19 Common Hurricane Terms to Know
With hurricane season well underway, it's important that we understand the different terms associated with these natural phenomenons. In today's blog Big Bags USA® discusses several terms that you should know and understand. Whether you're living on the coast in a hurricane prone area or living inland, like the Midwest, it's important to understand what's happening around the country this hurricane season.
1. Tropical Depression - a tropical depression is a cyclone with winds of 38 mph. These are assigned numbers.
2. Tropical Storm - a tropical storm is a cyclone varying in wind speeds from 39-73 mph. Once a tropical depression reaches tropical storm strength, it is given a name.
3. Hurricane - a hurricane is a cyclone with wind speeds of 74 mph or greater.
4. Tropical Cyclone - a tropical cyclone is the generic term for a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane. It is characterized by a lack of warm/cold fronts attached, a warm core and persistent convection.
5. Invest - when an area of disturbed weather becomes increasingly organized, the National Hurricane Center will designate it an "Invest," which is short for an investigative area. These are assigned numbers.
6. Tropical Disturbance - a tropical disturbance is a generic term for weather disturbances in the tropics and subtropics with persistent convection and sometimes low pressure. This can be the early stage of a tropical cyclone development.
7. Tropical Wave - a tropical wave is not in the ocean, but rather is a cluster of thunderstorms in the tropics that has the potential to become a tropical depression.
8. Convection - convection is the transport of moisture and heat from the lower layers of the atmosphere to upper layers through updrafts of air sometimes as a thunderstorm inside of a hurricane.
9. Tropical Storm Watch - a tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible in the area.
10. Hurricane Watch - a hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the area. These watches are issued 48 hours prior to the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds.
11. Tropical Storm Warning - a tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the area.
12. Hurricane Warning - a hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the area. These warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of tropical storm force winds.
13. Landfall - landfall is if, when and where the exact center of circulation reaches land. It is not when the outer fringes arrive or even when the eyewall does.
14. Direct Hit - a direct hit occurs when the center of circulation doesn't quite make it to land, but the core of strong winds reaches the coast.
15. Eye - the eye is the clear, sometimes well-defined center of the storm. In this area, calm conditions exist.
16. Eye Wall - the eye wall surrounds the center eye of the storm, and contains some of the most severe weather of the storm. The eye wall has the highest wind speeds and largest precipitation.
17. Rain Bands - rain bands are bands coming off the cyclone that produce severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind and tornadoes.
18. Storm Surge - storm surge is the often underestimated and deadly result of ocean water swelling as a result of a landfalling storm. It quickly floods the coastline and sometimes even areas inland.
19. Extreme Wind Advisory - an extreme wind warning or advisory means that extreme sustained winds of 115 mph or greater are expected to begin within an hour. In the event of this advisory, seek immediate shelter in the interior portion of a well-built structure.
While we hope that the rest of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season is not as active as it has been, we want everyone to be aware of the different terms associated with tropical activity. We also want people to be prepared for the flooding that is associated with hurricanes. Big Bags USA® flood barriers are 200 times faster to deploy than traditional sandbags and use just half the amount of sand. Talk to your local officials and emergency management personnel about investing in Big Bags USA® for flood mitigation plans your community.
Hurricane Terms
1. Tropical Depression - a tropical depression is a cyclone with winds of 38 mph. These are assigned numbers.
2. Tropical Storm - a tropical storm is a cyclone varying in wind speeds from 39-73 mph. Once a tropical depression reaches tropical storm strength, it is given a name.
3. Hurricane - a hurricane is a cyclone with wind speeds of 74 mph or greater.
4. Tropical Cyclone - a tropical cyclone is the generic term for a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane. It is characterized by a lack of warm/cold fronts attached, a warm core and persistent convection.
5. Invest - when an area of disturbed weather becomes increasingly organized, the National Hurricane Center will designate it an "Invest," which is short for an investigative area. These are assigned numbers.
6. Tropical Disturbance - a tropical disturbance is a generic term for weather disturbances in the tropics and subtropics with persistent convection and sometimes low pressure. This can be the early stage of a tropical cyclone development.
7. Tropical Wave - a tropical wave is not in the ocean, but rather is a cluster of thunderstorms in the tropics that has the potential to become a tropical depression.
8. Convection - convection is the transport of moisture and heat from the lower layers of the atmosphere to upper layers through updrafts of air sometimes as a thunderstorm inside of a hurricane.
9. Tropical Storm Watch - a tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible in the area.
10. Hurricane Watch - a hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the area. These watches are issued 48 hours prior to the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds.
11. Tropical Storm Warning - a tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the area.
12. Hurricane Warning - a hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the area. These warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of tropical storm force winds.
13. Landfall - landfall is if, when and where the exact center of circulation reaches land. It is not when the outer fringes arrive or even when the eyewall does.14. Direct Hit - a direct hit occurs when the center of circulation doesn't quite make it to land, but the core of strong winds reaches the coast.
15. Eye - the eye is the clear, sometimes well-defined center of the storm. In this area, calm conditions exist.
16. Eye Wall - the eye wall surrounds the center eye of the storm, and contains some of the most severe weather of the storm. The eye wall has the highest wind speeds and largest precipitation.
17. Rain Bands - rain bands are bands coming off the cyclone that produce severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind and tornadoes.
18. Storm Surge - storm surge is the often underestimated and deadly result of ocean water swelling as a result of a landfalling storm. It quickly floods the coastline and sometimes even areas inland.
19. Extreme Wind Advisory - an extreme wind warning or advisory means that extreme sustained winds of 115 mph or greater are expected to begin within an hour. In the event of this advisory, seek immediate shelter in the interior portion of a well-built structure.
While we hope that the rest of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season is not as active as it has been, we want everyone to be aware of the different terms associated with tropical activity. We also want people to be prepared for the flooding that is associated with hurricanes. Big Bags USA® flood barriers are 200 times faster to deploy than traditional sandbags and use just half the amount of sand. Talk to your local officials and emergency management personnel about investing in Big Bags USA® for flood mitigation plans your community.
MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN
MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN
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