[WeatherOp]

What is it with all the cat 5 hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons these past couple of years?

Get used to it....water is warmer thus bigger storms are brewing.  I wonder if they would consider adding another level of intensity if we start to see some truly incredible storms.  Last years hurricane season was off the charts for number of storms and the length of the season (one tropical storm formed almost 30 days after the season was over).  They are saying that this year is due to be just as bad...either in number of storms or in overal intensity (maybe less storms but more reaching a powerful status).

Regardless of the reason for climate change...it is changing.  Just look at the snowless winter in Southern Ontario.  This has never happened...ever.

Also, check out there has not been a F5 tornado in the CONUS for the past 7 years. That breaks a record for the longest drought since the 1950s.

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

This is what a hurricane looks like when it gets hit by sheer and sucks in dry air from a large landmass.

[Grug]

Don't you mean cyclone?
Or you comparing it to one?

at Flip.

[WeatherOp]

A cyclone can mean many things, but at it's core, it means a Low pressure system, as a High pressure system would be termed an Anti-cyclone since it is oppisite and spins the other direction.

But, a Tropical Cyclone, a hurrricane, a Typhoon, are all in all the same thing, just different names for different parts of the world. But, one thing that is different is that your Cyclones whether tropical or not, spin Clockwise, mine spin Anti-clockwise due to the Northern Hemisphere.

[IceFire]

What is it with all the cat 5 hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons these past couple of years?

Get used to it....water is warmer thus bigger storms are brewing.  I wonder if they would consider adding another level of intensity if we start to see some truly incredible storms.  Last years hurricane season was off the charts for number of storms and the length of the season (one tropical storm formed almost 30 days after the season was over).  They are saying that this year is due to be just as bad...either in number of storms or in overal intensity (maybe less storms but more reaching a powerful status).

Regardless of the reason for climate change...it is changing.  Just look at the snowless winter in Southern Ontario.  This has never happened...ever.

Also, check out there has not been a F5 tornado in the CONUS for the past 7 years. That breaks a record for the longest drought since the 1950s.

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

This is what a hurricane looks like when it gets hit by sheer and sucks in dry air from a large landmass.

Yeah I was wondering what happened to the F5's...

Thats some pretty impressive imagery.  Plenty of powerful low pressure systems about from the looks of it.  Or at least of frontal boundaries out in the Pacific.  Lots of moisture and power in those from the looks of it.  The shear on the storm itself is really impressive.

[Grug]

A cyclone can mean many things, but at it's core, it means a Low pressure system, as a High pressure system would be termed an Anti-cyclone since it is oppisite and spins the other direction.

But, a Tropical Cyclone, a hurrricane, a Typhoon, are all in all the same thing, just different names for different parts of the world. But, one thing that is different is that your Cyclones whether tropical or not, spin Clockwise, mine spin Anti-clockwise due to the Northern Hemisphere.

Well as far as I know, everyone under the equator calls them cyclones, and if they are above the equator they are called Hurricanes.
I've never once heard a cyclone under the equator called a Hurricane.
That's what we were taught in school too.

Edit: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18611944-2,00.html

[WeatherOp]

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

This is what a hurricane looks like when it gets hit by sheer and sucks in dry air from a large landmass.

Well taking another look, it's clear to see what shreaded it, note the large Upper Level Low over the mainland, and a perfect shot of the Jetstream itself. That cyclone had no chance and has been reduced to a low level swirl, and as long as that is parked over the mainland like that, it's a pretty good bet there will not be any more to worry about soon.

[Grug]

Still of cleaning up to do up North. Sounds like they are doing better, they just got the power back on in most places and the government is offering a bit of a package to the survivors, though it could be better. Hundreds of volunteers have been flown up there to help out in the rebuilding which is good. It's nice to know some of the old Aussie spirit is still there.