Source: Tropical Storm Edouard 2002 | Wikimedia
Tropical depressions are upgraded to tropical storm status once they contain sustained winds of 39 mph or greater. At this point, the system is assigned a name. The rotation of a tropical storm is more recognizable as a distinct “spin” in the atmosphere. Although tropical storms do not have very high winds, they are still capable of producing floods and even tornadoes!
Source: Hurricane Katrina August 28 2005 NASA | Wikimedia
Tropical storms are upgraded to hurricane status once they contain sustained winds of 74 mph or greater. Hurricanes are one of the most severe types of weather and have a very pronounced rotation. Depending on the strength of the storm, some hurricanes develop an “eye” that marks the center of the hurricane’s rotation. Under the right circumstances, hurricanes can sustain themselves for a couple of weeks.
Source: Tropical Depresssion Fourteen | Wikimedia
Designated at the first appearance of a lower pressure area and organized circulation in a center of a group of thunderstorms. Tropical Depressions usually have winds of 25-38 mph.
Click on the symbols below and hover over the labels on the side to find out more information about the different classifications of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin.
Source: WeatherSTEM