9 Best Hurricane Tracking Charts

9 Best Hurricane Tracking Charts Updated October 15, 2018 Hurricane tracking charts are blank maps used to track the path of a hurricane. When tracking hurricanes, the intensity of the storm is indicated on the path along with any dates/times of landfall. There are several versions of the charts depending upon your needs. (All links will open maps in PDF format.) Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 1This version is as official as it gets. Used by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC), it not only has a view of the full Atlantic basin but of the east coast of Africa, too. With a smaller grid overlay, the path of a hurricane can be plotted with greater precision. Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 2This grayscale NOAA chart has a smaller grid and a wider view of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast. Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 3This color chart is produced by the American Red Cross and shows the full Atlantic basin. Helpful tips on the dangers of hurricanes are printed on the map and all states, islands, major cities, and beaches are clearly labeled. Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 4This black and white chart is one of NOAAs older versions but has small dot marks in a grid for easy plotting. Islands and land structures are labeled. Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 5Courtesy of the LSU Agricultural Center, this grayscale chart is unique in that it labels the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Pacific, and Atlantic waters. One obvious drawback? It only includes a view of the eastern seaboard up to Virginia. (NOTE: The chart is on page 2 of this .pdf file, but the first page contains some very useful evacuation tips and hurricane facts.) Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 1For those wishing to track hurricanes that enter into the Gulf of Mexico, this map provides the perfect solution. A grid overlay and labels of major cities on the Gulf Coast provide an easy way to track the path of some of the most destructive United States hurricanes. Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 2The Boat Owners Association of the United States provides this simple map for tracking Gulf Coast hurricanes. (Its a great kid-friendly version.) The Caribbean Islands are labeled as well as major Gulf Coast cities. Eastern Pacific Hurricane Tracking ChartThis map comes directly from the NOAA NHC. It includes a view of the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii Hurricane Tracking ChartIf youre only interested in plotting hurricanes that venture near the Hawaiian Islands, this is the map for you (courtesy of AccuWeather). Plotting the Path of a Hurricane Now that you have the maps printed, its time to start plottin! For a simple how-to, check out How to Use a Hurricane Tracking Chart.   Edited by Tiffany Means

Use Truncated Words with Caution

Use Truncated Words with Caution Use Truncated Words with Caution Use Truncated Words with Caution By Mark Nichol When is it acceptable to use abbreviated versions of words? The type of publication and the context of the content determine the suitability of truncated words. Some words used in even the most formal writing are shortened versions of words that now seem stiffly pedantic: auto is the first part of automobile, zoo derives from â€Å"zoological gardens,† and flu was snatched from the middle of influenza. Phone and plane are taken from the third and second syllables of telephone and airplane, which are themselves becoming obsolete. But what about, for example, carb (from carbohydrate), hood (from neighborhood), or perp (from perpetrator)? Such terms may be found in newspaper and magazine feature stories (though not in news articles) and in less formal contexts such as blog posts and mass-market books, but they’re highly unlikely to be found in scholarly texts, academic papers, and business reports. This discussion doesn’t answer the question I posed in the first paragraph, however. How do you determine whether abbreviated terms such as these are appropriate for more formal content? The key is to avoid being an innovator. Once sociology texts refer to burbs, papers on nutrition mention veggies, and science journals discuss nukes, you’ll know it’s safe to employ these terms. Until then, be more circumspect about using such casualisms except in vernacular writing. Writing and speech are becoming more informal, and modern usage also reflects the inclination toward faster-paced communication enabled by more sophisticated technology, but acceptance of colloquial vocabulary still lags in general acceptance by years if at all. That last point is significant: Writers who use colloquial abbreviations risk being ahead of the curve, especially if that curve never manifests itself, and convention continues along in a straight line. Use of casualisms is especially questionable in printed books, even those dealing with popular culture and other general-interest topics, because of the delay in publication between drafting the manuscript and publication of the book. By the time the product is released, months later, the public may have rejected or forgotten the term, and its persistence in print may distract readers. In informal, ephemeral writing such as blog posts, anyone can form new boundaries, but in more formal contexts, be a follower, not a leader. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs and HeteronymsCharles's Pen and Jesus' Name