Tropical Storm Ioke: Natural Hazards

Tropical Storm Ioke looks more like a worn-out typhoon than a tropical storm in satellite imagery obtained on September 4, 2006. Appearances do not deceive in this instance. Ioke rose all the way to hurricane strength in less than 24 hours after forming on August 19. Ioke has since also performed another unusual trick, crossing the International Date Line on August 27, which by convention means the tropical cyclone was then called a typhoon instead of a hurricane. Technically, it became a super typhoon (a term used for typhoons with sustained winds over 240 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour)) on August 24, but retained the title of hurricane until it crossed into the typhoon region. With warm seas under it, little wind shear to tear it apart, and no significant land in its way, Super Typhoon Ioke managed to traverse most of the world's largest ocean, only gradually running down as it approached Japan, thousands of kilometers from its formation point.