Summary
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.
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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Big Bertha now a Cat. 3 storm
Maryland WeatherThe National Hurricane Center says Bertha's top sustained winds have reached 115 mph, making it a 'major' Cat. 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity. If nothing else, this will be boosting the surf along the Altantic coast......Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Disasters, National Hurricane Center
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Hurricane Bertha weakens to Category 1 storm
The Associated PressForecasters say Hurricane Bertha has weakened to a Category 1 storm. As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, the center of the storm was about 580 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and about 840 miles southeast of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds decreased...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Disasters, Tropical Weather
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Hurricane Bertha weakens to Category 1 storm
Forecasters say Hurricane Bertha has weakened to a Category 1 storm. As of 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday, the center of the storm was about 620 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and about 900 miles southeast of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Disasters, Tropical Weather
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Bertha is back!
Maryland WeatherTropical Storm Bertha became a hurricane early today, spinning up with top sustained winds of 90 mph. It could become a Category 2 storm before the day is out. Bertha is still far out in the Atlantic, and no immediate......Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Tropical Storms, Disasters, Fells Point
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Hurricane Bertha Weakens To Category 1 Storm
Associated PressMIAMI -- Forecasters say Hurricane Bertha has weakened to a Category 1 storm. As of 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, the center of the storm was about 660 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and about 975 miles southeast of Bermuda. Maximum...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Disasters, Tropical Weather
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GOP: Don't blame manufacturers for toxic trailers
Associated Press WriterCompanies that make recreational vehicles should not be blamed for high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers, according to a report by House Republicans. The analysis instead points the finger at the federal government for not having standards for...Tags: Standards, Housing Industry, Lobbying, Meteorological Disasters, Hurricane Preparedness
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New tropical storm is born
Maryland WeatherTropical Storm Bertha, the second storm of the 2008 Atlantic season, was born this morning in the far eastern Atlantic, near the Cape Verde Islands. She sports top sustained winds of 40 mph and is tracking toward the west northwest......Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Tropical Storms
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Bermuda might be in path of hurricane
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Hurricane Bertha, now a Category 3 storm, is expected to turn in the direction of Bermuda, government forecasters said yesterday. The Atlantic season's first hurricane was centered about 695 miles east-northeast of the Northern...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Disasters, Tropical Weather
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Tropical-weather watch
Hurricane Bertha, now a Category 3 storm, is expected to turn in the direction of Bermuda, government forecasters said Monday. The Atlantic season's first hurricane was centered about 695 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands at 11 p.m....Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Natural Disasters, Disasters, Tropical Weather, Weather Watches
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Hurricane Bertha Weakens
The Associated PressForecasters say Hurricane Bertha has weakend to a category 2 hurricane and could continue to weaken over the next couple of days. As of 5 a.m. EDT Tuesday, the center of the storm was about 675 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Tropical Storms, Natural Disasters, Disasters, National Hurricane Center
Jul 8, 2008
|Blog| Baltimore Sun
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Jul 8, 2008
|Blog| Baltimore Sun
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Jul 7, 2008
|Blog| Baltimore Sun
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
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