Weather

Track Accuracy of Tropical Systems Has Considerably Improved Since 1970: NHC

Tracking of the tropics is considerably more accurate now than in 1970, the National Hurricane Center said.

The National Weather Service has become steadily more accurate as it's tracked tropical storm systems over the past 45 years, according to a graphic released by the service.

In 1970, its 72-hour forecast had an approximate error of 450 nautical miles. That figure has dropped down to about 100 nautical miles, according to the NWS graphic.

The 96-hour and 120-hour forecasting tracks are fairly recent additions to the tools used by the National Hurricane Center, only coming into service in the early 2000s.

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