A tropical storm is a powerful spinning weather system that forms over warm ocean water near the equator. These storms develop when hot, humid air rises rapidly from the ocean's surface and begins rotating due to the Earth's spin. They bring heavy rain, strong winds (between 39 and 73 miles per hour), and rough seas.

Tropical storms are smaller and less intense than hurricanes, but they're still dangerous and can cause flooding, power outages, and damage to buildings. In fact, a tropical storm that keeps gathering strength over warm water can grow into a hurricane. Weather forecasters track these storms carefully and give each one a name (like Tropical Storm Alex or Tropical Storm Maria) so people can follow news reports and prepare if the storm heads toward land.

Different parts of the world use different names for similar storms: in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean, they're called tropical storms or hurricanes; in the Pacific near Asia, they're called typhoons; and near Australia and the Indian Ocean, they're called cyclones. But they're all the same type of powerful, spinning storm system. When you hear that a tropical storm is approaching, people often prepare for serious weather and follow safety instructions from local authorities.