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Although the scale shows wind speeds in continuous speed ranges, the US National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center assign tropical cyclone intensities in 5-knot (kn) increments (e.g., 100, 105, 110, 115 kn, etc.) because of the inherent uncertainty in estimating the strength of tropical cyclones. Wind speeds in knots are ...
The lowest classification on the SSHWS is a Category 1 hurricane, which has winds of between 64 and 82 kn (74 and 94 mph; 119 and 152 km/h). [1] [3] Should the hurricane intensify further then it will be rated as a Category 2 hurricane, if it has winds of between 83 and 95 kn (96 and 109 mph; 154 and 176 km/h).
Pressure-wind relations can be used when information is incomplete, forcing forecasters to rely on the Dvorak Technique. [6] Some storms may have particularly high or low pressures that do not match with their wind speed. For example, Hurricane Sandy had a lower pressure than expected with its associated wind speed. [7]
The minimum central pressure based on data collected from the Air Force and NOAA Hurricane Hunters is 988 millibars. Anything greater than 979 mb is one indicator a storm could cause minimal damage.
The most intense hurricane on record is Wilma in 2005, with a minimum central pressure of 882 millibars, followed by Gilbert in 1988, the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, and Rita in 2005.
Hurricane Opal, the most intense Category 4 hurricane recorded, intensified to reach a minimum pressure of 916 mbar (hPa; 27.05 inHg), [54] a pressure typical of Category 5 hurricanes. [55] Nonetheless, the pressure remains too high to list Opal as one of the ten strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones. [11]
The most intense storm by lowest pressure and peak 10-minute sustained winds was Typhoon Tip, which was also the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in terms of minimum central pressure. Storms with a minimum pressure of 899 hPa (26.55 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1950. [6]
Meteorologists are paying attention to this area of low pressure because it is forming over warm waters during hurricane season, which means it could become more powerful.