Looking at Tropical Storms

Today I wanted to look at at hurricanes again. The first search result told me of a storm forming out at sea. Tropical Storm Ophelia went from a Tropical Wave to a Tropical Storm w/o ever being a Tropical Depression. I thought it was interesting to look at the different type of tropical systems that develop.

From Wikipedia:
A tropical depression is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined, closed surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of less than 17 metres per second (33 kn) or 38 miles per hour (61 km/h). It has no eye and does not typically have the organization or the spiral shape of more powerful storms. However, it is already a low-pressure system, hence the name "depression".

A tropical storm is an organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds between 17 metres per second (33 kn) (39 miles per hour (63 km/h)) and 32 metres per second (62 kn) (73 miles per hour (117 km/h)). At this point, the distinctive cyclonic shape starts to develop, although an eye is not usually present.

Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relativelylow air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms

Wind is currently sustaining around 60mph. It is expected to die out around Puerto Rico.

Date:	September 21, 2011
Time:	12PM EST
Winds:	60 mph
Pressure:	1005 mbar