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(CNN) - There is a reason why these maps are called spaghetti models. Just take a look. There are lines everywhere.
The simple lines actually come from some of the fastest computers in the world, which make billions of calculations.
Also known as spaghetti diagrams, these models show where a tropical system, such as a hurricane, can go.
The more they are grouped, the greater the confidence in the forecast.
This is what you should know about spaghetti models.
Are all spaghetti models the same?
No. There are different types of spaghetti models: dynamic models, statistical models and set models.
Dynamic models require hours in a supercomputer to solve physical equations of motion to produce a forecast.
Statistical models, in contrast, are based on historical relationships between storm behavior and specific storm details, such as location and date.
Set or consensus models are created by combining the forecasts of a collection of other models.
All models show the expected trajectory of the storm and many also show how strong the storm will be.
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Who makes them?
The models are managed and operated by governments and private companies around the world. Some are public, while others are private.
Usually, the model name can reveal who is responsible.
Take, for example, the “Global Environmental Model of the Navy” which is run by the United States Navy's Center for Meteorology and Numerical Oceanography.
Some of the most familiar models are the US (GFS) and European (ECMWF) models administered by the US Government. UU. and an association of European countries respectively.
The combination of drawing them all on a map is done by several companies. For example, CNN uses a software company to plot the latest models in our CNN storm tracker when it tracks active storms.
How do you read?
The forecast track of each model is represented by a line. When all these are traced together, they can look like a lot of spaghetti.
Sometimes they spread everywhere. That is a good indication that there is little confidence where the storm is likely to go.
However, when they are all together, the forecaster can have more confidence in the direction of the storm.
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When is a good time to review the models?
The easy answer is all the time. These models run several times a day and can change very quickly.
The key is to look for trends. In other words, did all models move north or south, or do most models show that the storm is moving faster?
The other is consistency. Do the plots move north, for example, and have they done so the last three times you looked?