The weather in the tropics is basically hot and humid. This is primarily due to the earthreceiving more solar radiation than it re-radiates back to space. This excessive heating generates weather that can impact any other location on the globe. This energy imbalance drives the circulation of the atmosphere. There is abundant rainfall due to the rising air created by the sun's heating, and during certain periods, thunderstorms can occur every day. Nevertheless, the tropics still receive a considerable amount of sunshine, and when combined with the excessive rainfall, provide ideal growing conditions. Because a substantial part of the Sun's heat energy is used up in evaporation and rain formation, temperatures in the tropics rarely exceed 95°F. At night the abundant cloud cover restricts heat loss, and minimum temperatures fall no lower than about 72°F. This high level of temperature is maintained with little variation throughout the year. Therefore, the seasons are not distinguished by warm and cold periods but by variation of rainfall and cloudiness.

Tropical cyclones with an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation, and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (61 kph) or less are called "tropical depressions". Once the tropical cyclone reaches winds of at least 39 mph (63 kph) they are typically called a "tropical storm" and assigned a name. If maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph), the cyclone is called: a hurricane in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, and the South Pacific Ocean east of 160°E, (The word hurricane comes from the Carib Indians of the West Indies, who called this storm a huracan. Supposedly, the ancient Tainos tribe of Central America called their god of evil "Huracan". Spanish colonists modified the word to hurricane.), a typhoon in the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline (super typhoon if the maximum sustained winds are at least 150 mph / 241 kph) a severe tropical cyclone in the Southwest Pacific Ocean west of 160°E or Southeast Indian Ocean east of 90°E, a severe cyclonic storm in the North Indian Ocean, and just a tropical cyclone in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Hurricanes are further classified according to their wind speed. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf in the landfall region. Note: all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.

Category 1 =  74-95 mph 64-82 kts 119-153 kph / Minimal Hurricance.
Category 2 = 96-110 mph 83-95 kts 154-177 kph / Moderate Hurricane.
Category 3 = 111-130 mph 96-113 kts 178-209 kph / Extensive Hurricane.
Category 4 = 131-155 mph 114-135 kts 210-249 kph / Extreme Hurricane.
Category 5 = Greater than 155 mph 135 kts 249 kph / Catastrophic Hurricane.

DEFINITIONS:
Hurricane Season:The portion of the year having a relatively high incidence of hurricanes. The hurricane season in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico runs from June 1 to November 30. The hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific Basin runs from May 15 to November 30. The hurricane season in the Central Pacific Basin runs from June 1 to November 30.
Advisory:Official information issued by tropical cyclone warning centers describing all tropical cyclone watches and warnings in effect along with details concerning tropical cyclone locations, intensity and movement, and precautions that should be taken.
Storm Warning:A warning of 1-minute sustained surface winds of 48 kt (55 mph or 88 km/hr) or greater, either predicted or occurring, not directly associated with tropical cyclones.
Hurricane Watch: An announcement for specific coastal areas that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.
Hurricane Warning:A warning that sustained winds 64 kt (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.
Major Hurricane:A hurricane that is classified as Category 3 or higher.
Tropical Disturbance: A discrete tropical weather system of apparently organized convection -- generally 100 to 300 nmi in diameter -- originating in the tropics or subtropics, having a nonfrontal migratory character, and maintaining its identity for 24 hours or more. It may or may not be associated with a detectable perturbation of the wind field.
Tropical Depression:A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 33 kt (38 mph or 62 km/hr) or less.
Tropical Storm Watch: An announcement for specific coastal areas that tropic storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.
Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) ranges from 34 kt (39 mph or 63 km/hr) to 63 kt (73 mph or 118 km/hr).
Tropical Storm Warning: A warning that sustained winds within the range of 34 to 63 kt (39 to 73 mph or 63 to 118 km/hr) associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in a specified coastal area within 24 hours or less.
Hurricane / Typhoon:A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 64 kt (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or more. The term hurricane is used for Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones east of the International Dateline to the Greenwich Meridian. The term typhoon is used for Pacific tropical cyclones north of the Equator west of the International Dateline.
Cyclone:An atmospheric closed circulation rotating counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

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