Hurricane Season is here! All Hurricane updates will be posted on the main blog page under the category “Hurricane ‘09.” I will post hurricane updates for any storm that is currently active in the Atlantic Basin only. The National Hurricane Center link in the blogroll is your one-step shop for all hurricane information. Below the active tropical cyclones, you will find a short brief listing of some of the tropical weather terms I will frequently use here on the site. For the latest hurricane information and how it will affect travel and tourism, keep it here through November 30th, as we keep you ahead of the storm!

Current Atlantic Tropical Cyclones

There are no tropical cyclones currently in the Atlantic Basin.

 Tropical Weather Terminology

Saffir Simpson Scale – The scale that rates both wind speeds and damage potential of hurricanes. 

            Category 1      74 – 95 mph                Damaging winds are expected

            Category 2      96 – 110 mph              Widespread damage

            Category 3      111 – 130 mph            Extensive Damage

            Category 4      131 – 155 mph            Devastating Damage

            Category 5      > 155 mph                   Catastrophic Damage

Tropical Wave – A system without a well-defined low pressure center but one which causes rain and windy conditions.

Tropical Low – A low pressure system in tropical regions that lacks enough thunderstorm activity and organization to be classified as a tropical depression.

Tropical Depression – An organized low pressure system with winds not exceeding 38 mph.

Tropical Storm – An organized low pressure system with winds of 39 to 73 mph.

Hurricane – An organized low pressure sytem with winds exceeding 74 mph.

Major Hurricane – Any hurricane at the Saffir-Simpson level of Category 3 or higher.

Tropical Storm Watch – An advisory stating that tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.

Hurricane Watch – An advisory stating that hurricane conditions are posisble within 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning – An advisory stating that tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 hours.

Hurricane Warning – An advisory stating that hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours.