Tropical Cyclone Programme

The Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) allows tropical cyclone forecasters to access various sources that provide conventional and specialized data/products, including those from Numerical Weather Predictions (NWP) and remote sensing observations, as well as forecasting tools on the development, motion, intensification and wind distribution of tropical cyclones. As part of the Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Services Department, the Programme is tasked with establishing national and regionally coordinated systems to ensure that the loss of life and damage caused by tropical cyclones are reduced to a minimum. The TCP is effected on both national and regional levels through cooperative action and covers activities of Members, WMO regional associations, other international and regional bodies and the WMO Secretariat.

The Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) aims to ensure, through its national and regional coordinated systems, that the loss of life and damage caused by tropical cyclones are reduced to a minimum. The Programme plans to expand its platform to include more data and tools as they become available and to publish techniques and best practices from tropical cyclone forecast centres.

The main Programme objectives are to encourage and assist its Members to: 

• provide reliable forecasts of tropical cyclone tracks and intensities, and related forecasts of strong winds, quantitative forecasts and timely assessments of heavy rainfall, quantitative forecasts and simulation of storm surges, along with timely warnings covering all tropical cyclone-prone areas;
• provide forecasts of floods associated with tropical cyclones;
• promote awareness of warnings and carry out activities at the interface between the warning systems and the users of warnings, including public information, education and awareness;
• provide the required basic meteorological and hydrological data and advice to support hazard assessment and risk evaluation of tropical cyclone disasters; and
• establish national disaster preparedness and prevention measures.

The General Component of the Tropical Cyclone Programme is concerned with methodology like transfer of technology, information and scientific knowledge to Members and encompasses the broader training requirements of the Programme.

The Regional Component comprises the planning and implementation of the programmes of the Tropical Cyclone Programme Regional Bodies. Each of the five Regional Bodies has an Operational Plan or Manual which records the agreements reached on the sharing of responsibilities for the warning services and their infrastructures, throughout its region. The plans were designed to provide the best possible forecasting and warning services within the limits of scientific knowledge and technological developments and of the available resources, ensuring full coordination and taking maximum advantage of the high level of cooperation which has been achieved. These plans are regularly updated to incorporate new facilities, advances and developments.

Find out more on the tropical cyclone regional bodies

Latest information available on TCFW (Training material)

• GOES-16 Applications for Hurricane Forecasting (WMO RA-VI Hurricane Committee - 39, 23 - 26 March 2017, San Jose, Costa Rica)