Kitty Code, LLC

Hurricane HD started it’s iPad career in the Top 100 Paid App List in iTunes on Thursday, even before iPads are available for sale. Helped by the TUAW article highlighting the features of this in depth hurricane tracking application, and video produced by Kitty Code’s CEO, Ilene Jones, Hurricane HD has made a great start and is expected to continue this trend as hurricane season nears.

In addition to the TUAW coverage, the National Hurricane Conference was in town this week, enabling our very own Ilene Jones to talk to key players about features she would like to see added to the hurricane feeds in the future. Being part of this conference was something that meant a lot to her both personally and professionally, since hurricane tracking is such a passion for her.

When asked about the features available in the two hurricane trackers, Ilene said “We wrote Hurricane and Hurricane HD because we wanted a hurricane tracking application on the iPhone that we would want to use. So we went out and gathered all of the information we would want to see and added into the app. We are completely open to suggestions for data that you may want that we don’t have right now. After all, this app should cover everything you need to track a hurricane. The best part is, I don’t have to be at my computer or in front of a TV to get this information, I can just open the app on my phone and I have everything I need.”

While Hurricane and Hurricane HD are the most promising hurricane tracking apps in the app store, development continues on new features, some which do not require an app update, others which will. Hurricane has a highly anticipated update coming up to begin the new season, “with revelations this week at the National Hurricane Conference, we believe that a few more days wait will be well worth the patience of our users. We don’t want to give it away just yet, but we have a few things in the works that will be awesome for any avid hurricane tracker – but don’t worry, the storm list can be reset at a moment’s notice, without an app update should the need arise.”

Hurricane HD is $3.99 in the App Store, which is the same price as their current iPhone app Hurricane.

In the iTunes App Store today, Hurricane by Kitty Code, LLC placed in the Top 5 Paid Weather applications in 4 countries:

United States: 5
Mexico: 2
El Salvador: 3
Venezuela: 4

Hurricane also made the Top 25 Paid Weather applications list in:

Canada: 16
Deutchland: 24
Espania: 23
Luxembourg: 20
Slovenia: 23
Sweden: 13
Turkey: 18

The biggest coup is being back in the Top 5 US Paid Weather applications. While the weather category is still relatively small compared to other categories, it is definitely tough to stay in the Top 10 apps, and to gain Top 5 notice. As the season progresses, and we release our next version of Hurricane, we hope to continue the trend, giving our users the best hurricane tracking in the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific.

Hurricane Season runs in different times for each ocean, sea or basin.  We often receive questions about when hurricane season is, and when the best time to travel would be if you needed to travel during hurricane season.  The information below changes on a season to season, and day to day basis, based on the conditions of the area and should ALWAYS be verified with the National Hurricane Center or the local authorities in the area you plan to visit.

Regular Hurricane Season Dates:

Atlantic, Carribean, Gulf of Mexico

June 1 – November 30

Northeast Pacific

May 15 – November 30

Central Pacific including Hawaiian Islands

June 1 – November 30

In each of these areas, based on historical data, which was completely ignored by the Atlantic hurricanes during the 2005 extremely active, record breaking Atlantic hurricane season, the best time to visit would be in June and July, and again in late October and November.  August,  September and early October are considered the height of the season which means there is a much greater chance of a hurricane in these waters at this time.  Hurricane Season is just that though, it is the time when hurricanes develop in these waters, therefore if you make plans to travel to these areas during the season, you should also have a backup plan, as well as travel insurance!

What would you do if you made travel plans in the Carribean during August, and a category 3 hurricane hits the island the week before you are scheduled to arrive?