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Birth of a hurricane: What meteorologists look for as they hunt for early signs of a tropical cyclone forming

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When tropical meteorologists peer at satellite images, they often catch sight of subtle cloud formations hinting at something more ominous brewing.

The first signs of a potential hurricane can be detected days before a storm gains its fierce momentum. Wispy cirrus clouds radiating outward, the appearance of curved banding low-level clouds and a drop in atmospheric pressure are all clues.

These early clues are crucial for predicting the onset of what might develop into a catastrophic hurricane.

Related: Hurricane season 2024: How long it lasts and what to expect

I am a meteorology professor at Penn State, and my research group uses satellites and computer models to improve forecasting of tropical weather systems. With an especially fierce Atlantic storm season forecast for 2024, being able to detect these initial signals and provide early warnings is more important than ever. Here's what forecasters look for.

Conditions ripe for a hurricane

Hurricanes typically start as atmospheric tropical waves, areas of low pressure associated with clusters of thunderstorms. As these tropical waves move westward across tropical oceans, some of them can develop into hurricanes.

The formation of a hurricane hinges on several specific conditions:

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