Tropical Cyclones Portal
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rainfall. Tropical cyclones feed on the heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fuelled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as nor'easters, European windstorms, and polar lows, leading to their classification as 'warm core' storm systems. Tropical cyclones originate in the doldrums near the Equator, approximately 10 degrees away.
The term 'tropical' refers to both the geographic origin of these systems, which form almost exclusively in tropical regions of the globe, and their formation in maritime tropical air masses. The term 'cyclone' refers to such storms' cyclonic nature, with anticlockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on its location and intensity, a tropical cyclone can be referred to by names such as 'hurricane', 'typhoon', 'tropical storm', 'cyclonic storm', 'tropical depression', or simply 'cyclone'.
- Pictured: Typhoon Tip
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Hurricane Andrew was one of the most destructive hurricanes ever to hit the United States. It raged from August 16 to August 28 during the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season, impacting the northwestern Bahamas, southern Florida in the greater Miami area, and south-central Louisiana. Andrew caused $45 billion (2005 US dollars) in damages (mostly in south Florida) and is the second most expensive hurricane in history (behind Katrina of the 2005 season).
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This photograph shows the bowl-shaped eye of Typhoon Yuri in the western Pacific Ocean just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. The eye wall descends almost to the sea surface, a distance of nearly 45,000 feet (13 800 meters). In this case the eye is filled with clouds, but in many cases the sea surface can be seen through the eye. Yuri grew to super typhoon status, packing maximum sustained winds estimated at 165 miles per hour (270 km/h). The storm moved west toward the Philippines before turning northeast into the north Pacific Ocean, thus avoiding any major landmass.
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Did you know…
- … that Hurricane Faith (pictured) was tracked until it was located 600 miles (965 km) from the North Pole?
- …that Cyclone Katrina–Victor–Cindy (track pictured) was the only tropical cyclone to receive three official names?
- …that since 2011 the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center has assigned names to tropical and subtropical systems in the South Atlantic, when they have sustained wind speeds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph)?
- …that, although being the second most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the South-West Indian Ocean basin in terms of atmospheric pressure, Cyclone Chris-Damia (pictured) never attained the highest categories in either Météo-France or Saffir–Simpson wind scales?
Tropical cyclone anniversaries
- November 4, 2001 - Hurricane Michelle (pictured) made landfall on western Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane causing about $1.8 billion of damage throughout the country.
- November 5, 1991 - Tropical Storm Thelma (pictured) made landfall on Samar in the Philippines. Thelma killed around 6,000 people throughout the Philippines.
- November 6, 1988 - Typhoon Skip reached its peak intensity with 230 km/h (145 mph) winds just to the east of the Philippines. Skip made landfall soon after that, killing about 100 people.
- November 7, 1984 - Hurricane Klaus (pictured) made landfall in extreme eastern Puerto Rico shortly before it reached its peak intensity. Klaus brought heavy rain to the island, exceeding 635 mm (25 in) at Guavate Camp.
- November 8, 2013 - Typhoon Haiyan (pictured) made landfall in the Philippines causing catastrophic damage and more than 6,000 deaths, becoming one of the most notable tropical cyclones ever documented.
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