Hurricane tracking charts are blank maps used to track the path of a hurricane. When tracking hurricanes, the intensity of the storm is indicated on the path along with any dates/times of landfall. There are several versions of the charts depending upon your needs. At the bottom of the page are suggestions for plotting hurricane paths as well as locations to get complete summaries of hurricane seasons from 1958 to the present.

Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 1
This chart is in full color. The chart is produced by the American Red Cross and represents the full Atlantic basin. Helpful tips on the dangers of hurricanes are printed on the map and all land locations are clearly labeled.

Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 2
This tracking chart is from NOAA and has small tic marks in a grid for easy plotting. Islands and land structures are labeled.

Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 3
This third version is less detailed, but useful for a younger audience. The black and white blank map includes some labels and a square grid for plotting hurricanes and tropical storms.

Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 4
This chart has a smaller grid and a wider view of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast.

Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 5
LSU Hurricane Center provides this easy to read chart. With a smaller grid overlay, the path of a hurricane can be plotted with greater precision. NOTE: The chart is on the second page of this pdf file, but the first page contains some very useful evacuation tips and hurricane facts.

Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 6
Specific to the 2008 hurricane season, this full-color chart has the possible names for hurricanes listed.

Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 1
For those wishing to track hurricanes that enter into the Gulf of Mexico, this map provides the perfect solution. A grid overlay and labels of major cities on the Gulf Coast provide an easy way to track the path of some of the most destructive United States hurricanes.

Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Tracking Chart Version 2
The Boat U.S. Marine Insurance Damage Avoidance Program provides this simple map for tracking Gulf Coast hurricanes. The Caribbean Islands are labeled as well as major Gulf Coast cities.

Eastern Pacific Hurricane Tracking Chart
Hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean do not often make the news as often the Atlantic and Gulf Coast hurricanes. This map has a grid overlay and is much more simple.

Pacific Hurricane Tracking - Whole Earth View
The nice part about this blank world map is the ability to see the entire Pacific Ocean basin. The latitude and longitude lines are indicated onto the map making it easy to plot a storm by the coordinates.

Hawaii Hurricane Tracking Chart
If you are looking to plot just the hurricanes near the Hawaiian Islands, this is the map for you.

Suggestions for Plotting the Path of a Hurricane

1. Several activities for understanding the basics of hurricanes can help a beginner to understand the nature of tropical cyclone formation. This list of hurricane activities includes lessons on hurricane intensity, damages, and paths.
2. Go to the full-color hurricane maps from 1995 through 2007 in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to see finished maps with storms already plotted.
3. Another way to look up data sets on past hurricanes is to go to the Historical Hurricane Tracks page from the NOAA Coastal Studies Center. You can look up data on specific storms and download the data or you can use the interactive feature which shows plots for specific hurricanes.
4. The National Hurricane Center maintains an archive of past tropical cyclone activity from 1995 through the present. In addition storms from 1958 through 1994 are also available, but details are not always available.