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Hurricane Glossary
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Published: June 6, 2007
Terms
Eye: The roughly circular area of comparatively light winds that encompasses the center of a severe tropical cyclone.
Eyewall: The doughnut-shaped area of highest winds and greatest destruction surrounding the eye.
Extratropical: A term used to indicate a change in a storm's structure, usually in association with colder waters. This does not necessarily mean the death of a storm -- they can become extratropical and still retain winds of hurricane or tropical storm force.
Hurricane: A tropical storm that reaches winds of 74 mph or greater.
Hurricane Warning: A warning that sustained winds 74 mph or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less.
Hurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.
Storm Surge: Water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around a storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the mean water level 15 feet or more.
Tropical Depression: An area of low pressure with counter-clockwise rotation of clouds and winds to 38 mph.
Tropical Storm: A low pressure area with wind speeds increasing to 39-73 mph.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Category 1:
- Winds 74-95 mph.
- Storm surge 4-5 feet above normal.
- Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees.
Category 2:
- Winds 96-110 mph.
- Storm surge 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.
Category 3: Winds 111-130 mph.
- Winds 111-130 mph.
- Storm surge 9-12 feet above normal.
- Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings.
- Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down.
- Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed.
- Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris.
Category 4:
- Winds 131-155 mph.
- Storm surge 13-18 feet 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.
- Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore.
Category 5:
- Winds greater than 155 mph.
- Storm surge greater than 18 feet 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.
- Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline.
- Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles of the shoreline may be required.
2007 Storm Names
Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dean
Erin
Felix
Gabrielle
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Noel
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy
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