Portal:Tropical cyclones
Tropical Cyclones Portal
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center, a closed low-level circulation, and a spiral arrangement of 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. Most 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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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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Did you know…
- …that according to a unofficial reanalyisis using the Dvorak technique, Cyclone Hina (pictured) had a peak intensity of 170 kt (195 mph, 315 km/h)?
- …that Cyclone Onil (pictured) was the first tropical cyclone named by the India Meteorological Department?
- …that the last tropical cyclone named by Papua New Guinea National Weather Service was Cyclone Guba (pictured) in mid-November 2007?
- … that Hurricane Faith (pictured) was tracked until it was located 600 miles (965 km) from the North Pole?
Tropical cyclone anniversaries
September 21,
- 1938 - The New England Hurricane of 1938 (track pictured) hit Long Island, New York as a Category 3 hurricane with a central pressure of 946 hPa (mbar). The hurricane killed between 500 and 700 people in New England.
- 2010 - Tropical Storm Georgette makes landfall over in Baja California, only killing one person.
- 2015 - Tropical Storm Ida reaches peak intensity as a tropical storm with winds of 85 km/h (50 mph).
September 22,
- 1986 - Hurricane Newton makes landfall near Cabo San Lucas.
- 1989 - Hurricane Hugo (pictured) made landfall in South Carolina with 220 km/h (140 mph) winds. Hugo caused over $10 billion of damage and killed 76 people.
- 2007 - Tropical Depression Ten makes landfall over in southeastern Alabama and caused total damages of $6.3 million.
- 2017 - Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico as a Category 4 major hurricane. It dumped, in some areas, more than 35 inches (90 cm) of rain.
September 23,
- 1983 - Typhoon Forrest explosively intensifies into a Category 5 super typhoon. Forrest became the fastest intensifying cyclone with a 100 hPa drop in 24 hours.
- 1987 - Hurricane Otis (pictured) reaches peak intensity as a Category 3 major hurricane with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph).
- 1998 - Hurricane Georges passed over the Windward Passage and made landfall in Cuba just east of Guantánamo Bay. Georges killed over 600 people throughout the Caribbean, mostly on the island of Hispaniola.
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