NavTools StormTrack

Note: A FREE BETA version of NavTools StormTrack 8 is available by clicking here

NavTools StormTrack allows you to track tropical storms (including hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, etc.) all over the world and view their forecast track as well as the closest point of approach to your present location or intended route. Although created for merchant navy vessels, the software will be very handy as well for yachts or other vessels or even stationary targets (your home, office, etc.).

In above example is situation is shown with one tropical storm and an intended voyage from Canada to Europe. Present position of the tropical storm is shown in red with radius of the circle showing the radius of the storm (maximum wind). Forecast positions of the storm and their respective radius are shown in orange (as can be seen the storm is expected to increase in strength). Our intended sailingroute is shown and crosses the forecast track of the tropical storm, however the color of the track (green) already shows we will pass clear of the stormfield. Should any position on the route pass within the stormfield, the route will show up in red.

The relative track tab shows us how our intended route will work out in relation to the forecast track of the tropical storm. As can be seen the storm is expected to pass to the west of us with a closest point of approach of approx.. 200 nM clear of the edge of the stormfield.

While calculating the intended route, the software takes into account the effect of the wind and waves created by the tropical storm, as well as seasonal effects we can enter ourselves for each leg of the intended route. An unlimited number of routes and waypoints can be entered and all data can be quickly changed to view the effect of a change in intended route.

The tropical storm avoidance graph can be used to get a quick overview of avoidance routes. Dead reckoning positions are plotted for each course starting from our latest positionfix and forecast weather is calculated for this dead reckoning taking into account winds and waves created by the storm. If more then one tropical storm is entered, all these storms will be taken into account when calculating weather conditions.

'Safe' weather conditions are shown in green, 'Risk' areas where a situation of parametric or synchronous rolling might develop or where there is a risk of broaching or flooding are shown in orange, while 'Danger' areas where the vessel will enter the stormfield of a tropical storm are shown in red.

As can be seen in above example our intended track remains within the 'green' area, however a slightly more southerly course would result in a risk of parametric or synchronous rolling (orange areas).

Above example shows the situation further on in the voyage. As can be seen our track is still well clear of the tropical storm, however a northerly course will take us into the stormfield (red area). Note the storm avoidance graph does not depict the stormfield at the present moment but shows the situation at the moment we will reach the indicated position, the graph will change if we change our engine rpm setting.

The Heavy Weather tactics display can be used in any weather situation and shows a quick overview of dangerous course and speed settings. For each course and engine rpm setting (yellow lines) the risk of parametric and synchronous rolling is calculated as well as the risk of broaching or flooding. Area's where one of these risks is present are shown in red, while 'safe' course/speed settings are shown in green. Above situation for instance shows us a situation with a high westerly swell and a secondary northwesterly swell. As can be seen an easterly or southeasterly course combined with a high engine rpm setting will result in a dangerous situation. Furthermore a westsouthwesterly course or a eastnortheasterly course will be dangerous in almost all engine rpm settings (parametric or synchronous rolling). A northerly course is safe in any speed setting while a southerly or southeasterly course is safe provided the engine is kept below 60 rpm.

Furthermore, note the application automatically corrects for weatherconditions and the vessels performance, resulting in a 'lobsided' diagram with only slow progress expected on any westerly course (against wind and swell) and more speed predicted on an easterly course (wind on the stern).

The heavy weather tactics display is a very handy tool for a quick overview of our options in avoiding dangerous situations during heavy weather, and when combined with the storm avoidance chart it allows us to instantly view the best option in avoiding heavy weather.

Weather conditions can be entered into the weather dialog. These weather conditions will be used to calculate the heavy weather tactics display as well as expected vessels performance on the route and avoidance graphs. Weather information will be stored for each new positionfix and can be redisplayed by selecting the appropriate positionfix.

The Route details tab allows us to enter or change waypoints as well as the intended engine rpm setting and expected weather conditions on each leg of the route. Note routes are stored in the database separate of the actual voyages, and can be used and reused for each new voyage. The software allows an unlimited number of waypoints on an unlimited number of routes and voyages.

An unlimited number of tropical storms can be entered in the storm tab, with for each tropical storm its latest reported position as well as all forecasts positions.

Voyages as well as the positionfixes can be entered in the voyage information dialog. By selecting a positionfix, all the charts will instantly depict the situation at the selected time and position, allowing you to store many different voyages and jump back and forth between positions.

The software will always automatically calculate the next waypoint on a route from any given position, and change the route and shown track to take the new position into account. ETA's at the various waypoints are calculated while taking into account wind and waves created by tropical storms, as well as weather conditions entered manually into the route details list. However note that for a more detailed voyage planning you should use the NavTools Route application.

The database used by NavTools Stormtrack is identical from the one used by the Navigation Toolbar and by version 7 of NavTools Route voyageplanning (to be released in 2007). By sharing the same database (either on a local harddisk or on a network server) you will be able to share all information between the various applications and avoid the trouble of having to reenter route and voyage information in each application.

All the charts displayed by NavTools Stormtrack can be controlled from the Chart Control dialog, allowing you to zoom in, as well as change the center or the projection of the chart. The period shown by the Storm Avoidance graph can also be controlled from this dialog.

All charts and tables from the application can be printed as part of our voyage planning or voyage monitoring

A complete free English user manual of NavTools Stormtrack will be available soon from this website. Please check the website regularly for updates and new information.

Like all NavTools applications NavTools Stormtrack is distributed as shareware, you can test this application completely for free during 30 days before you need to decide whether or not to buy a registration license. You are strongly encouraged to report all comments or problems to support@navtools.nl so we can use them to update the application. All future updates are free of charge for registered users.