Return to Frequently Asked Questions page. Seafarers have always respected the power of wind and water. This is especially the case during storms at sea, where ships run the risk of damage or sinking from strong winds and high seas.
Cyclonic storms develop when an advancing cold front pushes into a region of lighter, warmer air.
As the warm air is pushed away, the resulting low atmospheric pressure will sometimes create complex wind storms that spiral in toward the center of the disturbance. These storms primarily develop in low pressure areas over tropical or sub-tropical waters. The warm temperatures and the spiraling effects of the winds combine to create the huge storms that periodically sweep the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. If the atmospheric pressure at the center of these storms continues to drop, the cloud and rain patterns form into narrow bands, and wind speeds can increase to 64 knots or greater. This pattern often spawns pounding rain, violent thunder, and terrific lightning.