Chapter 12

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

• Hurricanes around the globe

• The Tropical Setting
• Hurricane Characteristics
• Hurricane Formation
• Hurricane Movement and Dissipation
• Destruction by Hurricanes
• Forecast and Advisories
Hurricanes around the globe
 Hurricanes
 Storm of tropical origin with winds in
excess of 74 mph (120 km or 64 kts)
 Names according to location
 Atlantic & E. Pacific – hurricane
 W. Pacific – typhoon
 Indian Ocean and Australia - cyclone
 W. North Pacific – greatest incidence
 16/yr
 S. Atlantic – no hurricanes
 The Tropical Setting
 Trade wind inversion
 Eastern side of the high pressure
 Subsidence inversion (Fig 5-14)
 Lower in the eastern parts of the oceans
 Inhibits vertical cloud growth
 Higher in the western margins
 Marine layer
 Air below the trade wind inversion
 Cool and relatively moist
 Western ocean surface waters heat the marine
layer  favors convection
 Hurricane Characteristics
 Average pressure near center = 950 mb
 Typical diameter = 600 km
 Area of hurricane is millions of times
larger than that of tornadoes
 Max wind speeds and intensity of
precipitation – 10 to 20 km from the
center
 Hurricane Characteristics
cont 1
 Eye
 Broken clouds (relatively clear skies)
 Light winds
 Slowly descending air
 Avg diameter = 25 km, varies from 6 to
100 km
 Shrinking eye generally indicates that the
hurricane is intensifying
 Hurricane Characteristics
cont 2

 Eye wall
- ring of thunderstorms around the
eye, region of strongest storm activities
 Thickest clouds
 Strongest winds
 Most intense precipitation
 Hurricane Formation
1. Tropical Disturbance
1. Disorganized groups of thunderstorms
2. slight rotation
3. weak pressure gradient

2. Tropical Depression
1. Designated as a number by the National Hurricane
Center
2. Winds 20-34 knots, < 60 km (37 mph)
3. Tropical Storm
1. Winds between 60 km (37 mph) and < 120 km (74 mph)
4. Hurricanes
1. Sustained wind speeds > 120 km (74 mph)
 Hurricane Formation
cont 1
1. Necessary ingredients
1. Warm, moist area with light winds
1. Water temperature > 81 F or 27 C
2. June 1st – November 30th
2. Surface winds converge
1. Pre-existing fronts
2. ITCZ – displaced to the north
1. Organized convection – hurricane forms
3. Eastern side of the Easterly Wave – weak trough, low
pressure
3. Upper air divergence
1. No trade wind inversion
Hurricane Movement and
Dissipation
 Hurricane Movement
 Unpredictable
 Steered by upper level winds
 High pressure areas block movement
Hurricane Movement and
Dissipation - Cont

 Hurricanes grows as long as upper

level outflow is greater than surface
inflow
 Hurricanes weaken or dissipate
when
 Travel over cold waters
 Travel over land
 Lose heat source and moisture
 Added friction
Destruction by Hurricanes

 Storm Surge –rising in water level (flooding)

 Piling up of water by strong winds blowing
towards the coast
 Low atmospheric pressure rises water level
For 1 mb decrease, 1 cm increase ocean level
 High winds
 may destroy well built homes
 Heavy precipitation
 up to meters per day
Forecast and Advisories

 Issued by the National

Hurricane Center
 Hurricane WATCH
 Several days before storm
 Hurricane WARNING
 Within 24 hours