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HURRICANES
WHAT IS A HURRICANE?
• CAN BE UP TO 1,000 MILES WIDE AND USUALLY LASTS OVER A
WEEK
• GATHER HEAT AND ENERGY THROUGH CONTACT WITH WARM
OCEAN WATERS
• THE CENTER OF THE STORM OR THE “EYE” IS THE CALMEST PART
HOW DO HURRICANES FORM?
1. WARM OCEAN WATER PROVIDES ENERGY FOR THE HURRICANE
AND CAUSES MORE EVAPORATION MAKING HUMID AIR AND
CLOUDS.
2. WINDS COMING TOGETHER FORCE AIR UPWARD
3. WINDS FLOW OUTWARD ABOVE THE STORM, ALLOWING THE AIR
BELOW TO RISE
4. HUMID AIR RISING MAKES THE CLOUDS OF THE STORM
5. LIGHT WINDS OUTSIDE THE HURRICANE STEER IT AND LET IT
GROW
WHAT IS A STORM SURGE?
• THE MOST DEVASTATING ELEMENT OF A HURRICANE
• CAUSES FLOODING ALONG THE COAST
• THE WATER PILES UP, UNABLE T ESCAPE ANYWHERE BUT
ON LAND AS THE STORM CARRIES IT LANDWARD
WHEN DOES HURRICANE SEASON START?
• ATLANTIC OCEAN- JUNE 1 TO NOVEMBER 30
• PACIFIC OCEAN- MAY 15 TO NOVEMBER 30
WHO NAMES HURRICANES?
• WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
• STARTING IN 1979, MEN’S AND WOMEN’S NAMES
ARE ALTERNATED
• IF A HURRICANE DOES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, ITS
NAME IS RETIRED AND REPLACED WITH ANOTHER
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HURRICANE
AND A TYPHOON?
• HURRICANES – FOUND IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,
GULF OF MEXICO AN EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN
• TYPHOONS- FOUND IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC
OCEAN
WHAT IS A TROPICAL STORM WATCH?
• TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WITH
SUSTAINED WINDS FROM 39-74 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE IN YOUR AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 36
HOURS
WHAT IS A TROPICAL STORM WARNING?
•TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED IN YOUR AREA WITHIN THE NEXT
24 HOURS
WHAT IS A HURRICANE WATCH?
•HURRICANE CONDITIONS WITH
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 74 MPH OR
GREATER ARE POSSIBLE IN YOUR AREA
WITHIN THE NEXT 36 HOURS
WHAT IS A HURRICANE WARNING?
•HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN
YOUR AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS
WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF A HURRICANE?
• TROPICAL WAVE
• TROPICAL DISTURBANCE
• TROPICAL CYCLONE
• TROPICAL DEPRESSION
• TROPICAL STORM
• HURRICANE
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SCALE USED TO MEASURE
HURRICANES?
•SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE