What's Next? Computers Predicting the Next Tropical Storm?

Since the 1950's when the first satellites were released into space, scientists have released thousands more, improving the technology as they went along. Computers are able to collect the data that is collect through satellite imaging, as well as radar imaging, and put together much more accurate predictions of what the next storms are most likely to act like. With each tropical storm that is reported all over the world, more and more research is done to figure out the patterns of the storm, common behaviors, and allowing for analysis of future predictions and trends.

Meteorologists have improved their skills in predicting our forecasts through the help of radar, satellites, experience, and common weather patterns over the years. This allows scientists and meteorologists together to improve the software used in predicting weather patterns, and particularly tropical storms to increase the warning time given to those that will most likely be in the areas affected. With warning times and predictability on an increase, this will hopefully help to aid in lowering the death and injury statistics caused by such storms, as well as the possibility of actually predicting the storms. We know when the hurricane and tornado seasons are, but actually predicting their whereabouts and the likelihood for them to arise is still in the process of being upgraded.

Tropical storms form over tropical waters, and tend occur over low pressure systems. Computers are able to take many of the thousands of images seen through satellites and radar, and with the help of meteorologists, create a final map analysis, and also predict how the storms will look in the future. These modern computers are able to predict the future of weather between 12 and 24 hours almost perfectly. Between two and four days, fairly accurate, but beyond that, it is more of a guess based on trends, past weather during that time, what the weather is like during the days nearest to the present time, and the help of the computer analysis. It's still quite difficult to predict when the air pressure will change and when warm and cold fronts will develop and where, thus making the prediction of tropical storms more difficult, since they tend to develop along low pressure fronts.

Hopefully with continuing technological advancements of the software available for computing the likelihood and future of storms and weather will allow for a more accurate prediction of tropical storms, allowing for people in the affected areas to evacuate and take cover much more quickly and efficiently.