeechobee with lower winds over the metro areas of Broward, Palm Beach and Dade counties. 

The wind pattern display is available for selection from any tracking chart.

To view a forecast wind pattern, the user must first select the PLOT- Forecast Position option from the Map Select Tab. Once the forecast plot is displayed, Display- Wind Pattern can then be selected from the menu.

Wind Pattern Animation:
-     The user can also select to create an animated wind pattern. This may take very long because multiple animation frames are being created. If you are going to use this function it is imperative that you download the processed RI files mentioned on the prior page. You can find our more about the Processed RI files on the topic of Plotting Options.

-     After the wind pattern animation is created, it is not saved unless you select the Save to Animated GIF option. It can then be redisplayed using MS Internet Explorer or some other animated GIF viewer.

One final note… if AWE is not selected, the resulting Wind Pattern image plots much faster but does not show the effects of friction on the sustained wind levels. See image below.