[ h u r r i c a n e s   :   w h a t ' s   a   h u r r i c a n e ? ]

There has been a hurricane in every year in the last five centuries. And each year has borne witness to at least one great hurricane. These huge storms begin in the tropics, over the oceans. When they form in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, or west of the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean, they are known as hurricanes, a Carib Indian word meaning “big wind.” When they begin east of the international dateline, they are called typhoons, from the Chinese for “great wind.” In the Indian Ocean, these storms are referred to as cyclones, based on the Greek word for “coil.” Locals also give these storms different names. In Australia, for example, residents call them willy-willies.

In tropical waters like the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, storms usually form in May and June. In the Atlantic Ocean, they usually form from July to October, often beginning off Africa’s west coast. The squalls build in power as they drift west.

There are about 100 storms spotted each year that could develop hurricane strength, about 10 of which become tropical storms. Only about 6 grow into full-force hurricanes, and only 2 strike the United States every year.

Hurricanes tend to travel in a northwest direction, but turn northeast after hitting land. Their path usually cuts from the equator to as far north as Canada, often covering thousands of miles over land and sea. The average hurricane lasts about nine days, towering ten miles high, with the most force during the storm’s first 12 hours onshore.

[ info ]: introduction - the legend - what's a hurricane? - hurricane names - hurricane wind - hurricane power - causes of hurricanes - the hurricane - prediction - preparation - prevention - in the future - references - glossary

[ reality ]: current events - case studies - ten worst - real life stories - interviews - quotations

[ interact ]: multimedia - simulations - classroom - activities - quizzes - message board - resources

[ general ]: about - win our award - awards we've won - guestbook - help - contact us - sitemap

[ forces ]: avalanches - droughts - earthquakes - flooding - fog & mist - forest fires - hurricanes - landslides - monsoons - phenomena - severe storms - snowstorms - tornadoes - tsunamis - volcanoes - windstorms - main page