Hurricanes

Extreme Weather: Hurricanes

Hurricanes: Hurricanes form over the equator when warm Saharan air off the African coast mixes with the cooler Atlantic Ocean air. As the warm air rises, it cools, forming clouds, which start to rotate. An eye forms in the center as the storm rotates faster. At this point, this storm is not yet a hurricane. When the winds reach up to 39 mph, it is a tropical storm. 74 mph winds or greater mean that the storm is officially a hurricane. The hurricane classification system, the Saffir-Simpson scale, is shown below. In the Atlantic Ocean, these storms are called hurricanes; in the Pacific, they are called typhoons; in the Indian Ocean, they are called cyclones. Either way, these massive storms are regarded as the most destructive because they are so big. Hurricanes are named alphabetically once they reach status as a tropical storm. Here is the list for hurricane names in 2012: Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William