tropical storm

noun

Meteorology.

1. a tropical cyclone of less than hurricane force.

tropical storm

1. A tropical cyclone having sustained surface winds between 39 and 73 mi (63 and 118 km) per hour.

2. See Note at cyclone

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropical storm¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

The storm grew from a tropical storm to a major Category 4 hurricane in a day, fuelled by warmer than average sea temperatures.

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A tropical storm warning is in place for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the speed of the slow-moving hurricane is expected to increase in the coming days.

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Tropical storm conditions were expected in Haiti on Wednesday.

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Tropical Storm Melissa took shape last Tuesday before rapidly strengthening as it moved west through the Caribbean.

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By 21 October it had reached tropical storm strength and by 26 October, it was a Category 4 beast churning through the Caribbean Sea.

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Related Words

• tropical cyclone