Tropical cyclones are low pressure weather systems that move through warm oceans, bringing rain, wind, and high waves to coastal communities. They rotate in different directions depending on the hemisphere and can range in size from 120 to 1,200 miles in diameter. They are powered by energy from warm ocean water and can be classified as a tropical depression, tropical storm, or hurricane. The center of a cyclone is called an eye, and the eye wall is the area where most of the activity occurs. Tropical cyclones typically last no more than a week and are associated with heavy rains, strong winds, and the risk of flooding and storm surge.
A tropical cyclone is a type of weather system that moves through warm oceans and often brings rain, wind, and high waves to coastal communities. The size of a tropical cyclone can range from 120 miles (193.1 km) to 1,200 miles (1,931.2 km) in diameter. This is a low pressure system which means that as it travels the accompanying weather will most likely be cloudy and rainy.
Tropical cyclones rotate in different directions depending on which hemisphere they are in; in the northern hemisphere, they rotate counterclockwise. As a cyclone moves over warm ocean water, it collects energy and heat from the water below. All the moisture evaporation from the sea basically makes the cyclone more powerful, powering it like an engine. This energy, combined with the spiraling wind near the ocean’s surface, helps the cyclone get stronger and continue on its path.
One type of tropical cyclone is a tropical depression, which has wind speeds that do not exceed 38 miles per hour (61 km/h). If wind speeds increase from 39 mph (62.7 km/h) to 73 mph (117.5 km/h), the cyclone is designated a tropical storm. Officially, a tropical cyclone occurs when a system has winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph).
In the western North Pacific Ocean, a tropical cyclone is referred to as a typhoon. In the eastern North Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, a tropical cyclone of the same intensity is referred to as a hurricane.
The center of a tropical cyclone is referred to as an eye. The air in the center, or eye, of a cyclone is warmer than the surrounding air that is part of the cyclone. An eye wall is the area that surrounds the eye and is made up of thick clouds. This is the area where most of the activity occurs, and meteorologists pay close attention to this part of a cyclone when monitoring its movements.
Tropical cyclones typically last no more than a week. Their strength decreases as they travel over cold water, as well as when they have to travel over land masses.
Tropical cyclones are associated with heavy rains and strong winds. The high level of rainfall that often occurs carries the risk of flooding. For those who live near coastal areas, particularly low-lying coastal areas, the high backwash created by a cyclone’s wind can be a big risk. This is referred to as storm surge and is a major cause of fatalities and damage from tropical cyclones.
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