Hurricanes

Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise around the “eye”, an area of calm, clear air in the heart of a violent storm. The strongest part of a hurricane is the eyewall, the powerful cluster of thunderstorms that surround the eye. Hurricanes can spawn tornadoes within the bands of circulation. Lightning is rarely seen with hurricanes; only the worst in history ever did have it.

All hurricanes start out as a tropical depression, a disturbance in the ocean with winds of at least 25 mph and circulation. When the intensity strengthens and the winds strengthen beyond 39 mph, it is classified as a tropical storm and is given a name. Tropical storms are named according to the list in circulation. The National Weather Service creates a list of names for every six years. Each name alternates between a boy’s name and a girl’s name. The lists rotate over and over every six years. If there is a devastating hurricane that causes much loss of property or life or both, the name is removed from the list and a new name is put in to prevent bad memories, so there will never be another Hurricane Andrew or Hurricane Katrina.

As a tropical storm strengthens, it is bound to near land. A tropical storm watch means that a tropical storm will likely strike your area within 72 hours. A tropical storm warning means that you will feel tropical storm effects in the next 24-48 hours.

When a tropical storm’s winds reach 74 mph, it is classified as a hurricane. The strength of a hurricane is measured using the Saffir-Simpson scale.


The Saffir-Simpson Scale

Category 1 ~ 74-95 mph, 4-5 ft. storm surge
Category 2 ~ 96-110 mph, 6-8 ft. storm surge
Category 3 ~ 111-130 mph, 9-12 ft. storm surge
Category 4 ~ 131-155 mph, 13-18 ft. storm surge
Category 5 ~ 155+ mph, 18+ ft. storm surge

The storm surge is the most deadly part of a hurricane. Storm surge is the flooding that comes inland with a hurricane. The storm surge catches many people off guard. When a hurricane comes onto land, it is called a landfall. It is not considered a landfall until the eye of the hurricane comes onto land. Once a hurricane reaches land and travels inward, the warm ocean is gone and the storm loses energy.

The Atlantic Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes have happened in other months, though. The Pacific Hurricane season lasts from May 15 to November 30. In the Atlantic, peak hurricane action lasts from mid-August to mid-September.

Hurricanes are less dangerous than other storms because you can prepare in advance. If there is a mandatory evacuation order or if you don’t feel safe in your house, get out of there. If you are not told to evacuate, make a hurricane kit with extra medicines, clothes, special equipment, three gallons of water for each family member, and extra money. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions may be felt in your area in the next 72 hours. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions will be felt in the next 24-48 hours.

Hurricanes are called other things in other parts of the world.

Some other hurricane names

• Typhoons (NW Pacific Ocean)
• Severe Tropical Cyclones (SW Pacific Ocean)
• Severe Cyclonic Storm (N Indian Ocean)
• Tropical Cyclone (S Indian Ocean)
• Willy-willy (Australia)