How Hurricane Experts Keep Busy During the Offseason

The Atlantic hurricane season officially kicks off on June 1, keeping tropical weather experts busy as the basin comes alive with activity. But what do the forecasters do during the offseason? You may be surprised by how busy they are during the quiet time between December 1 and the end of May. Here is an inside look.

National Hurricane Center Post-Season Work Focuses on Review and Education

The end of the hurricane season does not mean that meteorologists are left with nothing to do. This is the time when employees of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) test out new forecasting tools, refine their models, and prepare for the season ahead.

The first task at the end of the season is to compile all of the tropical weather reports from the last several months. These detailed reports note each storm's meteorological history, the environmental factors that impacted each event, full damage assessments, and final computer model evaluations of the feature's datapoints.

The comprehensive reports also offer critiques on the forecast and communication success of the various threats over the season. The end-of-season reports can take months to prepare, particularly during busy seasons.