Hurricanes

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power.

Hurricanes need warm tropical oceans, moisture and light winds above them. If the right conditions last long enough, a hurricane can produce violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains and floods. In other regions of the world, these types of storms have different names.

Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye." Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars. The heavy waves are called a storm surge. Storm surges are very dangerous and a major reason why you MUST stay away from the ocean during a hurricane warning or hurricane.

Hurricanes can be divided into five categories, based on their wind speeds and potential to cause damage.

• Category One -- Winds 74-95 mph

• Category Two -- Winds 96-110 mph

• Category Three -- Winds 111-130 mph

• Category Four -- Winds 131-155 mph

• Category Five -- Winds greater than 155 mph

In the U.S., the official hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, but hurricanes can happen any time of the year. The National Weather Service names some hurricanes. The most disastrous past hurricanes have been named: Opal, Andrew, Marilyn, Hugo and Fran.

One of the biggest and most devastating hurricanes was a category five hurricane named