What is the difference between a tropical disturbance, a tropical depression and a tropical storm?
The difference is in intensity and wind speed. A tropical disturbance refers to an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation. Once that system achieves a circular wind flow and maximum winds up to 39 miles per hour, it becomes a tropical depression. And once a depression reaches a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour, its classified as a tropical storm. In turn, a tropical storm develops into a hurricane once its sustained winds exceed 73 miles per hour. What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning? Its a matter of timing. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, monitors and issues watches and warnings in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Northeast basins. The Center issues a watch when hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours and upgrades to a warning when hurricane conditions are expected in 24 hours. If a warning or watch is issued for our area, you should begi
