Satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, Ships, buoys, radar, and other land-based platforms are important tools used in hurricane tracking and prediction. While a tropical cyclone is over the open ocean, remote measurements of the storm's intensity and track are made primarily via satellites.

How are hurricanes predicted?

A: Meteorologists track hurricanes using satellites. We take measurements around the storm that tell us what the winds are. A hurricane moves with the winds in the mid level of the atmosphere similar to the way a pine cone would float down a stream.

How do forecasters predict hurricanes kids?

The planes carry radar, sophisticated computers, and weather instruments that determine characteristics such as temperature, air pressure, wind speed, and wind direction inside the hurricane.