what is the difference in tropical storm and a hurricane?

Answer 1

Any winds over 74 miles per hour is considered a hurricane.

Answer 2

The difference between a tropical storm and a hurricane is the top sustained windspeeds.

There are three types of storms that the National Hurricane Center tracks. Tropical Depressions, Tropical Storms and Hurricanes.

Tropical depressions are what the other two are formed from, and these storms have a top wind speed of 38mph or less. Tropical depressions are not named.

If the depression strengthens and the winds reach between 39mph to 73mph, it is upgraded to a tropical storm and recieves a name from pre-selected list.

If the storm strengthens enough that it's winds reach 74mph or greater, then it becomes a hurricane.

Hurricanes are rated from Catagory 1 to Catagory 5. The only difference is the wind speeds, and thus the destructive potential. Catagory 1 hurricanes have speeds ranging from 74mph to 95mph. Catagory 2 is 96mph to 110mph. Catagory 3 is 111mph - 130mph. Catagory 4 is 131mph to 155mph. And Catagory 5 is 156mph and higher.

Just for reference sake, Hurricane Katrina was a Catagory 3 hurricane when it struck New Orleans, while Hurricane Andrew was a Catagory 5 when it struck Florida in 1992.

Answer 3

A tropical storm is ussually smaller than a hurricane. It has lower wind speed and does not travel as fast. A hurricane is smaller than a tornado but larger than a tropical storm. It has wind speed that can travel over 75 miles per hour. It is also a lot more dangerous.

A hurricane does not do more damage of the last 10 major damages 4 have been of tropical storms. the difference between a tropical storm and a catorgary 1 hurricane is 1mph. allie H. is wrong a hurricane is not smaller than a tornado, a tornado being maybe 200 metres wide but with windspeeds of upto 250 mph and a hurricane being maybe 350 miles wide but with wind speeds of upto 175 mph.

Answer 4

The major difference is size and winds.

Hurricanes can be very very strong in winds 74 mph and up.

There a 6 catagories of a hurricane, as the number goes up...so does the wind speed and its shape changes.

If hurricanes are strong enough they can look like doughnuts on a satalite image.

Tropical storms is a catagory right before a hurricane. Its when a tropical system starts to gain its hurricane features.

One more thing....hurricanes brings the water level higher and makes bigger waves as well as stronger rip currents.

BTW...Jonathen isnt up to date....There are 6 catagories..(As of this year)...

Answer 5

At least in the U.S. using the Saffir-Simpson scale the difference between a tropical storm and a hurricane is a matter of windspeed.

Tropical storm: 39-73 miles per hour
Hurricane (category one or higher): 74+ miles per hour

can read about the Saffir-Simpson scale here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffir-Simpson_scale


Different parts of the world use different scaling methods but this is the one used by the United States covering hurricanes (tropical cyclones) that originate in the Atlantic ocean.

Answer 6

I don't really know when it becomes a tropical storm, but if winds are 75 MPH, it's considered a hurricane.

Answer 7

A tropical storm goes at 74 miles an hour or less.
A hurricane is higher.

I used to know all of the cutoffs for the categories, too, but I forgot them. Feh.

Answer 8

a tropical storm has winds below 74 mph and a hurricane is anything above that.

Answer 9

hurricane massive wind storm high wind but not as high hurricane sometimes be more disructive

Answer 10

How many miles per hour the wind is going.