Tropical Weather Definitions |
Extratropical Cyclone
A cyclone (of any intensity) for which the primary energy source is baroclinic (i.e., results from the temperature contrast between warm & cold air masses) in the middle and high latitudes often being 2000 kilometers in diameter and usually containing a cold front that extends toward the equator for hundreds of kilometers.
Eye Wall
An organized band of cumulonimbus clouds immediately surrounding the center of the tropical cyclone.
Hurricane
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has a maximum sustained surface winds of at least 74 mph or greater (64 knots or greater).
Hurricane Watch
A Hurricane Watch is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are POSSIBLE within the specified area of the Watch. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the Watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.
Hurricane Warning
A Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are EXPECTED somewhere within the specified area of the Warning. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the Warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.
NOTE: A Hurricane Warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continues...even if the winds have subsided below hurricane intensity.
Maximum Sustained Wind
When applied to a particular weather system, refers to the highest one-minute average wind (at an elevation of 10 meters (33 feet) with an unobstructed exposure) associated with that weather system at a particular point in time. In relation to tropical cyclones; maximum sustained wind normally occurs at a distance from the center known as the radius of maximum wind, within a mature tropical cyclone's eyewall, before winds decrease at farther distances away from a tropical cyclone's center.
Post-Tropical Cyclone
A cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Post-tropical cyclones can continue to carry heavy rains and high winds. Note: former tropical cyclones that become extratropical and remnant lows are 2 specific classes of post-tropical cyclones.
Remnant Low
A class of post-tropical cyclone that no longer possesses the convective organization required of a tropical cyclone and has maximum sustained winds of less than 34 knots.
Storm Surge
An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a tropical cyclone. This is the difference in height between observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the storm. Storm suge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomical tide from the observed storm tide.
Storm Tide
The water level rise resulting from the astronomical tide combined with the storm surge.
Subtropical Cyclone
A non-frontal low pressure system that has characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones. Subtropical cyclones originate over tropical or subtropical waters and have a closed circulation about a well-defined center. In comparison to tropical cyclones, the maximum winds occur relatively far from the center (greater than 60 nautical miles) and have a less symmetric wind field and distribution of convection.
Sustained Wind
Wind speed determined by averaging observed values over a two-minute period.
Tropical Depression
A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
Tropical Disturbance
A tropical weather system with organized convection (generally 100-300 miles in diameter) originating in the tropics or subtropics, having a non-frontal migratory character and maintaining its identity for 24 hours or longer. It may or may not be associated with a detectable perturbation of the wind field.
Tropical Cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a low, non-frontal (not associated with a front) synoptic-scale cyclone that develops over tropical and sometimes sub-tropical waters and has organized deep convection with a closed wind circulation about a well-defined center.
Tropical Storm
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum 1-minute sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots) inclusive.
Tropical Storm Watch
A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when Tropical Storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph inclusive, pose a POSSIBLE threat to a specified coastal area within 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning
A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when Tropical Storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph inclusive, are EXPECTED in a specified coastal area within 36 hours or less.
Tropical Wave
An inverted trough (an elongated area of relatively low pressure) or cyclonic curvature maximum moving east to west across the tropics. These can lead to the formation of a tropical cyclone. Also known as an easterly wave.
A cyclone (of any intensity) for which the primary energy source is baroclinic (i.e., results from the temperature contrast between warm & cold air masses) in the middle and high latitudes often being 2000 kilometers in diameter and usually containing a cold front that extends toward the equator for hundreds of kilometers.
Eye Wall
An organized band of cumulonimbus clouds immediately surrounding the center of the tropical cyclone.
Hurricane
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has a maximum sustained surface winds of at least 74 mph or greater (64 knots or greater).
Hurricane Watch
A Hurricane Watch is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are POSSIBLE within the specified area of the Watch. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the Watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.
Hurricane Warning
A Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are EXPECTED somewhere within the specified area of the Warning. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the Warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds.
NOTE: A Hurricane Warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continues...even if the winds have subsided below hurricane intensity.
Maximum Sustained Wind
When applied to a particular weather system, refers to the highest one-minute average wind (at an elevation of 10 meters (33 feet) with an unobstructed exposure) associated with that weather system at a particular point in time. In relation to tropical cyclones; maximum sustained wind normally occurs at a distance from the center known as the radius of maximum wind, within a mature tropical cyclone's eyewall, before winds decrease at farther distances away from a tropical cyclone's center.
Post-Tropical Cyclone
A cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Post-tropical cyclones can continue to carry heavy rains and high winds. Note: former tropical cyclones that become extratropical and remnant lows are 2 specific classes of post-tropical cyclones.
Remnant Low
A class of post-tropical cyclone that no longer possesses the convective organization required of a tropical cyclone and has maximum sustained winds of less than 34 knots.
Storm Surge
An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a tropical cyclone. This is the difference in height between observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the storm. Storm suge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomical tide from the observed storm tide.
Storm Tide
The water level rise resulting from the astronomical tide combined with the storm surge.
Subtropical Cyclone
A non-frontal low pressure system that has characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones. Subtropical cyclones originate over tropical or subtropical waters and have a closed circulation about a well-defined center. In comparison to tropical cyclones, the maximum winds occur relatively far from the center (greater than 60 nautical miles) and have a less symmetric wind field and distribution of convection.
Sustained Wind
Wind speed determined by averaging observed values over a two-minute period.
Tropical Depression
A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
Tropical Disturbance
A tropical weather system with organized convection (generally 100-300 miles in diameter) originating in the tropics or subtropics, having a non-frontal migratory character and maintaining its identity for 24 hours or longer. It may or may not be associated with a detectable perturbation of the wind field.
Tropical Cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a low, non-frontal (not associated with a front) synoptic-scale cyclone that develops over tropical and sometimes sub-tropical waters and has organized deep convection with a closed wind circulation about a well-defined center.
Tropical Storm
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum 1-minute sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots) inclusive.
Tropical Storm Watch
A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when Tropical Storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph inclusive, pose a POSSIBLE threat to a specified coastal area within 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning
A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when Tropical Storm conditions, including winds of 39-73 mph inclusive, are EXPECTED in a specified coastal area within 36 hours or less.
Tropical Wave
An inverted trough (an elongated area of relatively low pressure) or cyclonic curvature maximum moving east to west across the tropics. These can lead to the formation of a tropical cyclone. Also known as an easterly wave.
