CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The phrase, "Potential Tropical Cyclone" (often abbreviated PTC) has been used for a few years now by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to describe a disturbance that has potential to become a tropical storm or hurricane. To understand the concept it is important to break it down into components.
First, what is a cyclone?
A cyclone is any closed circulation of low pressure, ranging from a dust devil to a hurricane or extratropical low. The critical element is that winds circulate completely around the low in a counter-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere or a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.
Next, what is a tropical cyclone?
A warm-core non-frontal large scale cyclone, originating over tropical or subtropical waters, with organized showers and thunderstorms surrounding a closed surface wind circulation about a well-defined center. A tropical cyclone is sustained by heat energy from warm ocean waters drawind heat from the surface upward to the upper troposphere.
Ergo, a Potential Tropical Cyclone:
A term used in NHC advisory products to describe a disturbance that is not yet a tropical cyclone, BUT which poses the threat of bringing tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land areas within 48 hours.
Other Related Terms, just for good measure:
Tropical Depression:
A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
Tropical Storm:
A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots).
Hurricane:
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone possessing maximum sustained surface winds of 74 mph or greater (64 knots or greater)
Major Hurricane:
A hurricane that is classified as Category 3 or higher.
There is a lot of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season left; we've just hit the peak. Keep up on the latest in this active Atlantic Basin tropical weather season by watching this platform and by tuning in regularly to KRIS6.