Eye – Definition

Eye

The center of a tropical storm or hurricane, characterized by a roughly circular area of light winds and rain-free skies. An eye will usually develop when the maximum sustained wind speeds exceed 78 mph. It can range in size from as small as 5 miles to up to 60 miles, but the average size is 20 miles. In general, when the eye begins to shrink in size, the storm is intensifying.

Tropical Storm

A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface winds are from 39 miles per hour (34 knots) to 73 miles per hour (63 knots). At this point, the system is given a name to identify and track it.

Hurricane

The name for a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (65 knots) or greater in the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. This same tropical cyclone is known as a typhoon in the western Pacific and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

Wind

Air that flows in relation to the earth’s surface, generally horizontally. There are four areas of wind that are measured: direction, speed, character (gusts and squalls), and shifts. Surface winds are measured by wind vanes and anemometers, while upper level winds are detected through pilot balloons or aircraft reports.

Wind Speed

The rate of the motion of the air on a unit of time. It can be measured in a number of ways. In observing, it is measured in knots, or nautical miles per hour. The unit most often used in the United States is miles per hour.

Storm

An individual low pressure disturbance, complete with winds, clouds, and precipitation. The name is associated with destructive or unpleasant weather. Storm-scale refers to disturbances the size of individual thunderstorms.

Service Area

Broward County: Andytown, Bonnie Loch-Woodsetter North, Boulevard Gardens, Broadview-Pompano Park, Broward Estates, Carver Ranches, Chambers Estates Chula Vista Isles, Coconut Creek, Collier Manor-Cresthaven, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Country Estates, Crystal Lake, Dania Beach, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Edgewater, Fort Lauderdale, Franklin Park, Golden Heights, Green Meadow, Hacienda Village, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Hillsboro Pines, Hillsboro Ranches, Hollywood, Ivanhoe Estates, Kendall Green, Lake Forest, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Lazy Lake, Leisureville, Lighthouse Point, Loch Lomond, Margate, Melrose Park, Miramar, North Andrews Gardens, North Lauderdale, Oak Point, Oakland Park, Palm Aire, Parkland, Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines, Pine Island Ridge, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Pompano Beach Highlands, Pompano Estates, Ramblewood East, Ravenswood Estates, Riverland Village, Rock Island, Rolling Oaks, Roosevelt Gardens, Royal Palm Ranches, Sea Ranch Lakes, Southwest Ranches, St. George, Sunrise, Sunshine Acres, Sunshine Ranches, Tamarac, Tedder, Terra Mar, Utopia, Village Park, Washington Park, West Ken-Lark, West Park, Weston, Wilton Manors

Counties: Brevard, Broward, Collier, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, St Lucie

412 Sunshine Blvd
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33070