All the hurricane terms Houstonians need to know

With hurricane season approaching, KPRC 2 Hurricane Headquarters is here to help Houstonians power through the storms by providing our audience with everything they need to know, starting with terminology.

[RELATED: Tropical disturbance could get hurricane season off to an early start]

Hurricane Watch

An announcement that hurricane-force winds are possible the specified warning area within 48 hours.

Hurricane Warning

An announcement that hurricane-force winds are expected somewhere in the specified warning area within 36 hours.

Hurricane Advisory

A report issued from the National Hurricane Center that keeps the public informed of hurricanes through the duration of a hurricane’s life cycle. They are issued multiple times daily when a hurricane is active.

Hurricane

A tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico or Eastern Pacific Ocean with a maximum sustained surface wind of 74 mph (119 km/hr) or higher.

More weather terms to know

• The difference between tropical storm types and how they’re defined
• Understanding thunderstorms and weather terminology
• Flash Flood vs. Flood: How it’s defined and what you need to know
• Here are terms you need to know about tornados