What wind speed must a tropical storm reach to become a hurricane?

74 mph
A tropical cyclone that has winds of 38 mph (33 kt) or less is called a tropical depression. When the tropical cyclone's winds reach 39–73 mph (34–63 kt), it is called a tropical storm. When winds exceed 74 mph (64 kt), the storm is considered a hurricane.

What determines when a tropical depression or storm becomes a hurricane?

Tropical storms resemble the appearance of hurricanes due to the intensified circulation. Hurricane: As surface pressure continues to drop, a tropical storm becomes a hurricane when sustained wind speeds exceed 64 knots. The heaviest precipitation and strongest winds are associated with the eyewall.

What do hurricanes classify by wind speed?

To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds for a minute average at 10 m above the surface of at least 74 mph (Category 1). The highest classification on the scale, Category 5, consists of storms with sustained winds of at least 157 mph.

How can you identify a tropical storm based on its wind speed?

If the circulation continues to intensify and wind speeds exceed 63 km (39 miles) per hour, the system is called a tropical storm. When the maximum wind speed exceeds 119 km (74 miles) per hour, the storm is classified as a tropical cyclone.

To be a tropical storm, wind speeds must be between 39 and 73 mph (63 to 118 km/h). When the wind speed is lower, the weather disturbance is called a tropical depression. Storms with speeds above 73 mph (118 km/h) are called hurricanes, typhoons, or even just cyclones, depending on where they develop.

How is the severity of a tropical cyclone determined?

The Hurricane Severity Index (HSI) is another scale used that rates the severity of all types of tropical and subtropical cyclones based on both the intensity and size of their wind fields. The HSI is a 0 to 50-point scale that assigns up to 25 points for a tropical cyclone's intensity and up to 25 points for wind field size. [25]

What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

Hurricane/typhoon: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface winds (using the US 1-minute average) are 64 kt (74 mph or 119 km/h) or greater. The term hurricane is used for tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere east of the International Date Line to the Greenwich meridian.

What happens when a hurricane reaches 150 mph?

Hurricanes of all categories can produce deadly storm surge, rain-induced flooding and tornadoes. These hazards require people to take protective measures, including evacuation from areas vulnerable to storm surges. *In the western North Pacific, the term "super typhoon" is used for tropical cyclones with sustained winds in excess of 150 mph.