3 CAT 4 hurricanes in Pacific Ocean
 

First time ever, 3 CAT 4 Hurricane in Pacific Ocean near HI....looks like perhaps even a 4th forming...

http://i62.tinypic.com/2ym6c05.jpg

Safe flying to all...

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CNmru6zVAAIZo49.mp4

For sure totally unrelated to the stupid idea of global warming...
Some interesting data on ocean temperature development...

I'm guessing these will need a wide berth. Wondering which major airways will be affected ... and who will be trying to thread the needle


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNoJpsDWIAMD5gJ.jpg

There is basically no difference between a hurricane, a typhoon, and a cyclone. They are all different names for the same kind of intense low pressure system.

The diagram below depicts how different regions refer to tropical cyclones (winds of 70+mph) ...

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...wu1rgsgoq8.png

It is not uncommon for a system to cross a given lat/long and be renamed, as it passes from one agency to another (e.g. Typhoon Alisa becomes Tropical Cyclone Alisa as responsibility passes from Japanese Meteorological Agency to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology)

As these storms in the Eastern Pacific cross 140°W into the Central Pacific, they become the responsibility of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, which governs tropical storms in the northern hemi between 140°W and the International Date Line (180°W).

The Japan Meteorological Agency calles the according website "Tropical Cyclone Information" with the address http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/ ...
So even they are confused ;)

I've flown over tropical storms/cyclones in the Arabian Sea a number of times without much worries. Just some scattered TS at level, but the main weather was well below us.
Not familiar with the Pacific types. Avoid at all cost, or continue with caution?

As it says FREQ CB tops FL530 on the current SIG WX chart, I, for one, would give it a wide berth...

The word "cyclone" has a couple of different meanings. The first meaning is as depicted in unworry's picture above.

But the term "cyclone" in meteorology also means any closed, rotating low-pressure system. So both Hurricanes and Typhoons are types of cyclones. Tornados and even dust devils are also type of cyclones.

And yes, somewhat confusingly, a Cyclone is also a type of cyclone. :}

Since cyclone means a closed low-pressure system, an anti-cyclone is any closed high-pressure system.

It's good for pilots to be familiar with this second definition of cyclone because sometimes we will see the term depicted in meteorology charts, reports, etc. E.g., a cyclone might be forming over Colorado, or an anti-cyclone might persist over Germany.

More: some definitions of Typhoons, Hurricanes and Cyclones.

Yesterday Cape Verde islands got hit by a hurricane. First time in over a hundred years I heard them report

In the vicinity of Cape Verde, Atlantic hurricanes travel east to west, and, since islands are fairly close to the coast of Africa, tropical storms rarely have time to reach hurricane status before they clear the islands.

It still happens from time to time. Tropical Storm Danielle passed within 200 miles from the islands in 2004. Jeanne passed even closer in 1998 at Category 1 strength. Yesterday's hurricane was unique because it went straight through the islands.

Folks,
That's interesting, I wonder what the tropical revolving thing was, that got me stuck there in the late 1970's. No aircraft in or out for about four/five days. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck ------.
I still have a nameboard from a sizable fishing boat that was smashed to firewood just near the hotel. My one souvenir of Portugal's first penal colony, a salt mine.
Tootle pip!!

Regardless of the reasons for the hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons...they are there and it looks like a wild ride.

Safe travels.

Storm Over Cape Verde.
 

That would be tropical Storm "Fred"! National Hurricane Center

The word word Typhoon originates from the Chinese meaning 'big wind'.

The increase in activity is probably due to...

"Current El Nino climate event 'among the strongest'"

Current El Nino climate event 'among the strongest' - BBC News

Originating after the emperor had too many szechuan (sichaun?) peppers on his spicy pork at the banquet ...

Amusing word choice!

(from Google)

https://s3.amazonaws.com/org.barkah....oon-origin.png

Interestingly, one of the 3 cyclones above -- now called Typhoon Kilo -- may become one of the longest living tropical cyclones:

http://i.imwx.com/images/maps/truvu/...us_485x273.jpg

http://www.weather.com/storms/hurric...ic-hawaii-2015

I have heard tales of brave crews overflying monsters like these and looking down into the eye, with little thought of engine failure drift down altitudes nor of depressurisation descents.

governs ... as in "presides over", not "controls" ;)