Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) Meteorologists Educate Mariners at the Miami International Boat Show.
Daniel P. Brown and Hugh D. Cobb III, Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch,
Tropical Prediction Center, NOAA/NWS Miami, Florida
| TAFB Lead Forecaster Hugh Cobb
(far left) shows an example of a TAFB graphical Marine forecast to an interested boater,
while NWS Miami Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) Jim Lushine (back right) fields
questions at the 2005 Miami International Boat Show. |
Marine forecasters from the TPC's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB)
staffed the TPC/National Hurricane Center's (NHC) booth at the Miami International
Boat Show in February. The show is one of the largest boat shows in the world, with
an estimated 145,000 visitors to this year's show. The show attracts a wide range of
mariners, ranging from casual weekend boaters to professional mariners that spend a
large amount of time at sea. During the 5-day show, hundreds of boaters stopped by
the booth to inquire about marine weather and to comment on the busy 2004 hurricane
season. Forecasters provided marine weather-related educational literature and
displayed examples of TAFB's graphical and textual marine products. The show not only
provided an avenue for the forecasters to answer questions and educate inexperienced
boaters, it also provided a great opportunity for TAFB marine forecasters to interact
with many marine customers. Several customers stressed how much they rely on our
forecast products in order to remain safe each day.
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