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Content: Hurricanes
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Hurricanes And Their Damage
Each year an average of ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Many of these remain over the ocean, with approximately six of these storms becoming hurricanes each year. In an average 3-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the United States coastline, anywhere from Texas to Maine, also affecting the lower eastern coastline of Canada. Whether you live on the coast, have a condo in the Florida panhandle or are vacationing in the warm tropics of the Caribbean, hurricanes pose an enormous threat to humans and their habitat. The magnitude of these storms can devastate towns, ripping buildings apart and causing disastrous flooding hundreds of miles inland. What Is A Hurricane? Tropical cyclones, which are simply low-pressure systems that have developed over tropical or sub-tropical waters, are the starting point for a hurricane. When winds of a tropical storm (39-73 mph) reach a constant speed of 74 mph or greater the storm can then be classified as a hurricane. Typically, the season for the Atlantic Basin (Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico) runs from June 1 to November 30, with hurricanes ranging up to 400 miles in diameter. The term hurricane is adapted to any such storm occurring in the North Atlantic, but be aware that in other parts of the world they are referred to as typhoons and severe tropical cyclones.