Hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone that forms over warm ocean waters near the equator. A hurricane’s strength is determined by the intensity of its winds, the size and direction of its eye (the calm center of the storm), and its resulting storm surge (a huge mound of sea water that’s pushed inland).
Hurricanes are massive natural disasters with far-reaching impacts that can last for years, especially in marginalized communities. They can damage or destroy buildings, uproot trees, and blow cars off the road. They can cause flooding, disrupt electrical systems, and leave thousands of people without power. They also affect human health by causing deaths and injuries, including those from flying debris.
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center predicts and tracks these massive storms, which occur 12 times a year in the Atlantic basin. They’re named using a six-year rotating list of letters, with male and female names alternately being used.
The most important ingredient in a hurricane is hot, moist air. This sucks up warm, saggy seawater from the surface, cools, and condenses into gusty clouds and stormy bands of rain and wind. The faster and deeper this process goes, the stronger a hurricane becomes.
The other critical ingredient is a lack of vertical wind shear, which reduces the speed and direction of rising air. Strong upper level wind shear blocks a hurricane’s formation by displacing warm temperatures and limiting vertical accent of air parcels. If there’s no wind shear, the storm has a much higher chance of reaching hurricane intensity.
About the Author
