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9:44 a.m. • 5-19-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 78° F
  • Mon: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 76° F
  • Tue: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 81° F

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Published: 2012-10-31 16:54:00
Updated: 2012-11-01 13:28:37

New model could improve hurricane forecasting


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Researchers at North Carolina State University said they have developed a more accurate way to predict seasonal hurricane activity.

Right now, forecasters use historical data to predict how many hurricanes may form in a year. But N.C. State professors Nagiza Samatova and Fredrick Semazzi said their new model uses more variables and is 15 percent more accurate than current techniques.

The new model, which is described in a paper published last month in an academic journal, could help emergency managers make better decisions each year, the professors said.

“This approach should give policymakers more reliable information than current state-of-the-art techniques,” Samatova said. “This will hopefully give them more confidence in planning for the hurricane season.”

Researchers from several universities worked on the project, which was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.


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Latest Comments
Will it actually stop the hurricanes? If not, kinda pointless...

Here's my forecast model for next season...sometime between June and December, there will be a hurricane.

Jeeez, who's wearing the Tin Hat? The people who pay attention to science or the head-in-the-sand deniers?

glad to see progress is being made... 15% more accuracy is better in my book... and I am thankful for the men and women who work to make this possible.... Great Job !

15 percent more accurate means it still is more or less a SWAG. I have heard that the Warmers at back at it. Blaming Sandy on warming. Nothing can be done with the tin foil hat people, just let em rant. In the meantime the earth will continue on its way.

View Comments 4 COMMENTS
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  1. wralweather: Forecast: Today, thunderstorm, high 78°. Tonight, mostly cloudy, showers, low 65°. http://t.co/RMcYv6WbFE
      — Sunday, May 19, 2013 7:50 AM
  2. WRALAimee: "Winds have risen" "Rain coming down in sheets"-announcers of Bulls game...rain delay starts now...
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 9:26 PM
  3. WRALAimee: Bulls announcers saying rain is coming down hard now...
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 9:25 PM
  4. nsj: Good friends, good BBQ, good fire vodka, good storms, good night!
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 9:18 PM
  5. WRALAimee: Hail possible in this one. Moving NE toward Apex/Cary... http://t.co/jbfekvKzjp
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 9:17 PM
  6. WRALAimee: Update on rain headed for the Bulls game. This is all headed NNE... http://t.co/k2kxVpZEqn
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 9:04 PM
  7. WRALAimee: We might have a rain delay in the making for Durham Bulls game. Storms about 35 miles to the south-moving north. http://t.co/30RIrWCKwO
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 7:58 PM
  8. WRALAimee: Storms very likely NOT to be severe, but just enough to keep me at work while the in-laws are visiting from TX...
      — Saturday, May 18, 2013 6:50 PM

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