Ch. 19 Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

thunderstorm

A storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud and always accompanied by lightning and thunder. It is of relatively short duration and usually accompanied by strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and sometimes hail.

hurricanes

A tropical cyclonic storm having winds in excess of 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour.

eye wall

The doughnut-shaped area of intense cumulonimbus development and very strong winds that surrounds the eye of a hurricane.

tropical depression

By international agreement, a tropical cyclone with maximum winds that do not exceed 61 kilometers (38 miles) per hour.

tropical storm

By international agreement, a tropical cyclone with maximum winds between 61 and 119 kilometers (38 and 74 miles) per hour.

Saffir-simpson hurricane scale

A scale, from 1 to 5, used to rank the relative intensities of hurricanes.

storm surge

The abnormal rise of the sea along a shore as a result of strong winds.