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The determining factor is the sustained wind speed. If the tropical system has sustained winds of less than 39 miles per hour, then it is a tropical depression. If sustained winds are in the range of 39 to 73 mph, then it is a tropical storm. If sustained winds are 74 mph or faster, then it is a hurricane.

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When did Katrina first from as a tropical depression?

Hurricane Katrina first formed as a tropical depression on August 23, 2005, over the Bahamas. It later intensified into a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States.


Why is a hurricane called a tropical depression?

A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with winds under 39 mph. When winds reach or exceed that limit it is called a tropical storm and is given a name. Tropical depression 9 denotes the 9th tropical cyclone of that year in a particular ocean basin.


What is a typhoon depression?

A typhoon and a tropical depression are different intensity levels of tropical cyclone. A tropical depression is organized enough to be considered a tropical cyclone, but has sustained winds of less than 39 mph. If a depression gets stronger it is considered a tropical storm. A typhoon is equivalent to a hurricane, with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. Most typhoons stat out as tropical depressions.


Do you have to have 74 mph winds for it to be called a hurricane?

Yes. The winds have to be significantly stronger than average for them to be considered hurricane-force. However, a hurricane does not just have strong winds. The hurricane itself forms over water, and its windspeed is often not recorded until it makes landfall.


What factor determines when a tropical storm becomes a hurricane?

Tropical storms become hurricanes when sustained wind speeds reach or exceed 74 mph (119 km/h). Additionally, warm ocean waters, low wind shear, and high humidity are factors that contribute to the development and strengthening of hurricanes.

Related Questions

Hurricane formation from weakest to strongest?

A hurricane will start as a Tropical Wave. It then becomes a Tropical Depression. A TD is given a number but not a name. Once the TD reaches 39 mile per hour winds its given a name and becomes a Tropical Storm. After reaching 74 mile per hour winds it becomes a hurricane.


Does a hurricane start a tropical depression?

No, a hurricane does not start as a tropical depression. A hurricane forms from a tropical cyclone, which originates as a tropical depression. Tropical depressions are the first stage of a developing tropical system, followed by tropical storms and then hurricanes if conditions are favorable.


What are the types of storms that form before a hurricane forms?

Tropical disturbance -> tropical depression -> tropical storm -> tropical cyclone (hurricane). *Hurricane is a local name, for tropical cyclones (official name) that appear in the Atlantic.


Was hurricane Andrew a tropical depression?

Yes. Hurricane Andrew was Tropical Depression Three for about a day before becoming Tropical Storm Andrew and then Hurricane Andrew 5 days later.


How was Hurricane Andrew form?

it started as a tropical disturbance at first, then it became a tropical depression, and a tropical storm, then a hurricane.


How did hurricane Andrew form?

he started as a tropical depression, then he became a tropical storm, then BAM! hurricane...!


What stages does a storm go through before it develops into a hurricane?

Tropical Depression and then Tropical Storm THEN Hurricane!


When is a hurricane considered a tropical storm and what are all the different types a storm a hurricane can turn into?

A hurricane cannot be a tropical storm as by definition a tropical storm is weaker than a hurricane. A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with winds of 39-73 mph. Only when winds reach 74 mph or greater is the storm considered a hurricane. A hurricane can weaken into a tropical storm and from there into a tropical depression (winds under 39 mph). A tropical storm or depression may also degenerate into a remnant low, which is too disorganized to be considered a tropical cyclone. A tropical cyclone (hurricane, tropical storm, or tropical depression) may also become an extratropical cyclone after moving over land or cold water. Around the world hurricanes have different names. In the northwest Pacific ocean they are called typhoons, In the Indian ocean they are called intense tropical cyclones, and in the south Pacific they are simply called cyclones. However, these are just different names for essentially the same kind of storm.


What factors determine whether a storm is considered a tropical depression tropical storm or hurricane?

The determining factor is the sustained wind speed. If the tropical system has sustained winds of less than 39 miles per hour, then it is a tropical depression. If sustained winds are in the range of 39 to 73 mph, then it is a tropical storm. If sustained winds are 74 mph or faster, then it is a hurricane.


Is a tropical storm first a tropical depression then a hurricane?

The progression of increasing strength is: Tropical depression (under 39 mph winds) Tropical storm (39-73 mph winds) Hurricane (winds 74 mph or higher)


What is the differce between a tropical depression and a hurricane?

A tropical depression is a relatively weak tropical system, with sustained winds less than 39 mph. A hurricane is a powerful tropical system wind winds of at least 74 mph.


What is the name of the current tropical depression that is to become a hurricane?

There are currently no active tropical depressions. Also, tropical depressions are given numbers, not names. The next one in the Atlantic will be Tropical Depression Fourteen. There is however, a tropical disturbance labeled 95L that has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression.