Highlights
Hurricanes are nature's most powerful storms, bred out of heat, moisture and intense low pressure. Serving as a heat-release valve in the Earth's atmosphere, hurricanes can be as expansive as 600 miles in diameter, build to a height of more than 50,000 feet into the sky and pack sustained winds of up to 185 mph. In the Northern Hemisphere, they always swirl counterclockwise. To give the public a reading on their power and potential for destruction, hurricanes are classified into five categories under the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The scale is based on maximum sustained winds: Category 1: 74 to 95 mph; Category 2: 96-110 mph; Category 3: 111-130 mph; Category 4: 131-155 mph; Category 5: More than...
Hurricanes are nature's most powerful storms, bred out of heat, moisture and intense low pressure. Serving as a heat-release valve in the Earth's atmosphere, hurricanes can be as expansive as 600 miles in diameter, build to a height of more than 50,000 feet into the sky and pack sustained winds of up to 185 mph. In the Northern Hemisphere, they always swirl counterclockwise. To give the public a reading on their power and potential for destruction, hurricanes are classified into five categories under the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The scale is based on maximum sustained winds: Category 1: 74 to 95 mph; Category 2: 96-110 mph; Category 3: 111-130 mph; Category 4: 131-155 mph; Category 5: More than 155 mph.
When a hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 it is considered a major - or intense - hurricane. Since 1925, hurricanes have caused almost $5 billion in damage per year on average in the United States. Major hurricanes account for more than 80 percent of the damage and strike the United States every 1.3 years on average.
Storm surge, a steady rise of sea waters above tide levels, is the most deadly aspect of hurricanes, as it can result in severe flooding and battering waves. Inland flooding also has proven to be a prolific killer. Yet, many people die in the aftermath of storms from downed electrical wires, water-covered ditches or falling objects such as trees.
Some of the most deadly U.S. hurricanes include:
-- The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 hit Galveston, Texas on Sept. 8, 1900 as a Category 4 system with an estimated death toll between 8,000 and 12,000;
-- The Great Florida Hurricane of 1928 hit near West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 16, 1928 as a Category 4 with an estimated death toll of about 2,500, most of those around Lake Okeechobee;
-- And Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005 as a Category 3 and was estimated to kill more than 1,800 in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.
Florida is the most hurricane vulnerable state in the nation. Since 1900, 67 hurricanes have struck the state, 29 of them major. Texas is closest behind with 40 hurricanes, 17 major.
Scientists say hurricane activity rises and falls based on a natural cycle of warm waters ebbing and flowing into the tropical regions where hurricanes frequently are spawned. These cycles, or eras, can last 20 to 30 years. However, in recent years, a growing number of scientists say global warming has increased the number of major hurricanes each year, as well as increased their intensity.
The storm seasons spanning 1995-2005 comprised the most active 10 consecutive hurricane years on record. Hurricanes are born out of low-pressure areas called tropical waves. In the Atlantic basin, these waves are frequently created by the heat of the North African desert. The waves feed off warm ocean waters. Thunderstorms develop and a low-pressure center forms.
When the thunderstorm activity forms a closed circulation around a low-pressure center, the system is deemed to be a tropical depression. When the sustained winds reach 39 mph, the system becomes a tropical storm. When those winds reach 74 mph, it becomes a hurricane.
The strongest winds of a hurricane are usually found near the eye wall, or the circle of clouds around the center. The eye can be 10 to 30 miles in diameter. Generally, the stronger the hurricane, the smaller the eye.
While hurricanes most commonly form between June and November, the most powerful hurricanes are spawned near the Cape Verde Islands between mid August and the end of September. Officially, the hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.
When a hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 it is considered a major - or intense - hurricane. Since 1925, hurricanes have caused almost $5 billion in damage per year on average in the United States. Major hurricanes account for more than 80 percent of the damage and strike the United States every 1.3 years on average.
Storm surge, a steady rise of sea waters above tide levels, is the most deadly aspect of hurricanes, as it can result in severe flooding and battering waves. Inland flooding also has proven to be a prolific killer. Yet, many people die in the aftermath of storms from downed electrical wires, water-covered ditches or falling objects such as trees.
Some of the most deadly U.S. hurricanes include:
-- The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 hit Galveston, Texas on Sept. 8, 1900 as a Category 4 system with an estimated death toll between 8,000 and 12,000;
-- The Great Florida Hurricane of 1928 hit near West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 16, 1928 as a Category 4 with an estimated death toll of about 2,500, most of those around Lake Okeechobee;
-- And Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005 as a Category 3 and was estimated to kill more than 1,800 in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.
Florida is the most hurricane vulnerable state in the nation. Since 1900, 67 hurricanes have struck the state, 29 of them major. Texas is closest behind with 40 hurricanes, 17 major.
Scientists say hurricane activity rises and falls based on a natural cycle of warm waters ebbing and flowing into the tropical regions where hurricanes frequently are spawned. These cycles, or eras, can last 20 to 30 years. However, in recent years, a growing number of scientists say global warming has increased the number of major hurricanes each year, as well as increased their intensity.
The storm seasons spanning 1995-2005 comprised the most active 10 consecutive hurricane years on record. Hurricanes are born out of low-pressure areas called tropical waves. In the Atlantic basin, these waves are frequently created by the heat of the North African desert. The waves feed off warm ocean waters. Thunderstorms develop and a low-pressure center forms.
When the thunderstorm activity forms a closed circulation around a low-pressure center, the system is deemed to be a tropical depression. When the sustained winds reach 39 mph, the system becomes a tropical storm. When those winds reach 74 mph, it becomes a hurricane.
The strongest winds of a hurricane are usually found near the eye wall, or the circle of clouds around the center. The eye can be 10 to 30 miles in diameter. Generally, the stronger the hurricane, the smaller the eye.
While hurricanes most commonly form between June and November, the most powerful hurricanes are spawned near the Cape Verde Islands between mid August and the end of September. Officially, the hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.
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Gustav will be "large, powerful" hurricane
Maryland WeatherTropical Storm Gustav is expected to grow and intensify rapidly today as it pulls away from the island of Jamaica and heads for the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say they're not sure yet precisely where......Tags: National Hurricane Center, Meteorological Disasters, Tropical Storms, NASA, Disasters
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ASK TOM WHY
Dear Tom, Has a Gulf of Mexico hurricane ever crossed Mexico and entered the Pacific? If it did would it keep the same name? —Charles Schmitz, Burbank Dear Charles, It doesn't happen often, but since the advent of weather satellites in the...Tags: Natural Disasters, Meteorological Disasters, Tropical Storms, Disasters
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Storm Center column keeps you up to date, and breaks down what it means to you
Tropical Storm Hanna appears in need of a therapist. She seems lost and disoriented. She might even do a loop out in the Atlantic. Not something your average therapist has to deal with, I'm guessing. Fact is, Hanna's is a tricky forecast because it is...Tags: Natural Disasters, National Hurricane Center, Meteorological Disasters, Tropical Weather, Tropical Storms
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Katrina's Unclaimed Dead Entombed
Associated PressAt 9:38 a.m. on Friday, about 200 mourners rang handbells to mark the moment three years ago when New Orleans' levees were breached by high waters from Hurricane Katrina, flooding most of the city and leading to the deaths of about 1,600 people. Eighty-...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Hurricane Preparedness, Disasters, Hurricane Gustav, Natural Disasters
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On this day in history
On Aug. 30, 30 B.C., by some estimates, the seventh and most famous queen of ancient Egypt known as Cleopatra committed suicide. In 1797 Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author of "Frankenstein," was born in London. In 1862 Union forces were defeated by...Tags: Government, National Government, Meteorological Disasters, NBC, Dodi Fayed
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College move-in day feels like a hurricane
The stress levels were already elevated when we got in the car. Our departure followed a hectic week dealing with Tropical Storm Fay's thrills — driving in high winds across a causeway in a car that weighs about 4 pounds, watching floodwaters inch...Tags: Vehicles, Meteorological Disasters, Colleges and Universities, Tropical Storms, Disasters
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Obama's speech turns on nation's television viewers
Barack Obama's audience for his acceptance speech likely topped 40 million people, and the Democratic gathering that nominated him was a more popular television event than any other political convention in history. More people watched Obama speak from...Tags: National Government, Government, Meteorological Disasters, Super Bowl, New York Giants
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Gustav Could Test Gulf's Rebuilt Oil Facilities
Associated PressStronger moorings for production platforms. Deeper pipelines. Larger supplies of backup electricity, water and other supplies. The petroleum industry has spent vast amounts of time and money since the catastrophic hurricanes of 2005 trying to make sure...Tags: Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Meteorological Disasters, Natural Resources, Weather Statistics, Heavy Engineering
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Gustav, A Hurricane Again, Nears Caymans, Cuba
McClatchy NewspapersTropical Storm Gustav is Hurricane Gustav again after the system got bigger and intensified Friday as it rolled toward the Cayman Islands and Cuba. Jamaican officials confirmed four fatalities in that country, and the death toll continued to mount in...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Energy Saving, Seven Mile Bridge, Tropical Storms, Society
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Beware donation rip-offs after disasters
South Florida Sun-SentinelYou've heard the pleas for help after a natural disaster and millions of Americans are moved to donate because it's the right thing to do. But law enforcement officials warn you to be skeptical of anyone soliciting for charitable donations — by...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Delray Beach, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana University, Miramar
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Gustav strengthens to hurricane
Associated PressNEW ORLEANS — On the same day that residents here marked the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's wrath, another storm strengthened into a hurricane miles away and threatened to hit the Gulf Coast once again. Forecasters at the National...Tags: Government, National Hurricane Center, Meteorological Disasters, Heads of State, Society
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Hurricane Gustav Plows Through Cayman Islands
Associated Press— Hurricane Gustav plowed through the Cayman Islands toward Cuba, gathering strength on a journey that could take it to the U.S. Gulf Coast as a fearsome Category-3 storm three years after Hurricane Katrina. Gustav, which killed 71 people in the...Tags: Government, National Hurricane Center, Meteorological Disasters, Natural Resources, Heads of State
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