JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting May 15, 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) is making an important update to how it issues warnings for developing tropical systems.
This change will give coastal communities more time to prepare for storms before they fully form.
Breaking it down: What is a PTC?
A Potential Tropical Cyclone (PTC) is a developing storm that hasn’t yet become a full-fledged tropical depression, tropical storm, or hurricane but could bring dangerous conditions to land.
In other words, it’s a storm in the making, and while it may not have fully organized yet, it can still bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge to coastal areas.
What’s changing?
Previously, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) could only issue track cone advisories for PTCs if tropical storm or hurricane watches were needed within 48 hours or warnings within 36 hours.
Now, they will be able to issue these advisories up to 72 hours before impacts begin—a full day earlier than before.
Why is this important?
For people living along the coast, this update provides several key benefits:
- Earlier Warnings Mean More Time to Prepare: This extra 24 hours can make a big difference in securing homes, gathering supplies, and planning evacuations if needed.
- Better Tracking Information: Meteorologists will be able to give a clearer picture of where a storm is heading before it fully develops.
- Increased Awareness: Knowing about a potential tropical cyclone sooner helps emergency managers and the public make smarter decisions.
2024 real-world example: Hurricane Helene
A great example of why early tracking matters is Hurricane Helene in 2024.
This system started as a disturbance in the Caribbean but quickly intensified, making landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.
With earlier advisories, residents could have had even more time to prepare for its devastating impact.
Where did PTC warnings come from?
The NHC first introduced Potential Tropical Cyclone (PTC) advisories in 2017 to provide early warnings for systems that had not yet reached tropical storm status.
Before then, communities often had little to no notice of incoming storms that were just beginning to develop.
With this new update, forecasts will now extend even further ahead, ensuring people have the information they need to stay safe.