Weather experts are monitoring an area of low atmospheric pressure, thunderstorms, and strong winds moving through the Caribbean Sea, Cuba, and into the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida. This system has gone by multiple names as it progresses.
Initially identified as Invest 97L, it later evolved into Potential Tropical Cyclone Four. By Friday, it had developed into Tropical Depression Four. It was officially named Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday and could potentially become Hurricane Debby by Sunday or Monday.
These various names are used to denote the intensity of storms in the Atlantic and eastern and central Pacific Oceans. Most storms begin as intense thunderstorms before developing into cyclones with rotating winds.
The direction of wind rotation in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres differs, with counterclockwise rotation in the North and clockwise rotation in the South.
Why was the storm initially called ‘Invest 97L’?
Before the National Hurricane Center issued its first advisory on the system, it was labeled as “Invest 97L.”
According to Jack Beven, a senior hurricane specialist, “invest” is an internal term used to designate a tropical wave or area of disturbed weather of interest to forecasters.
Beven clarified that the term “invest” does not necessarily indicate that the system is dangerous or close to becoming a tropical cyclone, but rather signifies that it has reached a point where it needs close monitoring.
“It’s a little bit of an indicator that the system has gotten more interesting,” Beven explained.
The National Hurricane Center uses the letter “L” to indicate the location of a system in the Atlantic. The agency assigns numerical designations from 90 to 99 to track these systems.
What distinguishes a depression, tropical storm, and hurricane?
As Invest 97L showed signs of strengthening, the National Hurricane Center anticipated its progression into a more serious weather system.
On Friday, the system was classified as Potential Tropical Cyclone Four, indicating its growing strength. Later, it was upgraded to a tropical depression, signifying the organization of a cyclone with winds below 39 miles per hour.
As the storm continued to strengthen and exceeded the 39 mph mark on Saturday, it was named Tropical Storm Debby.
If the winds of a tropical storm reach 74 mph, it is reclassified as a hurricane.
Hurricanes in the Atlantic basin are categorized based on wind speeds from 1 to 5. However, the wind strength does not necessarily indicate the storm surge or rainfall potential of a hurricane.
Some non-hurricane tropical systems can still bring significant rainfall, as seen with Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, which caused severe flooding in Houston.
Why do storms like Debby receive names?
Storms started receiving names after World War II to enhance public awareness of potential threats. Previously, storms were named retrospectively, such as the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 or the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.
Originally, hurricanes were named only after women, but since 1979, male names have also been used. The World Meteorological Organization establishes a new list of names each year for tropical cyclones globally. The Atlantic names are on a six-year rotation.
Is the storm-naming system consistent worldwide?
No, different regions have their own naming conventions for intense tropical cyclones. For instance, storms in the western Pacific near Japan are called typhoons, while those around India are designated as cyclonic storms. The naming conventions may vary, but the intensity scales share similarities.
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