 In a developing cyclone , the technique takes advantage of the fact that cyclones of similar intensity tend to have certain characteristic features , and as they strengthen , they tend to change in appearance in a predictable manner . The structure and organization of the tropical cyclone are tracked over 24 hours to determine if the storm has weakened , maintained its intensity , or strengthened . Various central cloud and banding features are compared with templates that show typical storm patterns and their associated intensity . If infrared satellite imagery is available for a cyclone with a visible eye pattern , then the technique utilizes the difference between the temperature of the warm eye and the surrounding cold cloud tops to determine intensity ( colder cloud tops generally indicate a more intense storm ) . In each case a " T @-@ number " ( an abbreviation for Tropical Number ) and a Current Intensity ( CI ) value are assigned to the storm . These measurements range between 1 ( minimum intensity ) and 8 ( maximum intensity ) . The T @-@ number and CI value are the same except for weakening storms , in which case the CI is higher . For weakening systems , the CI is held as the tropical cyclone intensity for 12 hours , though research from the National Hurricane Center indicates that six hours is more reasonable . The table at right shows the approximate surface wind speed and sea level pressure that corresponds to a given T @-@ number . The amount a tropical cyclone can change in strength per 24 ‑ hour period is limited to 2 @.@ 5 T @-@ numbers per day . 
 In a developing cyclone , the technique <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>takes</mark></a> advantage of the fact that cyclones of similar intensity tend to have certain characteristic features , and as they strengthen , they tend to change in appearance in a predictable manner . The structure and organization of the tropical cyclone are tracked over 24 hours to determine if the storm <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> weakened , maintained its intensity , or strengthened . Various central cloud and banding features are compared with templates <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>show typical storm patterns and their associated intensity . If infrared satellite imagery <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>is</mark></a>available for a cyclone with a visible eye pattern , then the technique <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>utilizes</mark></a> the difference between the temperature of the warm eye and the surrounding cold cloud <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>tops</mark></a> to determine intensity ( colder cloud tops generally indicate a more intense storm ) . In each case a " T @-@ number " ( an abbreviation for Tropical Number ) and a Current Intensity ( CI ) value are assigned to the storm . These measurements range between 1 ( minimum intensity ) and 8 ( maximum intensity ) . The T @-@ number and CI value <a href='drop_aux' title='7'><mark>are</mark></a>the same except for weakening storms , in which case the CI <a href='drop_aux' title='8'><mark>is</mark></a>higher . For weakening systems , the CI is held as the tropical cyclone intensity for 12 hours , though research from the National Hurricane Center <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>indicates</mark></a> that six hours is more reasonable . The table at right <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>shows</mark></a> the approximate surface wind speed and sea level pressure <a href='null_relcl' title='11'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>corresponds</mark></a> to a given T @-@ number . The amount a tropical cyclone can change in strength per 24 ‑ hour period is limited to 2 @.@ 5 T @-@ numbers per day . 
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