The incoming director of the National Hurricane Center says being able to better predict the intensity of approaching tropical systems will be a priority.

In August 2004 Hurricane Charley intensified from a category two hurricane – to a very destructive category 4 – in a matter of about two hours. The increase took everyone by surprise. Incoming National Hurricane Center director Bill Proenza says in the future forecasts will include information on intensity as well as the storm’s projected path.

“we’re seeing more and more science being developed that will help us do that. We still need to monitor all of the parcels of air so to speak in three dimensions around the storm so that we get a better handle on how they’re all behaving, the energy that’s in them, and in so doing we should get a better handle on forecasting intensity changes.

Proenza starts his new job January 3rd. He takes over for Max Mayfield who lead the National Hurricane Center since 2000.

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The National Hurricane Center gets a new director next week. Bill Proenza is capping off a thirty year career with the National Weather Service with the move to South Florida. He says partnerships will remain key to the Center’s mission of saving lives and protecting property.

“We have an important partnership with emergency managers and local government and state government. That is, when we issue a forecast and a warning there has been a lot of preparatory work already in reaching some level of readiness for all of the coastal areas that may be threatened. And in turn we also have an important partnership with the media.”

Proenza says under his direction the center work at being able to better predict changes in intensity of approaching tropical systems. He takes over leadership from Max Mayfield who’s retiring after leading the National Hurricane Center since 2000.