A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with sustained winds under 39 mph.
A tropical storm one with sustained winds from 39 mph to 73 mph.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.
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.
Simply one of strength. When a tropical cyclone has sustained winds under 39 mph it is a tropical depression. When a tropical cyclone has sustained winds from 39 mph to 73 mph it is s a tropical storm. When a tropical cyclone has winds of 74 mph or higher it is a hurricane.
The main difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm is their wind speeds. A hurricane has sustained winds of at least 74 mph, while a tropical storm has winds between 39-73 mph. Additionally, hurricanes are more organized and powerful than tropical storms.
A tropical disturbance can become a tropical depression, which can then lead to a tropical storm and on to a tropical cyclone, or hurricane. (The differentiation between a cyclone and hurricane depends on the strength and location -- it becomes a hurricane when it hits land and exceeds wind speeds of over 74 miles per hour)
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.
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.
Tropical storms and hurricanes are different intensity levels of the same type of storm: a tropical cyclone. The difference is that a tropical storm has winds of 39-73 mph and a hurricane has winds of 74 mph or greater.
The difference is in intensity. A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with winds under 39 mph. A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph to 73 mph.
A tropical cyclone is classified as a hurricane once it reaches sustained wind speeds of 74 mph or higher. Before that, it is known as a tropical depression (winds less than 39 mph) and then a tropical storm (winds between 39-73 mph).
By measuring the sustained wind speed. If the wind speed of a tropical cyclone is anywhere in the range of 39 to 73 mph then it is a tropical storm. If the wind speed is 74 mph or greater then it is a hurricane.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 74 mph. A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with winds less than 39 mph. Above that limit it is considered a tropical storm. A tropical depression is of much lower intensity and is generally not as well organized as a 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.