Tropical cyclones are meteorological phenomena that develop over tropical waters
and circulate on the surface in an organized and defined form, in an anti-clockwise
direction.
These phenomena are classified as follows, depending on the
strength of the accompanying winds:
- Tropical disturbance or tropical wave. Consists of light surface
winds with a non-organized rain mass.
- Tropical depression. Circulation of sustained surface winds around
an axis, reaching 61 kilometres per hour, with an organized mass.
- Tropical storm. Has the same characteristics as the tropical depression,
but with winds that reach a force of 62 to 115 kilometres per hour.
- Hurricane. Like the two previous categories, the hurricane has surface
winds that circulate around an axis at speeds above 116 kilometres per hour.
Depending on their strength, the Saffir-Simpson Scale
classifies them as follows:
- Category 1: Wind speeds between 118 and 153 km/h.
- Category 2: Wind speeds between 154 and 177 km/h.
- Category 3: Wind speeds between 178 and 209 km/h.
- Category 4: Wind speeds between 210 and 249 km/h.
- Category 5: Wind speeds above 250 km/h.
