tropical storm

American  

noun

Meteorology.

1. a tropical cyclone of less than hurricane force.

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tropical storm Scientific  

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

2. See Note at cyclone

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Etymology

Origin of tropical storm

First recorded in 1940–45

Compare meaning

How does tropical-storm compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tropical depression vs. tropical storm
• tropical storm vs. hurricane
• tropical cyclone vs. tropical storm

Example Sentences

A New York Times article in October highlighted hurricanes “turning away from the East Coast,” noting 12 named storms so far but only one minor tropical storm brushing the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Monsoon rains paired with two rare tropical storm systems, sometimes known in the region as cyclones, dumped record deluges across Sri Lanka, and parts of Indonesia's Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week.

From Barron's

But the flooding that hit Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia was also exacerbated by a rare tropical storm that dumped heavy rain on Sumatra island in particular.

From Barron's

An exceptionally rare tropical storm, named Cyclone Senyar, caused catastrophic landslides and flooding in Indonesia, with homes swept away and thousands of buildings submerged.

From BBC

A tropical storm has exacerbated conditions, and the tolls in Indonesia and Thailand rank among the highest in floods in those countries in recent years.

From Barron's

Related Words

• tropical cyclone