tropical storm

noun

Meteorology.

1. a tropical cyclone of less than hurricane force.

tropical storm

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

2. See Note at cyclone

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropical storm¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

To avoid confusion, the remnants of a tropical storm or hurricane that crosses the Atlantic will keep its original name, for example ex-Hurricane Erin, which brought a large swell to South West England in August 2025.

From BBC

Juliette was expected to dissipate, losing its tropical storm designation by Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

From Los Angeles Times

As of Tuesday, Tropical Storm Juliette was about 600 miles off the coast of Baja California, with sustained winds hitting up to 50 winds.

From Los Angeles Times

On the heels of a scorching heat wave, Southern California could be in for rainfall, thunderstorms and dangerous surf thanks to weakening Tropical Storm Juliette moving its way north off the coast of Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times

Meteorologists say the hurricane is unusually big, with tropical storm winds spanning 500 miles.

From BBC

Related Words

• tropical cyclone