Daily Archives: June 8, 2026

Tropical cyclones are large, whirling storms that obtain their energy from warm ocean waters.

Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface wind speeds of less than 39 miles per hour are called tropical depressions. Those with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are called tropical storms. Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that have sustained wind speeds of greater than 74 mph and that originate in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or the eastern North Pacific Ocean. A general rule of thumb is that hurricanes will not form unless the water temperature is at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue reading →