The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is a key command operated by both the United States Navy and the United States Air Force, situated in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This center plays a crucial role in issuing warnings about tropical cyclones in several regions, including the North-West Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean. Their alerts are primarily aimed at protecting military ships, aircraft, and installations that collaborate with other nations worldwide.
The JTWC follows the guidelines set by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for storm naming and intensity measurement of tropical cyclones and storms. However, they utilize the U.S. standard for measuring sustained winds over one minute, rather than the WMO’s ten-minute standard. It’s important to note that the JTWC is not recognized as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre by the WMO. Instead, its main focus is to support various U.S. government agencies.
Year-round, the JTWC monitors, analyzes, and forecasts the formation, development, and movement of tropical cyclones, ensuring timely and accurate information is available for those who need it most.
