Flhurricane.com - Central Florida Hurricane Center - Tracking Storms since 1995Hurricanes Without the Hype! Since 1995

Quote:

---

Hi to all.... I've been watching these hurricanes and all the related info for the past year, ever since Charley came through town and had it's way with us. I understand the direct relation to millibars, troughs and other variables that make each hurricane different. What I don't understand, is what exactly do they mean when they say "a tropical wave off the coast of Africa". Is it literally a wave, as we picture it? Or is it a thunderstorm that blows off the coast? I'm just interested in the origins of these things..... :?:

---

A Tropical Wave usually blows off Africa with thunderstorms. It is not literally a wave like an ocean wave. Usually, these have vortexes to my knowledge that causes them to be classified as a Tropical Wave. Tropical Waves have the potential to become a TD--->TS--->H if they can consolidate the thunderstorm activity and the upper, mid, and low level circulations. You may ask, how is this possible? That their are three different circulation centers. Its quite simple, upper, mid, and low refers to the level of the atmosphere its in. Most tropical waves do not become storms.

--------------------
Andrew 1992, Irene 1999, Katrina 2005, Wilma 2005

Post Extras