Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones

Overall, February was a chilly and snowy month across the Inland Northwest. At Cliff’s station in Coeur d’Alene, the average high for the month was 36 degrees, with a low of 22 degrees. A total of 23.7 inches of snow was measured last month, which pushed the seasonal total to date of 32.1 inches. The normal amount of rainfall for the season is 69.7 inches.

The average snowfall between now and the end of the season is just over 7 inches. Cliff and I are forecasting for Coeur d’Alene to receive additional snowfall near the 7-inch mark between now and the end of April, which would put our 2024-25 snowfall total at around 40 inches. There’s a chance that our final snowfall total could be in the mid-40s.

Despite the recent warm spell last week, winter is not over. It looks like we’ll have occasional rain and snow showers later this week, with more snow in the higher mountains. Toward the middle of next week, the long-range computer models are consistently showing a new pattern of colder and snowier weather across much of the Inland Northwest. Therefore, I wouldn’t take off those snow tires just yet.

The winter-like weather change in February was likely due, at least in part, to the cooling of sea-surface temperatures along parts of the Equatorial regions. The latest information does show minor cooling near the International Date Line. However, readings near the West Coast of South America, where the development of La Niñas (the abnormal cooling of ocean waters) and El Niño (the abnormal warming of ocean waters) are warming up. In fact, sea-surface temperatures right along the South American coastline are now several degrees higher than average.

There were indications in January that the La Niña pattern was going to be short-lived. Many of the forecast models are now pointing to a “La Nada,” the in-between warmer El Niño and cooler La Niña during our spring and summer season. However, if waters near South American continue to climb, then it’s possible that a new El Niño may be declared by late in the year. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, forecasters are beginning to make predictions about the upcoming tropical storm and hurricane season that officially begins June 1. Early predictions are showing about 15 named storms for the season. As the season gets closer, I’ll have a more detailed update on the latest forecasts.

As we all know, tropical cyclones, or hurricanes, are one of the most destructive weather events. To be classified as a hurricane, sustained winds must be at least 74 miles per hour. These massive storms are called other names, depending on the region of the world. In the Atlantic and Caribbean waters, as well as the ones in the eastern and central North Pacific oceans, they are defined as “hurricanes.” In the western South Pacific, Indian oceans, and near northern Australia, these systems are called “cyclones.” The term “typhoons” is used for tropical systems in the western North Pacific Ocean, which include areas around Japan, China and the Philippines.

According to an article by NOAA, the different names for these big storms have been used for centuries and forecasts have been based on them. If these tropical systems were changed to one standardized name across the globe, then significant adjustments would be needed to area forecasts, which would likely lead to much confusion, as different regions identify and respond to the current names. These names also retain the cultural heritage of the regions affected.

The term “hurricane” came from the indigenous Taino people of the Greater Antilles. They worshiped a storm deity named Juracan, and this name may have originated from the Mayan god of wind called “Huracan.” Spanish explorers adopted the word and “furacan” (hurricane) and it eventually became a part of the English language.

The name “cyclone” likely originated from ancient Greek. Cyclone became the preferred term after a meteorological official with the East India Company adopted the name to describe tropical storms around 1840. During that time, Greek or Latin terms were used to name different things.

It’s not clear on the origination of “typhoon.” The article states that some people believe that it came from the Greek word Typhon, a mythological monster with the “power of the winds.”

On average, there are about 85 tropical storms that develop across the globe each year. The Atlantic and Caribbean regions have an average of 14 named storms, with seven of them becoming hurricanes. Across the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, there is an average of 15 named storms, with eight intensifying into hurricanes. The number of named storms in the western North Pacific Ocean is much higher, with approximately 25 named storms, 16 of which became hurricanes. There are close to five tropical systems in the northern Indian Ocean, with an average of 11 cyclones near Australia. About five of the cyclones in the northern portion of the Southern Hemisphere are classified as “severe” each year.

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Contact Randy Mann at randy@longrangeweather.com.