STORMKEEPERSafety guides › The hurricane cone
What does the hurricane cone mean?
The cone shows where the center may go, not how big the storm is.
The cone from the National Hurricane Center shows the likely path of the storm’s center. About one time in three, the center goes outside the cone.
Wind, rain and storm surge often reach far beyond the cone. Follow local evacuation orders, even if you are outside it.
Source: National Hurricane Center. Reviewed 2026-10-07.
This guide is general safety information. When a warning is issued for your area, follow the instructions from the National Weather Service and local officials.
Get the warning on your phone
Stormkeeper is a free tornado tracker and weather radar for the United States. It reads official National Weather Service alerts and tells you plainly whether you are safe. See what it does.
More guides
- What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
- What should you do during a tornado warning?
- What do the colors on weather radar mean?
- What is the EF scale for tornadoes?
- What is the 30/30 rule for lightning?
- How dangerous is a flash flood, and what should you do?
- What should be in a storm emergency kit?