IBTrACS Q&A

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This is the IBTrACS Questions and Answers forum. Users of IBTrACS can ask questions here.

The easiest way to post is to send your question in an email to: ibtracs-qa [at] googlegroups.com.

If you are asking questions about IBTrACS, please also join the IBTrACS News group which is where the IBTrACS team posts updates on the product.

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Vincent Maarek, … Jonathan Vigh6

Mar 28

Difference between IBTrACS and ATCF B-deck

Ken, Jonathan, Many thanks for all your detailed answers, this has proven to be extremely helpful.

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Difference between IBTrACS and ATCF B-deck

Ken, Jonathan, Many thanks for all your detailed answers, this has proven to be extremely helpful.

Mar 28

Benjamin Branoff, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal3

Mar 21

SIDs between csv and shapefile inconsistent for at least one storm

ok, thank you. I can confirm that the SID at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/international-best-track-

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SIDs between csv and shapefile inconsistent for at least one storm

ok, thank you. I can confirm that the SID at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/international-best-track-

Mar 21

Steven H Young, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

Mar 21

IBTrACS Formatting error

Hi Steven, Thanks for bringing this to our attention. The issue has been fixed. Jennifer On Wed, Mar

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IBTrACS Formatting error

Hi Steven, Thanks for bringing this to our attention. The issue has been fixed. Jennifer On Wed, Mar

Mar 21

ben s., … Dan Chavas11

Mar 10

Q&A

source of USA_RMW in v04r00

Great, thanks so much Jennifer! - Dan On Mon, Mar 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal

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Q&A

source of USA_RMW in v04r00

Great, thanks so much Jennifer! - Dan On Mon, Mar 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal

Mar 10

Manuraj, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

Jan 21

Hurricane track forecast data availability

Hi- IBTrACS is not to be used for decisions of life and property in real time. IBTrACS does not

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Hurricane track forecast data availability

Hi- IBTrACS is not to be used for decisions of life and property in real time. IBTrACS does not

Jan 21

Olivier Archer, … AHABYONA JAMES6

Jan 15

basins and subbasins boundaries

Thanks a lot Warm regards, James Ahabyona I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.

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basins and subbasins boundaries

Thanks a lot Warm regards, James Ahabyona I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.

Jan 15

Ivo Welch, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

12/17/24

Kossin et al PNAS 2020 Update?

Hi Ivo, ADT-HURSAT is currently in the process of being updated with the last few years of activity;

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Kossin et al PNAS 2020 Update?

Hi Ivo, ADT-HURSAT is currently in the process of being updated with the last few years of activity;

12/17/24

Michael Morrone, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal3

12/13/24

Nans/weird USA SLP values in Freddy (2023036S12117)

Hi Mike, This has been fixed. Thanks, Jennifer On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 11:15 AM Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA

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Nans/weird USA SLP values in Freddy (2023036S12117)

Hi Mike, This has been fixed. Thanks, Jennifer On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 11:15 AM Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA

12/13/24

Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal

12/4/24

Re: [ibtracs-qa]

Hi Majinzi, Data may be downloaded via the IBTrACS website. Scroll down to access methods and click

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Re: [ibtracs-qa]

Hi Majinzi, Data may be downloaded via the IBTrACS website. Scroll down to access methods and click

12/4/24

Cheng-Hsiang Peter Chih, … Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal7

12/4/24

Download problem

Please try again now, the issue should be resolved. -Jennifer On Tue, Dec 3, 2024 at 8:20 PM RPA

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Download problem

Please try again now, the issue should be resolved. -Jennifer On Tue, Dec 3, 2024 at 8:20 PM RPA

12/4/24

Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal

11/29/24

Re: [ibtracs-qa] Repeated Numbers in 2022

Hello, Which version of the IBTrACS data are you using? I don't think this is a problem in the

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Re: [ibtracs-qa] Repeated Numbers in 2022

Hello, Which version of the IBTrACS data are you using? I don't think this is a problem in the

11/29/24

Kevin J. Nelson, … Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal4

11/14/24

ATCF ID Changing over Time

Hi Kevin, I think it depends on the use case, but if you are intending to use the USA source data,

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ATCF ID Changing over Time

Hi Kevin, I think it depends on the use case, but if you are intending to use the USA source data,

11/14/24

Slattery, Michael P, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

10/30/24

Display track do not match shapefile/csv downloads

Hi Michael, IBTrACS contains data from multiple different sources which are all used in the general

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Display track do not match shapefile/csv downloads

Hi Michael, IBTrACS contains data from multiple different sources which are all used in the general

10/30/24

项潜, Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal2

10/24/24

Discrepancies in 'Dist2Land' values in IBTrACS

Hi Please start by reviewing Appendix B of the Technical Guide: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/sites/g/

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Discrepancies in 'Dist2Land' values in IBTrACS

Hi Please start by reviewing Appendix B of the Technical Guide: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/sites/g/

10/24/24

Paxton Turner, Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal2

10/16/24

Provisional track updates?

Hi Good question. In theory ... Provisional means "arranged or existing for the present,

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Provisional track updates?

Hi Good question. In theory ... Provisional means "arranged or existing for the present,

10/16/24

Pasmorade

10/14/24

Tropical Storm Theresa (1967)

At the end, the track shows Theresa transitioning from a low-pressure area into a high-pressure area.

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Tropical Storm Theresa (1967)

At the end, the track shows Theresa transitioning from a low-pressure area into a high-pressure area.

10/14/24

Michael Morrone, … Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal4

10/3/24

IBTracs site unreachable

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI),

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IBTracs site unreachable

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI),

10/3/24

Dennis Wagenaar, Howard Diamond4

10/2/24

Wind speed definition at sea

Hi Dennis, Okay, thanks for your understanding of the situation in Asheville, but again, we depend on

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Wind speed definition at sea

Hi Dennis, Okay, thanks for your understanding of the situation in Asheville, but again, we depend on

10/2/24

Yuriy Goncharenko, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

9/3/24

potential double-counting issue

Hi Yuriy, In this case, during this period of time, there are UNNAMED storms with spur track_type

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potential double-counting issue

Hi Yuriy, In this case, during this period of time, there are UNNAMED storms with spur track_type

9/3/24

Kevin J. Nelson, Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal2

8/14/24

Shear Information in IBTrACS

Hi Kevin That is a great question and one we have wrestled with for years. We have kept IBTrACS as

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Shear Information in IBTrACS

Hi Kevin That is a great question and one we have wrestled with for years. We have kept IBTrACS as

8/14/24

Mahendra Benke, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

7/15/24

Converting 3 min wind speed to 1 min

Hi- None of the maximum wind speeds in IBTrACS are converted between wind averaging periods but are

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Converting 3 min wind speed to 1 min

Hi- None of the maximum wind speeds in IBTrACS are converted between wind averaging periods but are

7/15/24

Michael Morrone, Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal4

7/9/24

503 error on IBTracs site

Hi Ken, While the link is working, the data itself was last updated on 7/2. Thank you for your help!

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503 error on IBTracs site

Hi Ken, While the link is working, the data itself was last updated on 7/2. Thank you for your help!

7/9/24

Michael Dezube, Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal5

7/8/24

NOAA's BigQuery Hurricane Table Seems to No Longer be Updated

The latest documentation is at our website: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/international-best-

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NOAA's BigQuery Hurricane Table Seems to No Longer be Updated

The latest documentation is at our website: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/international-best-

7/8/24

wenyu, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal4

6/21/24

missing wmo_wind since 2023

Hi Wenyu, The wmo_wind contains wind data from different agencies based on the official RSMCs

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missing wmo_wind since 2023

Hi Wenyu, The wmo_wind contains wind data from different agencies based on the official RSMCs

6/21/24

Michael Morrone, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal6

6/11/24

Status of IBTracs data access

Hi Jennifer, Noted! Thanks for the quick reply. Best, Mike From: Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal <

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Status of IBTracs data access

Hi Jennifer, Noted! Thanks for the quick reply. Best, Mike From: Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal <

6/11/24

Paolo De Luca, Ken Knapp - NOAA Federal3

5/30/24

Question on time-steps of tracks

Hi Paolo You can use the coordinate variable 'time' to calculate the time of the observation.

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Question on time-steps of tracks

Hi Paolo You can use the coordinate variable 'time' to calculate the time of the observation.

5/30/24

guiling ye, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

5/29/24

TC minimum pressure

Hello Guiling Ye, Since IBTrACS includes data from many sources, the start year for minimum central

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TC minimum pressure

Hello Guiling Ye, Since IBTrACS includes data from many sources, the start year for minimum central

5/29/24

羅倫素, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

5/13/24

WPAC Basin Best Track Data from 2022-2023

Hi-Apologies for the delay. The best track data will be in IBTrACS soon with the release of our new

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WPAC Basin Best Track Data from 2022-2023

Hi-Apologies for the delay. The best track data will be in IBTrACS soon with the release of our new

5/13/24

Somnath Pal, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal2

5/2/24

Inquiry regarding missing storms

Hi Somnath, IBTrACS is a database for tropical cyclones, so extratropical cyclones will not get

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Inquiry regarding missing storms

Hi Somnath, IBTrACS is a database for tropical cyclones, so extratropical cyclones will not get

5/2/24

大野悠斗521313, Jennifer Gahtan - NOAA Federal3

5/1/24

Typhoon TRIX in 1952

---------- 転送メッセージ --------- From: 大野悠斗521313 <521...@m.mie-u.ac.jp> 日付: 2024年5月2日(木) 9:35 件名:

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Typhoon TRIX in 1952

---------- 転送メッセージ --------- From: 大野悠斗521313 <521...@m.mie-u.ac.jp> 日付: 2024年5月2日(木) 9:35 件名:

5/1/24