HNMMB: Development of a new Hurricane model for NWS/NCEP operations

A new operational Hurricane model is under advanced stages of development at NWS/NCEP. This new modeling system is based on the Hurricane version of Non-hydrostatic Multi-scale Model on the Arakawa B grid (HNMMB). Akin to operational HWRF system, Hurricane NMMB is configured on three domains, a parent domain (at 18 km grid spacing) and two telescopic, movable and interactive nested grids (at 6 km and 2 km grid spacing respectively). Results from recent experiments with HNMMB will be discussed addressing impact of physics options, vortex initialization and ocean coupling to explore HNMMB’s potential to continue to advance NWS/NCEP’s guidance on hurricane forecast intensity and track for operational centers.