Miami, Florida – A major shift in how hurricane threats are communicated will take effect before the next storm forms, changing what millions of Americans see when watches and warnings go up.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the updated cone graphic will now include inland tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings, a move designed to show risk extending well beyond the coastline. Officials say the change helps residents in cities like Orlando, Atlanta and Columbia recognize wind threats earlier, even when they sit outside the traditional coastal cone.
The update directly impacts evacuation timing and emergency planning across Florida and the Southeast. Emergency managers warn that inland counties along I-75, I-95 and I-10 corridors often see damaging wind gusts exceeding 60 mph hours after landfall. Power outages affecting tens of thousands of customers frequently occur far from the coast, especially in heavily wooded areas…