Learn the lingo: Hurricane season has started

There are lots of different words to describe aspects of a tropical system. Let's break some of those down.

The centre of the storm, but also the calmest part. If you are in the eye, you can see the stadium effect -- where the clouds stack up. Looking up from the ground, you may be able to see the blue sky or even some stars if it's night-time.

The most dangerous portion of the storm. This is the only area where you will find the winds that are the "strength" of the hurricane or maximum sustained winds. Winds in this area are measured by sondes, or by satellites if the storm is far away.

Hurricane-force winds weaken the farther you move away from the eye. In just a few kilometres, you can drop a whole category. The WindRadar is an excellent tool for observing wind speeds within and around a hurricane or tropical storm.

Tropical-storm-force winds can be felt hundreds of km away from the hurricane's centre. These winds are still dangerous, but are not the worst of the storm. They usually don't stretch as far as the outer edge of the clouds.

We often hear of a difference between a hurricane "watch" and "warning." Think of it as if you were cooking: A watch is when you have all the ingredients, while a warning is when the dish is ready.

A watch means that conditions are possible in the area within 48 hours. A warning is issued when the threat is imminent and is usually active when the conditions are expected to worsen within the next 24 to 36 hours.