The following terminology is used during the hurricane season when advisories are issued to warn the public. This scale is called the Saffir-Simpson scale. A moving area of thunderstorms in the tropics that maintains its identity for 24 hours or more. This is a common phenomenon in the tropics.
Hurricanes can intensify to become major storms.
They are rated on an intensity scale called the Saffir-Simpson scale. A hurricane intensity scale which categorizes hurricanes on a scale of 1 to 5 according to the storm's wind speed, barometric pressure, storm surge and damage potential. A weather watch issued for coastal areas when there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours. A weather warning issued for coastal areas when there is a threat of hurricane force winds within 24 hours or less. A weather watch issued when there is a potential for flash flooding in a given area.