What Is A 'Potential Tropical Cyclone' Exactly?

In recent hurricane seasons, you may have seen a system dubbed a “Potential Tropical Cyclone.”

And while it may seem like quite the meteorological mouthful, this designation could make your hurricane season even safer.

So, What Is A Potential Tropical Cyclone?

A potential tropical cyclone, or PTC, is a disturbance that has not yet developed into a tropical cyclone but poses the threat of bringing tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land areas within 72 hours.

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This allows watches and/or warnings to be issued with more lead time, creating a larger window for preparations and evacuations as needed.

If the terminology doesn’t ring a bell, it could be because the National Hurricane Center only began issuing advisories on potential tropical cyclones in 2017.

Prior to the 2025 season, the NHC could only designate a system as a potential tropical cyclone 48 hours in advance of potential land impacts.

But now, with the window extended an additional 24 hours - they are able to give people even more advance notice.

Breaking It Down

They are treated just like tropical depressions, named storms and hurricanes even though they haven't officially developed.

The NHC produces a forecast projected path and text products, including a full discussion and the forecast advisory every six hours and, given watches and warnings have been issued, intermediate advisories three hours after each forecast advisory.

It is worth noting though, that not all potential tropical cyclones become tropical depressions, tropical storms or hurricanes.

James Franklin, former branch chief of the hurricane specialist unit at the NHC, described the use of potential tropical cyclones as an option for the NHC that will allow for more emphasis on impacts.

This more recent addition breaks down some of the barriers between certain categories and the ability to warn the public about potentially deadly impacts, Franklin added.

Caitlin Kaiser graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with both an undergraduate and graduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences before starting her career as a digital meteorologist with weather.com.