What are tropical storms?

Tropical Storms are a natural hazard. They have different names depending on their location. They are known as Hurricanes in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, Tropical Cyclones in South East Asia and Eastern Africa, Willy Willies in Australia and Typhoons in the Western Pacific. They occur between 5 and 30 degrees north and south of the Equator.

Tropical Storms are areas of extremely low pressure. Air rises, causing ‘low pressure’ on the earth’s surface. The maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) ranges from 34 knots (39 mph or 63 kph) to 63 knots (73 mph or 118 kph).

Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential. The video below demonstrates the five categories.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

Scale Number (Category)	Sustained Winds (MPH)	Damage	Storm Surge
1	74-95	Minimal: Unanchored mobile homes, vegetation and signs.	4-5 feet
2	96-110	Moderate: All mobile homes, roofs, small crafts, flooding.	6-8 feet
3	111-130	Extensive: Small buildings, low-lying roads cut off.	9-12 feet
4	131-155	Extreme: Roofs destroyed, trees down, roads cut off, mobile homes destroyed. Beach homes flooded.	13-18 feet
5	More than 155	Catastrophic: Most buildings destroyed. Vegetation destroyed. Major roads are cut off. Homes flooded.	Greater than 18 feet

How are Tropical Storms named?
All tropical storms are named so they can be identified and tracked as they move over oceans. In 1979, both women’s and men’s names were used. One name for each letter of the alphabet is selected, except for Q, U and Z. For Atlantic Ocean hurricanes, the names may be French, Spanish or English since these are the major languages bordering the Atlantic Ocean where the storm occurs.

The World Meteorological Organization uses six lists in rotation. If the tropical storm is particularly deadly or costly, the name is retired, and a new one is chosen.

The Four-Year List of Hurricane Names For Atlantic Storms: 

2022 Alex Bonnie Colin Danielle Earl Fiona Gaston Hermine Ian Julia Karl Lisa Martin Nicole Owen Paula Richard Shary Tobias Virginie Walter

2023 Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harold Idalia Jose Katia Lee Margot Nigel Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney

2024 Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Francine Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Milton Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sara Tony Valerie William

2025 Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy

Further information on these names and tropical storms in other parts of the world can be found on the National Hurricane Centre website.

Find out how tropical storms form.