Mother Nature can do some pretty crazy things sometimes. Think about it. Tornadoes. Floods. Lightning. Thunder. Droughts. Hurricanes. These weather-related events can be unnerving and even deadly. Since we are in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June through November, let’s take a closer look and find out more about hurricanes.
There are several things that need to happen at the same time and place for a hurricane to form:
- Temperature. The ocean surface temperature needs to be 80 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.
- Wind. Weak vertical wind shear is important in hurricane formation, which means changing wind speed and direction.
- Moisture. A moist and unstable atmosphere helps set the stage for a hurricane.
- Location. The earth’s rotation helps start the spinning that forms hurricanes, which means hurricanes usually form near the equator.
Once all of these conditions are in place, add some big tropical waves like the kind found near North Africa, and the conditions are ripe for a hurricane!
Here are some interesting facts about hurricanes:
- A tropical wave (also known as a tropical disturbance) is an unorganized mass of thunderstorms with very little, if any, organized
wind circulation. These are vital in hurricane formation. - Once a tropical disturbance becomes more organized, it is called a tropical depression.
- When the wind speed in a tropical depression reaches 39 miles per hour, it is classified as a tropical storm.
- In the early 1950s, tropical storms were tracked by year and the order in which they occurred, but in 1953, the U.S.
started naming storms. - Storms were given female names until 1978, when male names were added to the list of storm names.
- The World Meteorological Organization is responsible for naming storms. For Atlantic storms, there is a list of names
that are rotated on a six-year basis. - Sometimes, if a storm causes a lot of damage, the name is retired to prevent confusion in the future.
- If there are more than 21 named storms in a year, the rest of the storms will be named after letters in the Greek alphabet.
- When a storm has winds of more than 74 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane or cyclone.
- There are five categories of hurricanes. Category One has winds of 74-95 miles per hour, category two has winds of 96-110
miles per hour, category three has winds of 111-130 miles per hour, category four has winds of 131-155 miles per hour and
category five has winds of 155 miles per hour or more.
Hurricanes are nature’s deadliest storms and can cause real damage. However, there are some things grown-ups can do to get prepared for a hurricane. Here is a link with tips and information about hurricanes and hurricane readiness: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
