Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre facts for kids
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) is like a special weather office. It helps share important information, advice, and warnings about big weather events. These centres work together as part of the World Weather Organization's World Weather Watch program. They make sure people around the world get the weather updates they need.
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Tropical Cyclone Centres: What They Do
A Tropical Cyclone Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre has a very important job. It finds tropical cyclones in its assigned part of the world. It also gives basic information about these storms, like where they are, where they are going, and how strong they are.
There are six main RSMCs for tropical cyclones. There are also four other centres called Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). All these centres send out public messages about tropical cyclones. They also help other weather services in different countries prepare warnings. Most of these centres also name tropical cyclones once they become strong enough, like a tropical storm. RSMC La Reunion and TCWC Wellington are the only exceptions.
Who Manages Tropical Cyclones Around the World?
- The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC/RSMC Miami) watches tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
- The United States Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC/RSMC Honolulu) helps track storms in the Western and Southern Pacific. It also gives warnings for the Central Pacific. If the NHC is very busy, the CPHC can also help with the Eastern Pacific.
- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA/RSMC Tokyo) sends out advice for the Western Pacific Ocean.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD/RSMC New Delhi) tracks tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.
- MFR/RSMC La Réunion (Météo-France) tracks and advises on tropical cyclones in the southwest Indian Ocean.
- In the Australian region, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM/TCWC Melbourne), the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG/TCWC Jakarta), and the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service (TCWC Port Moresby) name and track tropical cyclones.
- In the Southern Pacific, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS, RSMC Nadi) names tropical cyclones for the whole area. However, the Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService, TCWC Wellington) gives forecasts for the area south of 25°S.
- The South Atlantic Ocean is not usually a tropical cyclone area. But since 2011, the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center has created lists of names. These names are used for cyclones that form south of the equator and west of 20 degrees west.
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See also
In Spanish: Centro Meteorológico Regional Especializado para niños
