Editing Weather Prediction Center (section)

===Tropical cyclone forecast duties===
The WPC is the official backup center to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). In this capacity, the WPC is responsible for issuing all tropical cyclone products, including discussions, graphics and watches and warnings that would normally be issued by the NHC for any tropical system in the Atlantic Ocean, if NHC is unable to so.<ref name="AboutWPC"/>

During the tropical weather season which runs from May 15 – November 30, the WPC has several other routine duties pertaining to tropical weather forecasting. Through 2008, WPC provided track forecast guidance to the NHC whenever there is a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean basin west of 60W longitude. As required, this guidance is provided to the NHC four times daily for use in the tropical cyclone package issued by the NHC at 0300 UTC, 0900 UTC, 1500 UTC and 2100 UTC. The WPC participates in the Hurricane Hotline call with the NHC and other forecast offices and government agencies at 1700 UTC for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean basin west of 60W longitude. Also, points for days 6 and 7 for existing tropical cyclones east of 140W longitude,<ref>[[United States Department of Commerce]] (2006). [http://www.weather.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/Katrina.pdf Service Assessment: Hurricane Katrina, August 23–31, 2005.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060723034359/http://www.weather.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/Katrina.pdf |date=2006-07-23 }} Retrieved on 2008-09-03.</ref> and days 3–7 to possible future tropical cyclones, are coordinated between the medium range pressures desk and NHC each day at 1700 UTC during the hurricane season. This coordination call began between the Extended Forecast Section and the Miami Hurricane Warning Office prior to 1959.<ref name="wb59">{{cite journal|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/wb_topicsandpersonnel/1959.pdf|title=WB Hurricane Forecasting Service|author=Staff|date=June 1959|pages=102–104|publisher=[[United States Weather Bureau]]|journal=Weather Bureau Topics|access-date=2012-04-22}}</ref>

Within the WPC tropical program, the lead forecaster on shift, who prepares the day 1 QPF, is to provide the rainfall statement for tropical cyclones that are expected to make landfall.  This statement is included in the Public Advisory issued by the NHC, and is a forecast of expected rainfall amounts that will occur with the tropical cyclone.<ref>David M. Roth (2008). [http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/TC_QPF_talk032008.ppt WPC's role in providing Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Products.] Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.</ref>

Finally, the WPC surface analysis desk has the responsibility for issuing Public Advisories whenever a tropical cyclone has made landfall in the U.S. or adjacent parts of Mexico, has weakened below tropical storm status (i.e. to a tropical depression or post-tropical cyclone or low) and is not expected to re-emerge over water as a tropical cyclone, yet the system is still capable of producing flooding type rains. This WPC Public Advisory will continue to be issued until the flooding rainfall threat is over. The advisory will contain information on how much rainfall has occurred with a particular tropical system, and will also include forecast information on the remnants of the system.<ref name="AboutWPC"/>  This responsibility has been held by the center since 1973.