Forecasters Issue New Storm Development Graphic

The National Hurricane Center is trying to give coastal residents more notice that tropical weather may be headed their way.

The Miami-based forecasters will issue new color-coded graphics showing areas in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific where storms may develop over the next five days. Red areas will indicate a high chance of storm formation, while orange areas will indicate a medium chance and yellow areas will indicate a low chance.

Until now, the hurricane center’s tropical weather outlooks have only shown areas that may develop into storms over the next two days.

The areas highlighted won’t necessarily show where a potential storm may make landfall, but they will show where a system is generally headed as it develops.