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 relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which moves from east to west across the tropics causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms. West-moving waves can also form from the tail end of frontal zones in the subtropics and tropics and may be referred to as easterly waves, but these waves are not properly called tropical waves; they are a form of inverted trough sharing many characteristics with fully tropical waves. All tropical waves form in the easterly flow along the equatorward side of the subtropical ridge or belt ofhigh pressure which lies north and south of the ntertropical !onvergence "one # $!"%. $ropical waves are generally carried westward by the prevailing easterly winds along the tropics and subtropics near the equator. $hey can lead to the formation of tropical cyclones in the north Atlantic and eastern north &acific basins. $ropical wave study is aided by'ovm(ller diagrams, a graph of meteorological data.

Tropical Disturbance A discrete tropical weather system of apparently organized convection - generally 200 to 600 km (100 to 300 nmi) in diameter - originating in the tropics or s !tropics" having a nonfrontal migratory character" and maintaining its identity for 2# ho rs or more$ %t may or may not !e associated with a detecta!le pert r!ation of the wind field$ &ist r!ances associated with pert r!ations in the wind field and progressing thro gh the tropics from east to west are also known as easterly waves $ Tropical Depression A tropical cyclone in which the ma'im m s stained wind speed ( sing the ($)$ 1 min te average standard) is p to 33 kt (3* mph" 1+ m,s)$ &epressions have a closed circ lation$ Tropical Storm A tropical cyclone in which the ma'im m s stained s rface wind speed ( sing the ($)$ 1 min te average standard) ranges from 3# kt (3- mph"1+$. m,s) to 63 kt (+3 mph" 32$. m,s)$ /he convection in tropical storms is s ally more concentrated near the center with o ter rainfall organizing into distinct !ands$ Hurricane 0hen winds in a tropical cyclone e1 al or e'ceed 6# kt (+# mph" 33 m,s) it is called a h rricane (in the Atlantic and eastern and central 2acific 3ceans)$ 4 rricanes are f rther designated !y categories on the )affir-)impson scale$ 4 rricanes in categories 3" #" . are known as 5a6or 4 rricanes or %ntense 4 rricanes$
$here)s actually five stages of development. t starts off as a $*+& !A, WA-., which is /ust a low pressure area with westward blowing winds. $hen its a $*+& !A, 0 1$2*3A4!., which is an area of thunderstorms that)s about 566-766 miles in diameter #basically this is /ust a really bad storm, with gusty winds, heavy rains, etc%. t usually lasts for 89 hours. $hen its a $*+& !A, 0.&*.11 +4, which is a low pressure area, with 7: mph winds or less. $hen its a $*+& !A, 1$+*;, which has 7<-=7 mph winds. >inally, its a '2** !A4., with =9 mph and above winds. #4ote that the tropical depression, tropical storm, and hurricane are all considered tropical cyclones%.