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Hurricanes
Hurricanes Definition and Characteristics: A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. Hurricane winds blow in a large spiral around a relative calm center known as the "eye." The "eye" is generally 20 to 30 miles wide, and the storm may extend outward 400 miles. As a hurricane approaches, the skies will begin to darken and winds will grow in strength. As a hurricane nears land, it can bring torrential rains, high winds, and storm surges. A single hurricane can last for more than 2 weeks over open waters and can run a path across the entire length of the eastern seaboard. August and September are peak months during the hurricane season that lasts from June 1 through November 30.
Classifications:
Tropical Depression - An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.Tropical Storm - An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots).
Hurricane - An intense tropical weather system with a well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher.
Hurricane Threats
Winds - As winds increase, pressure against objects is added at a disproportionate rate. Pressure against a wall mounts with the square of wind speed so that a threefold increase in wind speed gives a nine-fold increase in pressure. These winds will weaken after landfall due to loss of warm-water energy source; and the encountering of great friction over land.Rainfall and Flooding - Heavy rains and ocean waters brought ashore by strong winds can cause flooding in excess of 50 cm (20 in) over a 24 hour period. During landfall, a hurricane rainfall of 10 to 15 inches or more is common. If the storm is large and moving slowly-less than 10 mph-the rainfall amounts from a well-organized storm are likely to be even more excessive. The heaviest rain usually occurs along the coastline, but sometimes there is a secondary maximum further inland. This heavy rain usually occurs slightly to the right of the storm track and usually occurs between 6 hours before and 6 hours after landfall. The amount of rain depends on the size of the storm, the forward speed and whether it interacts with a cold front. Interaction with a cold front will not only produce more tornadoes but more rainfall as well.
Storm Surge - Storm surge is an abnormal increase in the ocean's level, sometimes in excess of several meters high and miles wide. Over 6000 people were killed in the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, most by storm surge.
Tornadoes - Hurricanes also produce tornadoes, which add to the hurricane's destructive power. Typically, the more intense a hurricane is, the greater the tornado threat. The greatest concentration of tornadoes occurs in the right front quadrant of the hurricane. The strong damaging winds of the hurricane frequently cover the smaller tornado paths, making the separation of their damaging effects very difficult.
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