A revised hurricane pressure-wind model

A new technique for relating central pressure and maximum winds in tropical cyclones is presented, together with a method of objectively determining a derivative of the Holland b parameter, bs, which relates directly to surface winds and varies with the pressure drop into the cyclone center, intensification rate, latitude, and translation speed. By allowing this bs parameter to vary, a realistic scatter in maximum winds for a given central pressure is obtained.

This provides an improvement over traditional approaches that provide a unique wind for each central pressure. It is further recommended that application of the Dvorak satellite-interpretation technique be changed to enable a direct derivation of central pressure. The pressure-wind model derived here can then provide the maximum wind estimates.