Effects of Synoptic Surveillance on model forecasts for
Hurricane Wilma.

Assessments for each forecast time at

October 18, 2005				18 Z
October 19, 2005	00 Z	06 Z	12 Z	18 Z
October 20, 2005	00 Z	06 Z	12 Z	18 Z
October 21, 2005	00 Z	06 Z	12 Z	18 Z
October 22, 2005	00 Z	06 Z	12 Z	18 Z
October 23, 2005	00 Z	06 Z	12 Z	18 Z
October 24, 2005	00 Z	06 Z	12 Z	18 Z
October 25, 2005	00 Z

Figure 1a. Track forecast errors for the no dropwindsonde and the all dropwindsonde runs for the GFS and GFDL models for Hurricane Wilma synoptic surveillance missions.

Figure 1b. Track forecast improvements for the GFS and GFDL models for the Hurricane Wilma synoptic surveillance missions.

Figure 2. Forecast errors for the landfall of Wilma at Cozumel, in the (a) cross- and (b) along-track directions for the no dropwindsonde and the all dropwindsonde runs for the GFS and GFDL models.

Figure 3. Forecast errors for the landfall of Wilma at Puerto Morelos, in the (a) cross- and (b)along-track directions for the no dropwindsonde and the all dropwindsonde runs for the GFS and GFDL models.

Figure 4. Forecast errors for the landfall of Wilma at Cape Romano, in the (a) cross- and (b) along-track directions for the no dropwindsonde and the all dropwindsonde runs for the GFS and GFDL models.