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Difference Between Hurricane and Tropical Storm

Difference Between Hurricane and Tropical Storm
Posted on | Posted on angela

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Hurricane Helene is approaching the Florida coast, growing and gaining strength. It was a tropical storm on Tuesday, but now Hurricane Helene is expected to hit the Florida coast as a potential Category 4 storm.

What are the differences between the two classifications?

The main difference, according to the National Weather Service, is wind speed. A tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 39-73 miles per hour, while a Category 1 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 74-95 miles per hour.

There are five categories of hurricanes defined by the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. According to the National Hurricane Center, this scale helps define the potential damage each storm can cause. This does not take into account possible storm surges, rain flooding or tornadoes.

A severe hurricane is considered a storm of Category 3 or higher.

What storm category does Hurricane Helene belong to?

According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Helene has maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour as of Thursday afternoon. The storm is moving north-northeast toward Big Bend, Florida, at 16 miles per hour.

This makes Hurricane Helene a Category 3 hurricane and is described as a severe storm.

What's heading to Knoxville?

In East Tennessee, the effects of Hurricane Helene will be felt through heavy rainfall and high wind speeds. The storm will not be a hurricane, but rather remnants of a much weaker system typically called a post-tropical cyclone or tropical depression.

However, the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Knox County and other counties in East Tennessee that is in effect through Friday afternoon and a high wind warning that is in effect through Friday.

What is the difference between a hurricane warning and a hurricane warning? What about tropical storm warnings?

A hurricane warning is issued 48 hours before a storm that can bring winds of 74 miles per hour or more to a specific area. When observing tropical storms, the situation is similar, but with wind speeds of 39-73 miles per hour.

A hurricane warning indicates that a storm with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour is expected in a specific area, according to the National Hurricane Center. Warnings are issued 36 hours before a storm.

A tropical storm warning will also be issued within 36 hours, indicating that a storm with sustained winds of 39-73 mph is expected.

When is hurricane season?

According to the National Hurricane Center, hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. This year, hurricane season brought several major storms, including Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl.

What different categories of hurricanes are there?

Helene is expected to make landfall as a hurricane of at least Category 3. This category can wreak havoc and cause dangerous storm surges in coastal communities. But this isn't the strongest hurricane possible.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are five types of hurricanes. Here are the individual categories:

Category 1: A minimal hurricane

  • Wind: 74-95 mph
  • Minimum surface pressure: higher than 980 mbar
  • Storm surge: 3-5 feet
  • Damage mainly to bushes, trees, foliage and unfortified houses. No real damage to other structures. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.

Category 2: A moderate hurricane

  • Wind: 96-110 mph
  • Minimum surface pressure: 979-965 mbar
  • Storm Surge: 6-8 feet
  • Significant damage to shrubs and tree foliage; some trees were knocked down. Major damage to exposed mobile homes. Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings; some window and door damage. No major damage to buildings.

Category 3: A widespread hurricane

  • Wind: 111-130 mph
  • Minimum surface pressure: 964-945 mbar
  • Storm Surge: 9-12 feet
  • Leaves torn from trees, large trees toppled. Virtually all of the poorly constructed signs were torn down. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings as well as some damage from wind and doors. Some structural damage to small buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Severe coastal flooding and destruction of many small structures near the coast. Larger structures near the coast were damaged by crashing waves and floating debris.

Category 4: An extreme hurricane

  • Wind: 131-155 mph
  • Minimum surface pressure: 944-920 mbar
  • Storm surge: 13-18 feet
  • Bushes and trees were blown down; All signs below. Extensive damage to roofing materials, windows and doors. Complete decay of the roofs of many small residential buildings. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland for up to 6 miles. Significant damage to the lower floors of buildings near the coast due to flooding and inundation by waves and floating debris.

Category 5: A catastrophic hurricane

  • Wind: more than 155 miles per hour
  • Minimum surface pressure: less than 920 mbar
  • Storm surge: greater than 18 feet

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