Stages of Hurricane Development

Although tropical storms may rapidly intensify into hurricanes, there are different stages of development. Very few tropical disturbances actually become hurricanes.

The following are the different stages a storm goes through before becoming a hurricane.

• Tropical Wave - a low pressure trough moving generally westward in the trade winds.
• Tropical Disturbance - an organized area of showers and thunderstorms that forms in the troweb. Typically, they maintain their identity at least 24 hours and are accompanied by heavy rains and gusty winds.
• Tropical Depression - an organized area of tropical low pressure in which sustained winds are 38 mph or less.
• Tropical Storm - a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained wind speeds that range from 39 to 73 mph.
• Hurricane - a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph.

Source: American Red Cross and the Weather Channel