The new Advanced Dvorak Technique–Hurricane Satellite (ADT-HURSAT) dataset is available! The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison/Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (UW/CIMSS) began developing the updated ADT-HURSAT in fall 2024 with the goal of supporting industries and scientific communities that rely on hurricane (also known as tropical cyclones) records.
What is ADT-HURSAT?
The ADT-HURSAT dataset provides standardized information about storm intensity across time and geography, making it useful for long-term historical analysis going back to 1978. Understanding past impacts can help industries and communities with future risk assessment and preparedness to protect homes, avoid disrupted supply chains, keep businesses open, and strengthen local and national economies.
Previously updated in 2019, NCEI has now extended the Hurricane Satellite (HURSAT) dataset through 2024, and CIMSS applied the Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) to estimate storm strength from satellite images. This method identifies the strength of a storm by determining the shape and size based on radar imagery.
Collaborative Development with Industries
Feedback from several U.S. industries helped shape the ADT-HURSAT dataset and its tools as part of the NCEI industry partnership program. This collaboration supports proactive efforts that protect lives, property, and jobs in communities across the nation. Along with NOAA’s broader suite of environmental information products and services, the ADT-HURSAT dataset offers reliable weather and climate data that organizations can use to understand storm risks, plan logistics, allocate resources, and strengthen infrastructure ahead of hurricanes and other severe storms. These insights support a wide range of industry, public, and scientific applications, including:
- Businesses, researchers, and the public can study hurricane trends, better understand storm impacts, and inform planning and preparedness efforts. Reliable long-term data supports scientific research, helps communities plan infrastructure and emergency response strategies, and improves awareness of risks.
- Retailers can analyze past storm data and their effects on shipping routes and logistics to incorporate insights into supply chain management. By learning from previous storms, retailers can maintain product availability, minimize delays, and better allocate resources during severe weather events. Emergency management teams can also reduce risk to storefronts and warehouses, protecting employees, customers, and inventory while helping communities maintain access to essential goods and recover faster after storms.
- Insurers and reinsurers can improve catastrophe models and better identify high-risk regions by analyzing hurricane intensity and behavior records. Clearer risk insights help guide homeowners and businesses toward appropriate insurance coverage and damage mitigation measures such as fortified buildings and improved flood protection.
Turning Data into Action
To make ADT-HURSAT data easier to access and use, even for people without specialized tools or years of technical experience, NCEI’s industry partnership program developed a user-friendly web interface with direct download capabilities and example use cases that show how the information can be applied. A tutorial written in Python, a programming language commonly used for data analysis, is also available to help users access and work with the information. Further improving accessibility, the dataset is stored in a NOAA cloud bucket, an online storage space that allows people to access and download data over the internet.
By delivering dependable weather insights, NOAA supports weather-resilient communities, economic stability, and long-term disaster preparedness nationwide. For more information and access to the ADT-HURSAT dataset, visit the product page. To learn more about how NOAA data supports U.S. industries and the economy, visit NCEI’s Our Impact page.
