Contrasting Behaviors between the Rapidly Intensifying and Slowly Intensifying Tropical Cyclones in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Basins

Abstract Based on 35-yr (1982–2016) best track and Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme data, this study examined climatology of rapidly intensifying (RI) slowly (SI) events as well their time evolutions storm-related environmental parameters for tropical cyclones (TCs) in both North Atlantic (AL) eastern Pacific (EP) basins. Major hurricanes were intensified mainly through RI while depression storms SI. The percentage TCs that underwent peaks the late hurricane season whereas SI early. For first literature, found have significantly different characteristics than before-, during-, after-event stages. In AL EP basins, always intensify faster during previous 12 h, are located farther south, warmer sea surface 200-hPa temperatures, greater ocean heat content, larger divergence, weaker vertical wind shear, westerly flow all event-relative basin, low-level midlevel relative humidity 850-hPa vorticity stages most EP. associated with more convectively unstable atmosphere away from maximum potential intensities