What are tropical storms

As we mentioned, a tropical storm is a meteorological phenomenon that originates from the evolution of a tropical cyclone . A tropical cyclone can be considered a true tropical storm when its average speed is within the range between 63 and 118 km / h . Other terms used, depending on their strength and location, are typhoon, hurricane, tropical depression, cyclone or tropical storm proper. The name of tropical is basically due to the fact that they originate in tropical regions .

One of the most outstanding characteristics of these types of storms is that there is a closed circulation around a center of low pressures, which generates strong winds and a high amount of rainfall. In turn, these storms are nourished by the energy that comes from the condensation of humid air, which contributes to the generation of strong winds.

Tropical storms are produced by a combination of meteorological factors such as winds, large and strong waves, torrential rains, tornadoes, and even strong storm surges. Tropical storms tend to develop over large areas of warm water and require:

• Water temperatures above 26ºC to depths of about 50 meters, which allow the atmosphere to be so unstable as to generate and maintain convective currents and electrical storms.
• Sudden cooling at altitude . This phenomenon allows the expulsion of latent heat, which will act as a source of energy for the storm to be generated.
• A humidity high enough to allow an unstable atmosphere. This moisture must develop especially at low or medium heights in the troposphere.
• Wind shear forces that do not interrupt convection currents.

Storms will lose their strength when they enter inland, so tropical storms do the most damage in coastal areas and not inland.

If you live in areas where this phenomenon is common, it is advisable to take certain precautions such as having an emergency plan to know what to do and where to take refuge while this storm lasts and to have elements that illuminate and sufficient supplies.

A subtropical storm presents intermediate characteristics between tropical and subtropical systems, which include the absence of cold or warm fronts and zones of winds and thunderstorms farther from the center of circulation. Often times, mature subtropical systems tend to have a large cloud-free center and a less symmetrical wind zone than tropical ones. That is, while in a storm the maximum winds are located near the center of the storm, in the subtropics they develop further.

Generally, subtropical storms are more related to depressions in height and reach colder temperatures in the highest areas of the storm, while tropical storms have a warmer center and intensify with high pressure systems found in height .

It is estimated that about 80 tropical storms occur on the planet annually . The main affected regions are in the Atlantic Ocean, the eastern, western and southern Pacific Ocean. However, climate change is making these storms increasingly difficult to predict.

The main consequence of these storms are, without a doubt, major floods that generate and cause significant damage, both material and infrastructure damage, loss of crops or homes, as well as personal and human victims and major accidents. Other consequences that also generate significant damage are strong winds and waves at sea.

Although tropical storms generate very important catastrophic effects in the populations where they occur, they can also become important mechanisms of atmospheric circulation , balancing and stabilizing the temperature, significantly reducing the effects of droughts or transporting heat from the tropics to the regions. more temperate.