Like everything, Hurricanes develop in stages.
So what are the stages?
(Definitions at bottom)
- Tropical Disturbance: This is a baby hurricane, the very beginning. Tropical Disturbances doesn't have any closed *Isobars around an area of low pressure but often have clouds and precipitation.
- Tropical Depression: If the winds of the Tropical Disturbance picks up to at least 20 knots (about 23 MPH or 37 KPH) it's moved up to a Tropical Depression. A Tropical Depression has at least one closed Isobar along with a drop in pressure in the middle of the storm.
- Tropical Storm: The winds by this point have increased to at least 35 knots (40 MPH/65 KPH) The storm is more organized and appears to resemble a Hurricane due to the increase of circulating winds.
- Hurricane: It finally becomes a hurricane when the winds are higher then 65 knots (74 MPH/199 KPH) As we already know, an eye is formed in the center of the storm and the winds are circulating at dangerous speeds.
*Isobar: "an imaginary line or a line on a map or chart connecting or marking places of equal barometric pressure"
*Barometer: "(barometric) an instrument that is used to measure air pressure and predict changes in the weather: something that is used to indicate or predict something"
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)
*Barometer: "(barometric) an instrument that is used to measure air pressure and predict changes in the weather: something that is used to indicate or predict something"
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)
In this image, you can clearly see the closed isobars that accompanied Hurricane Katrina.
Image from:
http://www.weathergraphics.com/edu/forecastcenter/fc_2005-1112.shtml
Image from:
http://www.weathergraphics.com/edu/forecastcenter/fc_2005-1112.shtml
I hope this made sense! You're always welcome to leave comments, tips or suggestions in the comments or contact section.
Next post will be on how to prepare for a Hurricane.
Until next time!
~Robo Spark Team
Next post will be on how to prepare for a Hurricane.
Until next time!
~Robo Spark Team
Source: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/hurr/stages.rxml