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Article Series: Hurricanes
Hurricane Facts, Tips and Safety Protocols
The
Force of a Hurricane
Hurricanes, with their high winds, high seas, and flooding
can be one of nature’s most destructive elements. They
are powered by warm oceans and moved by trade winds. The high winds around their core generate violent seas
and when hurricanes move ashore, they sweep the ocean
inward, create tornadoes, produces torrential rain downpours,
cause floods, and destructive wind velocities. Hurricanes
begin as tropical storms over the warm moist waters of
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans near the Equator. As
the moisture evaporates, it rises until enormous amounts
of heated moist air are twisted high in the atmosphere.
The winds begin to circle counterclockwise north of the
Equator or clockwise south of the Equator.
The relatively peaceful center of the hurricane is called
the eye and around this center, winds move at speeds between
74 and 200 miles per hour. As long as the hurricane remains
over water of 79 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, it continues
to pull moisture from the surface and grow in size and force.
When a hurricane crosses land or cooler water, it loses it
source of power, and its winds gradually slow until they are
no longer of hurricane force, or of less than 74 miles per
hour.
Hurricanes over the Atlantic often begin near Africa, drift
west on the Trade Winds, and go north as they meet prevailing
winds that are coming eastward across North America. Hurricanes
over the Eastern Pacific start in the warm waters off of the
Central American and Mexican coasts. Eastern and Central Pacific
storms are called hurricanes. Storms that are to the west of
the International Date Line are called typhoons. Due to the
destructive force of hurricanes during the late summer and
early autumn, scientist constantly monitor them with satellites
to keep track of tropical storms, which might develop into
hurricanes.
Over the past several years, a warning system has provided
adequate time for people on the barrier islands and the immediate
coastline to move inland when hurricanes have threatened. However,
it is becoming more difficult to evacuate people from the barrier
islands and other coastal areas because roads have not kept
pace with the rapid population growth. 80 to 90 percent of
the population is also living in hurricane prone areas and
have never experienced the core of a major hurricane.
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone and is classified
as a tropical depression, tropical storm, or a hurricane. A
tropical depression is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms
with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38
miles per hour or less. A tropical storm is an organized system
of strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum
sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour. A hurricane is
an intense tropical weather system with a well-defined circulation
and maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher.
In the western Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons and
similar storms in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones.
Hurricanes are considered to be products of the tropical ocean
and atmosphere. Powered by heat from the sea, they are steered
by the easterly winds and the temperate westerly as well as
by their own energy. Winds around their core grow with very
velocity, generating violent seas. The ocean is swept inward
while spawning tornadoes and producing torrential rain and
floods. On average, ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic
Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico each year. Many of
these tropical storms remain over the ocean however; about
five hurricanes strike the United States coastline every three
years. Of these five, two will be major hurricanes. Major hurricanes
are listed as Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
scale.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2007
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