TROPICAL WEATHER TERMINOLOGY

HURRICANE - A warm core tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained winds are at least 74 mph.

HURRICANE EYE - A region in the center of the hurricane where winds are relatively light and skies are clear to partly cloudy.

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT - These statements are issued by the local National Weather Service Office, to inform the public about the current and anticipated effects on the local area. Statements include information on the watches and warnings in effect and the counties they apply to, storm surge, wind velocity, rainfall, and any other additional important information and precautionary actions.

HURRICANE SEASON - The part of the year have relatively high incidence of hurricanes. In the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane season is June through November. On the eastern and central Pacific Ocean hurricane season is May 15 through November.

HURRICANE WARNING - This warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center to alert the public, emergency management, and other cooperating agencies that a hurricane is occurring, imminent of likely to occur in a specific coastal area within twenty four (24) hours. This warning might also be extended when dangerously high water, or a combination of high water and exceptionally high waves continue even though winds may be below hurricane criteria until conditions subside.

HURRICANE WATCH - This watch is issued by the National Hurricane Center to alert the public, emergency management, and other cooperating agencies that conditions are favorable for a hurricane, or hurricane conditions to develop over and close to a specific coastal area within thirty six (36) hours, but its occurrence is still uncertain.

PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS - The probability, in percent, of the storm systems center passing seventy five (75) miles to the left of or fifty (50) miles to the right of (looking out from the beach) the coastal location during the forecast period.

TROPICAL CYCLONE - A large scale non-frontal, warm core, low pressure system of tropical origin that forms over tropical waters or subtropical waters and possesses a definite and organized circulation.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION - A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained winds are 38 mph or less.

TROPICAL DISTURBANCE - An area of thunderstorms, ( a discrete system of apparently organized convection ), originating in the tropic or subtropics. A tropical disturbance has a non frontal, migratory character and maintain their identity for at least 24 hours.

TROPICAL STORM - A warm core tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained winds speeds are from 39 to 73 mph.

TROPICAL STORM WARNING - This warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center to alert the public, emergency management, and other cooperating agencies that a tropical storm is occurring, imminent, or likely to occur in a specific coastal area within twenty four (24) hours.

TROPICAL STORM WATCH - This watch is issued by the National Hurricane Center to alert the public, emergency management, and other cooperating agencies that conditions are favorable for a tropical storm or tropical storm conditions to develop over and close to a specific coastal area within thirty six (36) hours, but its occurrence is still uncertain.

TROPICAL WAVE - An elongated area of low pressure located in the easterly trade winds. It is also called an Easterly Wave.

SAFFER-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE - A scale, ranging from one (1) to five (5), that can be used to give an estimate of the hurricanes destructive potential. It is based upon wind speed, storm surge, and other factors. It is used to gauge potential property damage and flooding expected across the coast.

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