A hurricane is formed in the ocean close to the equator but not on the equator. The winds spin around a calm area called an eye. The eye can be up to 20 miles wide. A wall of warm air moves upward in a circular motion which can produce damaging winds up to 250 miles per hour that forms around the eye. The smaller the eye the greater the wind.
A hurricane can last up to 14 days and travel over 4,000 miles.
A hurricane must have heat and moisture. The surface of the ocean most be greater than 80º F and the winds must be equal in speed and direction in the upper and lower elevations.
Eye of the storm
Hurricanes over the Caribbean
An nfrared
image of Southeastern U.S. Coast, 5/4 (NOAA)
Picture by Biddy Cox
Near total loss of canopy as a result of Hurricane Andrew.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)