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Hurricanes What is a Hurricane? A hurricane is a big storm that forms over the ocean. Hurricanes form over warm parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. They form near the equator in the Tropical Zone. Due to modern warning systems, the number of deaths from hurricanes is now lowered.

Causes	Effects
Warm wet mass of air over the sea that begin to evaporate Water has to be 79 degrees or warmer Combined actions of air, water, and heat produce a huge spinning system of clouds rain and wind	Rain causes floods Thunderstorms are produced Wind smashes everything in its path The most dangerous part of a hurricane is the storm surge Wind causes ocean waves to rise over the land these waves can reach 30 feet in height

Types Of Hurricanes

Hurricanes are measured in 5 categories on the Saffir Simpson Scale

Category 1 Minimal Wind speeds of 74 - 95 MPH Category 2 Moderate Wind speeds of 96 - 110 MPH Category 3 Extensive Wind speeds of 111 - 130 MPH Category 4 Extreme Wind speeds of 131 - 155 MPH Category 5 Catastrophic Wind speeds of over 155 MPH

Top Ten Hurricane Disasters

Most Deaths	Most Damage
1900 Texas 8,000 dead 1928 Florida 1,836 dead 1919 Florida 600 dead 1938 New England 600 dead 1935 Florida 408 dead	ANDREW 1992 FL & LA $26.5 billion HUGO 1989 SC $7 billion FRAN 1996 NC $3.2 billion OPAL 1995 FL & AL $3 billion FREDERIC 1979 AL & MS $2.3 billion

 

Safety Tips...

• Listen to TV or radio for weather bulletins
• Board up garage and porch doors and stay away from windows
• Leave home if you might be affected by storm tide or flooding
• Follow evacuation routes to nearest shelter
• Turn off electricity and water
• Fill containers, including bathtub, with several days of drinking water
• Turn up refrigerator to maximum cold but don't open if not necessary
• Use phone only for emergencies

  Facts About Hurricanes Diameter of the eye can be 12 to 125 meters across Other names for a hurricane are cyclone and typhoon Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30 Names are chosen from an alphabetical list of alternating male and female names The National Weather Service started using men's names in 1979