A tropical storm develops in an area near a tropic.
A tropical storm is a cyclone that generates high intensity winds and heavy rainfall . As their name indicates, tropical storms usually develop in areas near the tropics .
It should be noted that a storm is called an intense agitation of the atmosphere that can include precipitation, gusts and other types of phenomena. According to its characteristics, it can be referred to as a snow storm , electrical storm or solar storm , among many others.
Characteristics of a tropical storm
The tropical storm is a cyclonic storm: the cyclone (a hurricane, with winds that rotate in circles) gains energy when moist air condenses. In the southern hemisphere, the cyclone rotates in the same direction as clockwise, while in the northern hemisphere the rotation takes place counterclockwise.
In addition to winds and rain, the tropical storm can generate very large waves and storm surge. As a consequence of these phenomena, it is common for these storms to cause flooding in coastal regions.
Intense winds are a characteristic of tropical storms.
Damage that can be caused
Tropical storms typically cause gusts of more than 60 kilometers per hour . Its average speed is usually around 120 km/h , although with records that exceed 400 km/h .
This intensity of the winds causes tropical storms to cause significant damage to both vegetation (destroying trees and crops, for example) and structures built by humans (buildings, bridges, etc.). Sometimes, on the other hand, rainfall causes landslides in mountainous regions.
Tropical storms of greater intensity
There are numerous tropical storms that have taken place throughout history and that have become real disasters for certain countries. Among the most important are the following:
- Wilma . In 2005, this storm occurred, which had the highest intensity category ( 5 ) and developed in the Yucatan Peninsula ( Mexico ) and also in the state of Florida . It is considered the most forceful of those that have taken place so far in the Pacific Ocean area, since it reached wind speeds of almost 300 kilometers per hour and generated an atmospheric pressure of 882 millibars.
- Katrina . In the Gulf area of the United States , this hurricane developed in 2005 and practically devastated the city of New Orleans . And the wind reached up to 282 kilometers per hour.
- Gilbert . In 1988, this tropical storm occurred and became known as "the killer hurricane" as it caused numerous deaths in its wake. It affected Texas , the Caribbean and the aforementioned Yucatán Peninsula. It is significant and curious to highlight the fact that it managed to have a very wide impact, affecting an area of up to 1,250 kilometers.
- Sandy , which occurred in 2012 , and Patricia , which occurred in 2015 , are other of the most powerful storms in history.