HURRICANES Ingredients for a hurricane to form 1

HURRICANES

Ingredients for a hurricane to form: • 1. Water temperature 80°or more. • 2. Surface level low pressure L • 3. Upper level high pressure. H

So what would cause a hurricane to weaken? • If the hurricane moves into colder water. • If the hurricane moves over land.

Development 1. Tropical Wave: a large, unorganized area of rain. No symbol. 2. Tropical Depression: a storm spinning counterclockwise with winds <39 mph. – Symbol is: L

Development • Tropical Storm: a storm spinning counter clockwise with winds between 39 and 73 mph. • Symbol:

Development • Hurricane: a storm spinning counter clockwise with winds > 74 mph. • Symbol:

Parts of a hurricane

Parts of a hurricane • Eye – the calm, low pressure center of a hurricane. 5 -30 miles wide. • Eye wall – the dense wall of thunderstorms surrounding the eye. – The strongest and most intense part of a hurricane.

Parts of a hurricane • Rain bands – the spiral bands of clouds surrounding the eye wall. – The largest part of a hurricane

Storm Surge • Storm surge – large surge of water near the coast. • This causes the most damage!

Saffir Simpson Scale • The scale to measure hurricanes is call the Saffir Simpson Scale. • Category 1 is the weakest. • Category 5 is the strongest: winds > 157 mph. • Hurricane season is from June to October. • See the attached scale.

Saffir-Simpson Scale Wind Speeds

Saffir Simpson Scale

2012 Hurricane Names • • • Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk • • Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony • Valerie • William

Hurricane Katrina – 2005 Category 5 (hit U. S. as a category 4)

Only 3 Category 5 hurricanes have ever hit the United States. 1. 1935 Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane 2. 1969 Hurricane Camille 3. 1992 Hurricane Andrew