Weather Words: Fish Storm

A "fish storm" is a lighthearted, unofficial term used by meteorologists to describe a tropical system that stays out at sea and doesn’t make landfall. Essentially, these storms only directly affect marine life, hence the "fish" nickname, but they’re still closely monitored because of their indirect impacts on coastal areas.

Even when a fish storm remains hundreds of miles offshore, it can generate large swells, strong rip currents and rough surf along beaches far from the storm’s center. Surfers, swimmers and coastal communities need to stay aware because the effects of these storms can reach land long before (or even without) the storm itself making an appearance.

While the term may sound whimsical, it highlights an important aspect of tropical weather: Not all storms hit land, but they can still influence ocean conditions, shoreline hazards and marine ecosystems. So when meteorologists mention a “fish storm,” remember that even the storms that stay over the open water can still have far-reaching consequences.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.