Since 1996 the Hurricane Research Division has participated in the H*Wind Project. The purpose is to develop an integrated tropical cyclone observing system in which wind measurements from a variety of observation platforms could be used to develop an objective analysis of the distribution of wind speeds in a hurricane. This product is designed to improve understanding of the extent and strength of the wind field, and to improve the assessment of hurricane intensity. The H*Wind "snapshot" products are provided in image and gridded form for research purposes and have been especially useful for storm surge and wave forecasting applications. The swath map is a relatively new product that is also available in image and gridded form as well as GIS shape files. The swath maps are helpful for damage and loss assessment.

By clicking on a year listed above you may select from that year's list of storms. You will see which analyses have been produced. For each analysis time you may select the wind analysis itself, the data set on which is was based, or, where available, the gridded field of that analysis.

If you make use of these H*Wind products, please take a moment to fill out our User Survey Form.

Note on using H*Wind fields for storm surge and wave modeling...

Select a Year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 Prior to 1994

Scientific publications using H*Wind products should cite one or more of these papers :

• Powell, M. D., S. Murillo, P. Dodge, E. Uhlhorn, J. Gamache, V. Cardone, A. Cox, S. Otero, N. Carrasco, B. Annane, and R. St. Fleur, 2010: Reconstruction of Hurricane Katrina?s wind fields for storm surge and wave hindcasting. Ocean Engineering, 37, 26-36.

• Powell, M. D., S. H. Houston, L. R. Amat, and N Morisseau-Leroy, 1998: The HRD real-time hurricane wind analysis system. J. Wind Engineer. and Indust. Aerodyn. 77&78, 53-64

• Powell, M. D., and S. H. Houston, 1998: Surface wind fields of 1995 Hurricanes Erin, Opal, Luis, Marilyn, and Roxanne at landfall. Mon Wea. Rev., 126, 1259-1273.

• Powell, M.D., S.H.Houston, and T.A. Reinhold, 1996: Hurricane Andrew's landfall in South Florida Part I : Standardizing measurements for documentation of surface wind fields. Wea. Forecast. 11, 304-328.

• Powell, M.D., and S.H.Houston, 1996: Hurricane Andrew's landfall in South Florida Part II : Surface wind fields and potential real-time applications. Wea. Forecast. 11, 329-349.

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