National Hurricane Center Plans Major Update to Iconic ‘Cone’ Graphic Ahead of 2025 Hurricane Season

With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season just weeks away, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is rolling out a major update to its most recognizable forecast tool—the "cone of uncertainty" graphic. This move aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of the dangers hurricanes pose—not just along the coast, but hundreds of miles inland.

Why the Update?

Traditionally, the cone graphic has focused on a storm’s predicted path and where the center might make landfall. But as Hurricane Helene showed last year, storms can leave behind catastrophic damage far from the eye. While Helene made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, the most devastating impacts were felt nearly 400 miles away in western North Carolina. That storm alone resulted in 248 deaths and caused $78.7 billion in damages.

This new effort, part of a broader update that began in 2024, reflects a growing recognition that inland areas are increasingly at risk from high winds, flooding, and tornadoes associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.

What’s New in the Forecast Graphic?