Download Hurricanes - Bailey Station Elementary

February 5, 2015
HURRICANEMONTHLY
Hurricane
Sandy was
one of the
largest
hurricanes
to ever hit
the United
States. This
hurricane
caused over
$60 billion
in damage
and killed
over a
hundred
people. !
!!
!!
Hurricanes: Cause and Effect
By Noah
A hurricane is a powerful
and dangerous swirling storm that
forms on warm seas. These huge
storms can cause billions of dollars
of damage and many deaths. A
storm is classified a hurricane when
its winds reach 74 miles an hour.
In general, hurricanes form
in the summer and early fall around
the equator. Hurricanes never
happen in the far north or south
because they need the energy in the
warm seas to form a hurricane.
These hurricanes also seldom
happen in the winter or spring,
because the average water
temperatures are lower.
1
Hurricanes are low
pressure areas that form over warm
waters. Low pressure areas form in
very warm air masses. Usually, wind
blows apart these low pressure
areas and nothing happens.
However, when there is no wind,
these areas grow and increase in
temperature. The low pressure
system creates its own wind, which
begins swirling into the center of the
system. This causes the water to
turn into water vapor. Water vapor is
what creates clouds, rain, and snow.
The water vapor creates heat and is
what gives force to hurricane.
The center of a hurricane is
called the eye. The eye is calm
because cold air is coming down
through the top. When the cold air
meets the warm air of the storm,
they cancel each other out. In the
eye, it is as if there is no storm at all.
Winds and rain are heaviest just
outside the eye, where thunderstorm
clouds form.
Recent Hurricanes
Hurricane Sandy 2012
Hurricane Irene 2011
Hurricane Ike 2008
Hurricane Katrina 2005