Storm Any organized disturbed state (implying a departure from a quiescent state) of the atmosphere, especially as affecting the earth's surface and strongly implying destructive or otherwise unpleasant weather. In meteorology, a storm is a complete, organized individual, three dimensional disturbance identified on synoptic charts as an organized complex of pressure, wind, clouds, precipitation, etc... Thus, storms range in scale from tornadoes and thunderstorms, through tropical cyclones, to widespread extratropical wave cyclones. |
|
Tropical Cyclone (Hurricane)
Generic term for a "severe" nonfrontal synoptic-scale cyclone orginating over tropical or subtropical waters. Such storms are differentiated from extratropical cyclones by having warm cores (as opposed to warm and cold sectors). They are also associated with organized convection having definite counterclockwise surface wind circulation, often observable in cloud motions and features. In early stages, tropical cyclones move from east to west in the broad zone of the prevailing easterlies. Additional classification of tropical cyclones is made depending upon organization and wind speed. (A hurricane is an intense tropical cyclone with maximum 1-minute sustained surface wind greater than 64 knots [74 mph]). All tropical storms are comprised of clusters of thunderstorms, many or most are severe. |
Legend for this figure |
|
![]()
May 25, 1999 May 25, 1997 |