Weather Terms Identified for your use f.  Severe Weather Terminology.  Common use of terminology and phrases to is to be adhered to. CGHQ, LANTAREA and District have set a specific terminology for dealing with severe weather conditions. Table 1.1 below shows the relationships between the terms.  These are: 1. Hurricane Category – Refers to the strength of a storm determined by the National Weather Service. Example: “Rita is a Category 4 Hurricane.” 2.      Readiness Condition – Refers to the Coast Guard Unit  “Readiness” Condition.  Example:  “Sector New Orleans has set Readiness Condition 3.” 3.      Port Status – Refers to the status of commercial ports set by the COTP:  Example – “COTP Corpus Christi has set Port Status X-Ray”.  Table 1-1: Status Condition Relationships Port Condition  Hurricane Condition     Readiness Condition     Storm Relative To Projected Landfall    WHISKEY Hurricane Condition  4  Readiness Condition 4   72 Hours to Landfall X-RAY   Hurricane Condition  3  Readiness Condition 3   48 Hours to Landfall    YANKEE  Hurricane Condition  2  Readiness Condition 2   24 Hours to Landfall    4.      USCG Definitions of Severe Weather Readiness Conditions.  Normally the Eighth District Chief of Response will set heavy weather conditions for the District or portions of the District. However, the Sector Commander is authorized and expected to set heavy weather conditions at any time when conditions warrant and shall then notify his/her operational commander accordingly. a.      Definitions of Severe Weather Conditions of Readiness.  These conditions describe USCG internal readiness conditions. 1.      CONDITION FIVE – A seasonal condition automatically set by all units on 1 June each year extending through November 30. 2.      CONDITION FOUR – The readiness conditions set no later than the point in time when tropical storm force winds are probable to reach landfall within seventy-two (72) hours  or when deemed necessary to increase the overall readiness of the  District (Sector). 3.      CONDITION THREE – The readiness conditions set no later than the point in time when tropical storm force winds are probable within forty-eight (48) hours  or when deemed necessary to increase the overall readiness of the District (Sector). 4.      CONDITION TWO – The WARNING condition. Set not later than the point in time when tropical storm force winds are probable within twenty-four  (24) hours  or when deemed necessary to increase the overall readiness of the District (Sector). 5.      CONDITION ONE – The danger condition. Set not later than the point in time when tropical storm force winds are probable within twenty-four  (24) hours  or when deemed necessary to increase the overall readiness of the District (Sector). 6.      POST HEAVY WEATHER RECOVERY – The storm is no longer a threat to the area; however major damage has occurred and recovery ops are required. b.      USCG Port Status .  COTP’s set post heavy weather conditions when preparing for the arrival of a hurricane or similar severe tropical weather per Ref (d).  The overriding goal of the COTP is the protection of life, including vessel crews, facility personnel, and the general public. The COTP shall also communicate with neighboring COTP’s to coordinate actions and vessel movement plans. These conditions describe external  readiness set for the maritime industry and stakeholders set by the COTP. 1.      Port Status WHISKEY.  Normally set when gale force winds from a hurricane force storm are expected to arrive at the port within 72 hours. 2.      Port Status X-RAY.  Normally set when gale force winds from a hurricane force storm are expected to arrive at the port within 48 hours. 3.      Port Status Yankee.  Normally set when gale force winds from a hurricane force storm are expected to arrive at the port within 24 hours. 4.      Port Status ZULU.  Normally set when gale force winds from a hurricane force storm are expected to arrive at the port within 12 hours. c.      Saffer-Simpson Hurricane Scale (NWS Hurricane Conditions).  As described by the NWS’s National Hurricane Tracking Center. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf and the shape of the coastline, in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average. 1.      CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE:  Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricane Lili of 2002 made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane. Hurricane Gaston of 2004 was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central South Carolina coast. 2.      CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE: Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Frances of 2004 made landfall over the southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida as a Category Two hurricane. Hurricane Isabel of 2003 made landfall near Drum Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane. 3.      CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE: Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Jeanne and Ivan of 2004 were Category Three hurricanes when they made landfall in Florida and in Alabama, respectively. 4.      CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE:  Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Charley of 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County, Florida with winds of 150 mph. Hurricane Dennis of 2005 struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.  5.      CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE:  Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Wilma (pdf) of 2005 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 882 mb.