Hurricanes

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, a large,

swirling storm with strong winds and lots of rain.
Tropical cyclones form over the warmest parts of
the ocean. They start when warm water heats the
air right above it. That makes the air less dense,
so it rises. Cooler air rushes in to fill the space left
by the rising air molecules and the process continues: The ocean heats the air; it rises; and more air
rushes in. This is what weather reports refer to as a low-pressure system. It can
be up to 600 miles across and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at
speeds of 75 to 200 mph. Each hurricane usually lasts for over a week, moving 10-
20 miles per hour over the open ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through
contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power.
Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye" in the Northern Hemisphere
and clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. The center of the storm or "eye" is the calmest part.
It has only light winds and fair weather. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and
large waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.

Its sort of like a big vacuum, sucking up air from all around it. The cool air wants to travel in a
straight line, but the spinning of the earth curves its path. The high winds kick up the ocean
causing big waves and rough seas. Meanwhile, in the center, warm air continues to rise adding
more and more energy to the system. The warm air carries water vapor with it, which condenses
into clouds and rain. As the system grows stronger, the low-pressure center becomes a well-
defined eye. Even though the strongest winds happen right around it, its always calm, sometimes
even sunny inside the eye.
The storm is now a tropical depression: a massive system of wind rotating around a column of low-
pressure air. The winds move the storm across the sea, and as long as its over warm water, it just
gets stronger and stronger. Once the winds reach 74 mph, its officially a category 1 Hurricane. The
strongest hurricanes are category 5, with winds over
157 mph! In other parts of the world, hurricanes are
called different things, like typhoon and cyclonic
storms, but theyre all basically the same thing.
Hurricanes start to run out of steam when they
hit colder waters or land. They end in a big old
downpour. But before theyre through, they can
cause serious damage. The winds can rip up
trees, destroy crops and houses, and push giant
waves called storm surges onto shore. That can
lead to heavy flooding, which is never a good
thing. Unfortunately, we cant stop these storms
from hitting land, but we can be prepared.
In the Atlantic hurricanes form from June
through November. During this hurricane season, weather scientist called meteorologists keep a
close eye on the ocean for signs of tropical depressions.

Using satellite imagery, they monitor the progress of these storms. Once a storm gets strong
enough, meteorologists give it a persons name. That makes it easier to communicate with other
scientist and the public about this particular storm. Meanwhile, computer simulations predict
what the storms path might be. Its an inexact science, but the prediction helps everyone prepare.
If you live somewhere that a hurricane might hit, the National Weather Service will issue a
hurricane watch for your area two days in advance. Once its
known for sure what the storms path will be, a Hurricane
warning is issued 36 hours in advance. Watches and warnings
give everyone plenty of time to get ready.
Your family can get together and make a storm plan. Agree on
a place to meet if you get separated during the storm, and write
down any phone numbers you may need. Put together disaster
kits, with things like food and water; a battery- operated radio;
a flashlight; and any medicines you might need. Be sure your family has a plan for evacuation in
case it comes to that. Dont forget to include your pets in your evacuation plans. Unless youre
ordered to evacuate, its best to stay inside your home during a hurricane! It may look like an
ordinary rainstorm out there, but the winds can quickly gust up and knock down trees, electric
lines, and other dangerous stuff.