A Deep Dive into the Distinctions Between Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

As hurricane season continues to heat up and multiple storms have been named already this year, you may be wondering what the difference is between a tropical storm and a hurricane. Although these storms should not be used interchangeably, people often fail to realize the distinction.

As Tropical Storm Idalia continues to strengthen in the Gulf, forecasters warn that it will likely become a hurricane. But what does that mean?

Formation

Both tropical storms and hurricanes are born from the same family: the warm waters of the tropics. However, the paths they take toward maturity differ significantly.

A tropical storm forms when a tropical depression, an area of low pressure with organized thunderstorm activity but lacking strong, circular wind patterns, strengthens. The tropical depression graduates to a tropical storm when wind speeds climb to fall within the range of 39 and 73 mph.