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Tropical storms

Of all natural hazards, tropical storms are probably the easiest to monitor and predict. Warning can be given days in advance, and forecasters can accurately predict the storm's strength and direction. The storm surges that accompany tropical storms often cause as much, if not more, damage than the wind and rain.

Tropical storms start life when a low pressure tropical depression strengthens and winds exceed 63km/h. At this point the storm is given the next name in a preset sequence for the region of the world in which it has formed. If the storm strengthens and winds stronger than 118km/h are sustained it becomes known as a typhoon in the northwest Pacific, a cyclone in the Indian Ocean and around Australia, or a hurricane in the Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Hurricanes are rated from Category 1 up to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Climate models predict stronger storms in a warmer world - recent research from the USA suggests that if sea surface temperatures rise by half a degree, wind speeds increase by 3%.

The UK does not have a tropical climate, so hurricanes in the normal sense, do not hit our shores. But hurricane-force winds do sometimes strike. Meteorologists recorded wind speeds of over 200km/h on the Shetland Islands in 1992.

On 11-12 January 2005, hurricane-force winds lashed Scotland, and emergency services braved the elements to save many lives. The storm began out in the Atlantic, far to the west of Ireland. It deepened rapidly as it spun east and north, ploughing its way towards the Outer Hebrides. It brought sustained hurricane-force winds (over 168km/h on Barra before the wind sensor blew away) and record-breaking gusts to the tip of Scotland.

Names of tropical storms

In 1979 the World Meteorological Organisation adopted a six-year rotating list of alternating male and female names for Atlantic storms. Names are retired if hurricanes cause substantial damage or death.

Similar naming systems are used for typhoons and cyclones. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA has a complete list of storm names on its website.