NOAA's Storm QuickLook Provides Near Real-Time Ocean and Meteorological Conditions During a Tropical Storm.

screen shot of Storm QuickLook

This image is part of a Storm QuickLook generated on Aug. 25, 2011, as Hurricane Irene approached the eastern seaboard. Click on the image to see an archived version of this full report.

When NOAA's National Weather Service issues a tropical storm warning for the U.S. or its territories, the Storm QuickLook is activated. This free online tool is a snapshot of near real-time coastal and weather observations for areas affected by a storm.

As the name suggests, the Storm QuickLook provides a ‘quick look’ at how a storm is affecting the coast. Here are some of the details provided by this report:

  • Real-time water level and meteorological observations along the coast
  • GIS map integrating storm track and intensity, satellite imagery, and NOS water level station locations
  • Summary of present conditions across the affected region
  • Predicted high tides at specific locations along the coast
  • Latest NOAA Weather Service Public Advisory Text

QuickLook is served up by the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, NOAA’s tides and currents experts. While updates are generally published online four times a day, QuickLook data is updated once every six minutes during storm events. The online product may be released more frequently as circumstances (such as storm landfall) dictate.

For more information:
In-Depth Description of NOAA's Storm QuickLook
Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services
QuickLook Archive