First tropical storm of the year has formed, it is Arlene. Could become a hurricane. In 1993, we had a tropical storm named Arlene and it hit South Texas. It dumped heavy rain in Houston and as far as Northeast Texas and Arkansas, dumping much as 15 inches of rain in 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Arlene Nears Gulf Coast
Here's a crash course on hurricanes. A tropical storm and hurricane forms either from a tropical wave that forms in Africa, which are thunderstorm clusters, low pressure system, or frontal boundary for the Atlantic. Hurricanes form in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Mexico and western Pacific with typhoons. They also form in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, known as cyclones. They do not form in the South Atlantic and southeast Pacific off the coast of South America because of a lack of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone and strong wind sheers. A tropical storm has to have at least 39 mph to 73 mph. After 74 mph is a hurricane. They are divided in 5 category based on wind speed, based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes.
Tropical Depression=Below 39 mph
Tropical Storm=39 to 73 mph
Category 1=74 to 95 mph (Claudette 2003)
Category 2=96 to 110 mph (Georges 1998)
Category 3=111 to 130 mph (Alicia 1983)
Category 4=131 to 155 mph (Great Galveston Hurricane 1900)
Category 5=+155 mph (Camille 1969)
Category 5 is the worst. The last one was Ivan last year. The strongest hurricane ever recorded was 870 millibars with Typhoon Tip in October of 1979, which also is the largest, had gale force winds 700 miles from the center. The strongest Atlantic hurricane is Gilbert with 888 millibars and 185 mph sustained winds. The highest sustained winds was 195 mph with Camille in 1969.
Tropical Storm Arlene Nears Gulf Coast
Here's a crash course on hurricanes. A tropical storm and hurricane forms either from a tropical wave that forms in Africa, which are thunderstorm clusters, low pressure system, or frontal boundary for the Atlantic. Hurricanes form in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Mexico and western Pacific with typhoons. They also form in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, known as cyclones. They do not form in the South Atlantic and southeast Pacific off the coast of South America because of a lack of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone and strong wind sheers. A tropical storm has to have at least 39 mph to 73 mph. After 74 mph is a hurricane. They are divided in 5 category based on wind speed, based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes.
Tropical Depression=Below 39 mph
Tropical Storm=39 to 73 mph
Category 1=74 to 95 mph (Claudette 2003)
Category 2=96 to 110 mph (Georges 1998)
Category 3=111 to 130 mph (Alicia 1983)
Category 4=131 to 155 mph (Great Galveston Hurricane 1900)
Category 5=+155 mph (Camille 1969)
Category 5 is the worst. The last one was Ivan last year. The strongest hurricane ever recorded was 870 millibars with Typhoon Tip in October of 1979, which also is the largest, had gale force winds 700 miles from the center. The strongest Atlantic hurricane is Gilbert with 888 millibars and 185 mph sustained winds. The highest sustained winds was 195 mph with Camille in 1969.