Hurricanes are large, spiraling tropical storms that can pack wind speeds of over 160 mph and unleash more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day. The man who first gave names to hurricanes was an Australian weather forecaster named C. Wragge in the early 1900s.
Valuable Facts About Hurricanes
- The deadliest U.S. hurricane on record was a Category 4 storm that hit the island city of Galveston, Texas, on
Sept. 8, 1900. Some 8,000 people lost their lives when the island was destroyed by 15-ft waves and 130-mph winds. - When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds, and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees, and cars. The heavy waves are called a storm surge.
- Every second, a large hurricane releases the energy of 10 atomic bombs.
- Hurricane season is from June to November when the seas are at their warmest and most humid, which are ripe conditions for a hurricane to develop.
- The planet Jupiter has a hurricane which has been going on for over 300 years. It can be seen as a red spot on the planet. This hurricane on Jupiter is bigger than the Earth itself.
- The first time anyone flew into a hurricane happened in 1943 in the middle of World War II.
- Hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean are known as typhoons.
- Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters.
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Category of Sustained Winds
Hurricanes are classified into five categories, based on their wind speeds and potential to cause damage.
One—Winds 74-95 miles per hour
Two—Winds 96-110 miles per hour
Three—Winds 111-130 miles per hour
Four—Winds 131-155 miles per hour
Five—Winds greater than 155 miles per hour
Few More Facts About Hurricanes
- Hurricanes are named by the National Weather Service. Some recent hurricanes have been named Opal, Andrew, Marilyn, Hugo, and Fran.
- Christopher Columbus wrote the first known report of a hurricane in 1495.
- Hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere spin in a clockwise direction. Hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere turns counterclockwise.
- Hurricane never form at the equator because they need the Coriolis Force, which is very weak at the equator, to spin.
- Hurricane names from six alphabetical lists, each alternating male and female names.
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