Hurricanes

What Is A Hurricane?
Hurricanes are

intense tropical
cyclones with a
maximum
sustained
speed of at
least 65 knots
(74mph).

By Any Other Name

Hurricanes form in the

warm waters of the world.

In the Eastern Pacific they
are called typhoons.
In the Indian Ocean
theyre called cyclones.

By Any Other Name

They usually form from some

old low pressure system or

tropical wave.
If the wave develops
circulation and reaches winds
of 35knots( 39mph ) they are
tropical storms and named.

Physical Make-up
Hurricanes

have a
diameter of
less than 100
miles to over
500 miles.

Physical Make-up
They have a

more or less
circular eye
which may be
well defined in
stronger
storms.

Hurricane Power
Hurricanes

are ranked
on a 1-5
scale called
the SaffirSimpson
Scale.

Hurricane Power
A 1 would be a

minimal hurricane
with winds 74-95
mph.
A 5 is
catastrophic with
winds 155 mph+

Danger from
Hurricanes
In the US,

most people
that die from
hurricanes are
killed by fresh
water
flooding.

Danger from
Hurricanes
Worldwide,

most die
from the
storm surge.
Why would
that occur?

Storm Surge
To Answer that question lets
take a look at storm surge.

Think You Know Why?

In the US our
warning
system is so
good that
people along
the coast
know when
the storm is
coming.

Think You Know Why?

In many
parts of the
world
people may
not know to
leave.

Think Back!
Fresh water

flooding was
the number
one cause of
death in the
United States.

Do you

remember
from the
graph the
number two
cause of death
by hurricane
in the U.S.?

THE WIND!
Take a look

at this piece
of wood that
was driven
into the
palm tree.

THE WIND!
Flying

objects in
the wind
can be very
dangerous.

Here Are A Few Hurricane

Questions!

When is the

official
starting date
for the Atlantic
Hurricane
season?

Here Are A Few Hurricane

Questions!

What is the
last day of
the
hurricane
season?

THE ANSWER!

The Atlantic

Season begins
June 1st and ends
on November 30th.
BUT! Atlantic
hurricanes have
occurred in every
month but one!

During Which Month Do We

Have The Largest Number Of
Hurricanes?

On the average,

there are 10
named storms a
year. Historically,
September is the
month with the
most named
storms.

Hurricanes That Have

Impacted Our Area.

The Great Atlantic Hurricane of

1944

This storm had

reported
sustained winds
of 134mph at
the mouth of
the Chesapeake
Bay

Hurricane Hazel in 1954

Hurricane Hazel

caused a great
deal of damage
to the Tidewater
area with
sustained winds
in excess of
100mph.

Hurricane Camille in 1969

One of the Few

Category 5
storms to hit the
US.
113 died in
Virginia due to
the heavy rains
and flash floods.
Richmond was
flooded!

Hurricane Floyd in 1999

Hurricane Floyd
caused a great
deal of flooding
and power
outages from
fallen trees.
Notice the rain
bands.

Bonus Question!

What Two Things Will Kill Or

Weaken A Hurricane?
Think About The Things That
Are Needed For A Hurricane To
Form.

The Answer!

Cold Water AND

Land!

Now A Quick Review!

A hurricane must have a

sustained wind of at least ___

mph.
74

#2

Hurricanes are called _______

in the Eastern Pacific.
Typhoons

#3

What is the name of the

hurricane intensity scale?

Saffer-Simpson

#4

What aspect about hurricanes

kills the most people in the
U.S.?
Freshwater Flooding

#5

When does the Atlantic

Hurricane season officially

begin?
June 1st

The Last Question!

What Category 5 hurricane

killed over 100 people in

Virginia?
Camille