1. IV. Hurricanes

2. A. Introduction 1. June-November is hurricane season 2. hurricane- massive rotating tropical storm with wind speeds of 119 kilometers per hour (74 mph) 3. Names in different parts of the world a. Hurricane- Northern Hemisphere in the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific (North America) b. Typhoon- Northern Hemisphere Pacific Ocean (Eastern Asia) c. Cyclone- Southern Hemisphere, Indian and Pacific Oceans (Australia, Africa and India)

4. B. How Hurricanes Form 1. Start off the coast of Africa as a Low Pressure System or tropical disturbance 2. Warm tropical water in the Atlantic evaporates (cools, condenses and creates clouds…a very LARGE MASS of clouds) 3. As Trade Winds push across the Atlantic storm picks up power and is upgraded

5. More about formation… 1. Tropical Depression- less than 39 mph (63 kph) 2. Tropical Storm- 39 mph- 73 mph (63 kph- 118 kph)- Storm is named 3. Hurricane Category 1- 74 mph or 119 kph minimum

6. C. Eye of the Hurricane 1. Eye- calm center of a hurricane 2. Eye wall- ring of clouds surrounding the eye making up the strongest part of the storm a. Strongest Winds b. Heaviest Rain

8. D. Hurricane Movement 1. Hurricanes usually last a week or longer 2. Pushed West by the easterly Trade Winds 3. Usually turns and is pushed East by the Prevailing Westerlies 4. Loss of Power- Away from warm, moist air a. Passes over land b. Moves into colder water

11. E. Hurricane Damage 1. High Waves caused by strong winds 2. Severe Flooding caused by heavy rain 3. Wind Damage 4. Storm Surge- a “dome” of water that sweeps across the coast a. high winds b. very low pressure

13. F. Hurricane Safety 1. Hurricane Watch- hurricane conditions are possible in your area within the next 36 hours (prepare to evacuate) 2. Hurricane Warning- hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours (evacuate the area immediately) 3. Evacuate- temporarily leave the area

15. G. Additional Information 1. Saffir-Simpson Scale- used to measure hurricanes based on wind speed and damage 2. Storm Size a. Storm can be several hundred miles across b. Eye would be less than 100 miles across