Portal:Tropical cyclones

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Tropical cyclones Portal

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A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones feed on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fueled 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, about 10° away from it.

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 counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone.

Pictured: Cyclone Gafilo

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Selected article

Typhoon Paka (international designation: 9728, JTWC designation: 05C, PAGASA designation: Rubing, also known as Super Typhoon Paka) was the last tropical cyclone in the 1997 Pacific hurricane and typhoon season, and was among the strongest Pacific typhoons in the month of December. Paka, which is the Hawaiian name for Pat, developed on November 28 in the central Pacific Ocean from a trough near the equator well to the southwest of Hawaii. After initially tracking northward, the storm turned to the west due to a strong high pressure area to its north, and on December 7 it crossed into the western Pacific Ocean. The cyclone intensified into a typhoon as it crossed the Marshall Islands on December 10, and continuing to intensify Paka struck Guam and Rota on December 16 with winds of 230 km/h (145 mph). The typhoon strengthened further and reached its peak intensity by December 18 over open waters. Subsequently it underwent a steady weakening trend, and on December 23 Paka dissipated.

Typhoon Paka first impacted the Marshall Islands, where it dropped heavy rainfall and resulted in $80 million in damage (1997 USD, $100 million 2007 USD). Later, it passed just north of Guam, where strong winds destroyed about 1,500 buildings and damaged 10,000 more; 5,000 people were left homeless, and the island experienced a complete power outage following the typhoon. Damage on the island totaled $500 million (1997 USD, $645 million 2007 USD), which warranted the retirement of its name. Paka also caused light damage in the Northern Marianas Islands. The typhoon resulted in no fatalities.

Recently featured: 1996 Pacific hurricane season – Hurricane Audrey – Hurricane Nicole (1998) – Hurricane Sergio (2006) – Typhoon Matsa – Browse

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This false-color satellite image of Hurricane Wilma was taken at 13:15 UTC on October 19, 2005, just hours after Wilma had intensified to become the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever observed with a pressure of 882 mbar. In this picture, Wilma has a 2 nautical mile wide eye, one of the smallest on record.

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WikiProjects

WikiProject Tropical cyclones is the central point of coordination for Wikipedia's coverage of tropical cyclones. Feel free to help!

WikiProject Meteorology is the main center point of coordination for Wikipedia's coverage of meteorology in general.

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Related Portals

Science	Earth sciences	Weather

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Active tropical cyclones

North Atlantic (2012)

No active systems.

East/Central Pacific (2012)

No active systems.

Northwest Pacific (2012)

No active systems.

North Indian Ocean (2012)

No active systems.

South-West Indian Ocean (2011–2012)

Intense Tropical Cyclone Giovanna

Australian region (2011–2012)

No active systems.

South Pacific (2011–2012)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasmine

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Did you know...

... that 1994's Hurricane John is both the longest-lived and farthest-traveled tropical cyclone ever recorded?
... that only six eastern north Pacific tropical cyclones crossed both 140th meridian and the International Dateline?
... that, according to a study published in 2008, there were 92 subtropical cyclones in the Southern Atlantic between 1957 and 2008?
... that both cyclones Gwenda and Inigo are the strongest Australian region tropical cyclone ever observed?

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Tropical cyclone anniversaries

February 13, 2006 - Cyclone Vaianu (pictured) reached its peak with a central pressure of 965 hPa (mbar). Vaianu caused flooding in Tonga.
February 12, 2003 - Four Tropical Cyclones (pictured) (Fiona, Gerry, Hape and Isha) were simultaneously active in the central Indian Ocean. None of the storms affected land.
February 11, 1994 - Cyclone Hollanda (track pictured) reached its peak strength with 195 km/h (120 mph) winds. Hollanda caused damage on Mauritius.
February 10, 1995 - Cyclone Gail (track pictured) reached its peak with 140 km/h (85 mph) winds to the south of Réunion.
February 9, 2003 - Cyclone Dovi (pictured) reached its peak with winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) in the open Pacific. Dovi did not affect any Pacific Island directly.