The Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) is a nonhydrostatic, full physics, mesoscale model currently being developed by a number of agencies. The model is designed to be suitable for both research and operational weather forecasting, and is expected to eventually replace existing operational models such as the RUC and ETA models. WRF, or a similar version, is also expected to replace NOAA's primary hurricane forecasting tool, the GFDL Hurricane Prediction System.

As part of an effort to develop the WRF model for hurricane forecasting, the authors will present and compare simulations of Hurricane Isabel (2003) using the WRF model, the GFDL hurricane model, an experimental version of the GFDL hurricane model using advanced microphysics, and the ZETAC model, which is a nonhydrostatic model developed within GFDL's Flexible Modeling System (FMS). Each simulation is designed so that each model has the same horizontal resolution, vertical resolution, and are driven by the same initial conditions and boundary conditions. Comparisons will be made among the three models and observations in regard to track, intensity, and vortex structure. Various cumulus and boundary layer parameterizations will be evaluated.