Hurricanes

Midlatitude Cyclones vs. Tropical Storms  Midlatitude Cyclones  Cover large area  Have cold fronts and warm fronts  Less violent (except for tornadoes!)  Tropical Storms  Concentrated over a small area  Do not have warm or cold fronts  More destructive

What is a hurricane?  A tropical storm that has wind speeds greater than 120 km/h that spiral inward towards an intense low pressure center  Develop over warm oceans

Steps in Hurricane Development  A cold air mass is located above a cluster of tropical storms  Warm, moist air over the ocean rises rapidly  Condensation occurs  Classified as a hurricane when the wind speed reaches 64 knots  A pronounced rotation develops

Anatomy of a Hurricane  The Eye  A region 20-50km wide found at the center of the hurricane. Low pressure center with clear skies and light winds  Eye Wall  Ring of cumulonimbus clouds that swirl around the eye. Contains the heaviest rains and winds of the storm  Spiral Rain Bands  Bands of showers that spiral inward towards center

Cyclones and Anticyclones

Tornadoes and Hurricanes

2005 – Category 5 Hurricanes - Wilma - Rita - Katrina