####018002376#### NOUS42 KTBW 071359 PNSTBW FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-165- 239-242-248-249-251-255-260-262-265-080200- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 959 AM EDT Tue May 7 2024 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK 2024... ...UNDERSTAND FORECAST INFORMATION IS THE THEME FOR TODAY... All this week, your National Weather Service will be issuing informative messages to help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Here is a list of the remaining topics for this week. Tuesday: Understand Forecast Information Wednesday: Get Moving When a Storm Threatens Thursday: Stay Protected During Storms Friday: Use Caution After Storms Saturday: Take Action Today The NWS forecast products can tell you a lot about what is expected to happen with a storm, including the storm's path, rainfall amounts, wind speeds, and more. There is a lot of information available days ahead of a storm, and it is important to understand what it all means. Rely on official forecasts and well-established media partners in the weather enterprise. Be cautious of sensational headlines and instead look for reliable sources to determine a storm's potential impacts. Always check to make sure you have the latest information as well and have the Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your phone to receive warnings. Be sure to focus on the potential impacts from the storm regardless of the storm size or category. Every storm is different, so also do not rely on comparisons to previous storms for local impacts. The cone is not a representation of where impacts will be from the storm either. It represents the probable forecast track of the center of the storm, meaning that the storm's center will likely remain within that cone. The impacts from the storm however will extend well beyond the cone. Instead, look to the watches and warnings in place, as well as the hurricane threats and impacts graphics to gage your local risk of impacts. For more information about hurricane preparedness, please visit the following websites: https://noaa.gov/understand-forecast-information https://noaa.gov/explainers/understanding-hurricane-forecasts-impacts https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/cone_usage.php $$