Evaluation of URMA Wind Analysis Using HWRF and Additional Observation Records

NCEP's Unrestricted Mesoscale Analysis (URMA) system provides vital information to estimate the strength and timing of damaging winds at a given area impacted by the tropical cyclone. We use this system for conducting wind analysis to serve the requirements of the Consumer Option for an Alternative System to Allocate Losses (COASTAL) Act. This system assimilates data from a variety of sources to create 2 dimensional surface analyses. An interface is developed to use the NOAA Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast (HWRF) system with the URMA system. Also, additional observations from Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) and radar observed winds are included in the analysis to obtain wind, gust and surface pressure analyses. We present the results from these exercises and evaluate the outcomes for named storm events. The outputs contribute to further “downscale” evolution of wind analysis at “parcel-scale” over-land locations in the impacted area.