¹ The Atlantic Basin consists of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as lesser bodies of water.
² The Eastern North Pacific Basin is the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of Central America, Mexico and California, as well as the Gulf of California.

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2024 Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Season

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2024 Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season

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2024 Central Pacific Basin Tropical Cyclone Season  

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2022 Western Pacific Basin Tropical Cyclone Season
[See  JTWC graphic below]
>>NIL<<

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2022-23 Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season
>>NIL<<

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2022 Southern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone Season
>>NIL<<

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Joint Typhoon Warning System TC Watch Graphics
(Click on image to enlarge)

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What source of energy drives tropical cyclones?

Latest Sea Surface Temperatures worldwide
[Source: Space Science and Engineering Center, UWisc-Madison]

The warmer waters produce increased conversion of sea water into water vapor (by way of evaporation into the atmosphere). The air near the ocean surface becomes very moist. Passing disturbances moving east to west (in the Northern Hemisphere) lift the lower atmospheric air (and the water vapor in it). As the air is lifted, it cools, and vast amounts of energy (heat) is released by condensation of te water vapor back into liquid water. If conditions in the middle and upper atmosphere are "right", a low pressure area will form at the surface and a tropical disturbance (precursor of the tropical cyclone) may form.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
(excerpted from information from the National Hurricane Center, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov )

Category One Hurricane:
    Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.

Category Two Hurricane:
    Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers.

Category Three Hurricane:
    Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed.

Category Four Hurricane:
    Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows.

Category Five Hurricane:
    Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage.