Thanksgiving week weather
Family will be traveling from Littleton, Colorado to...
Hurricane Glossary
Advisory: A formal advisory message from a Weather Bureau Hurricane Warning Center giving warning information along with details on tropical cyclone location, intensity and movement, and precautions that should be taken.
Bulletin: A public release for press, radio, and TV dissemination from a Weather Bureau Hurricane Warning Center issued at times other than those when advisories are required and containing a greater amount of general newsworthy information. The bulletin will routinely include a resume of all warnings in effect.
Gale Warning: A warning of winds within the range 39 to 54 miles per hour (34 to 47 knots).
Whole Gale Warning: A warning of winds in the range 55 to 73 miles per hour (48 to 63 knots).
Hurricane: A large revolving storm originating over tropical ocean waters with winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or more blowing counter clockwise around the center.
Hurricane Center or Eye: The relatively calm area near the center of the storm. In this area, winds are light and the sky often is only partly covered by clouds.
Hurricane Force Winds: Winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or higher.
Hurricane “Season”: The portion of the year having a relatively high incidence of hurricanes. In the Atlantic, it is usually regarded as extending from June through November. In the Pacific, the season extends from June through October.
Hurricane Warning: A warning that one or more of the following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less: (a) Hurricane force winds (74 miles per hour or higher); (b) Dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, even though winds expected may be less than hurricane force.
Hurricane Watch: An announcement for specific areas that a hurricane or an incipient hurricane condition poses a threat to coastal and inland communities. All people in the indicated areas should take stock of their preparedness requirements, keep abreast of the latest advisories and bulletins, and be ready for quick action in case a warning is issued.
Squall: A wind that increases suddenly in speed, maintains a peak speed of 18 miles per hour (16 knots) or more over a period of two or more minutes, then decreases in speed. Similar fluctuations will occur at succeeding intervals.
Cyclone: The meteorologists’ term for any low pressure area or areas where winds move counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Tropical Cyclone: A non-frontal cyclone which originates over tropical or sub-tropical maritime areas.
Tropical Disturbance: The weakest recognizable stage of a tropical cyclone in which rotary circulation is slight or absent at the surface but possibly better developed aloft.
Tropical Disturbance: The weak stage of a tropical cyclone with a definite closed surface circulation, one or more closed surface isobars, and highest wind speed less than 34 knots (39 mph).
Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with wind speeds of 39 through 73 mph (34-63 knots).


