NORFOLK, Va. — Tropical cyclones can last anywhere from a day to even up to two weeks or longer, depending on a few factors.
The weaker a storm, like a tropical depression, could only last a day or two and fizzle out. If the storm survives and becomes a hurricane and even a major hurricane, those could last up to two weeks and even longer.
But what is the longest hurricane on record?
Hurricane John the farthest-traveled tropical cyclone
On Aug. 11, 1994, a tropical depression formed in the central Pacific, south of Mexico. Little did anyone know that this storm would become the longest-tracked cyclone on record.
Tropical Cyclone John trekked its way westward, becoming a tropical storm. Eventually, it strengthened into a category 1 hurricane and within three days, it grew into a major category 5 south of the Hawaiian Islands, with maximum wind speeds of 174 miles per hour.
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As John continued its journey, it eventually crossed the international date line, changing the cyclone's name from Hurricane John to Typhoon John.
Typhoon John slowly started to weaken after weeks of being in the open waters of the Pacific. Eventually, it weakened into a depression, and it started to look like the end.
It stalled for a couple of days, churning in the middle of the Pacific, before it started to move back towards the east.
Typhoon John once again crossed the international date line, changing the name once again back to Hurricane John, as it strengthened back into a category 1 storm.
Hurricane John started moving northeast, heading into cooler waters and an environment unsuitable for tropical development.
On Sept. 10, 1994, Tropical Cyclone John finally became extratropical about 1,000 miles south of the Aleutian Islands (Island chains of Alaska).
After a total of 30 calendar days of traveling through the Pacific Ocean, John was deemed the longest-traveled tropical cyclone on record, covering a total distance of 8,188 miles.
Though it had a long life, John only had minimal impacts on land, including the Hawaiian Islands. and the United States military base on Johnston Atoll. Eventually, the remnants affected Alaska.
What can we expect with 2024's hurricane season? Here's the prediction.
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season gets underway on June 1, and NOAA released its preseason outlook on how the season might play out.
Not surprisingly, NOAA is calling for a hyperactive season with the possibility of 17 to as many as 25 named storms in the basin, with eight to 13 becoming hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes; that’s Category 3 or greater.