Hurricane

A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that reach a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. Hurricane winds blow in a huge spiral around a calm center called the eye. The eye can be 20 to 30 miles wide and the storm can extend outward 400 miles. Warning signs of an approaching hurricane are a darkened sky with winds that begin to grow in strength. As a hurricane gets closer to land it can bring torrential rains, high winds and storm surges. A hurricane can last up to two weeks over open water. August and September are the peak months of hurricane season, but hurricane season actually starts June 1 and goes to November 30. On the average, 10 tropical cyclones develop in the North Atlantic each year and of these 10, maybe 6 will strengthen to hurricane proportion and two are likely to strike the coast of the United States. Hurricane winds in the Northern Hemisphere circulate in a counterclockwise motion around the eye. Hurricanes in the Southern Hemisphere circulate in a clockwise motion.

• Approaching hurricanes bring torrential rains, high winds and storm surges.
• Peak months for hurricanes are August and September.
• Hurricane winds blow in a circular motion around the calm eye.
• The eye can be 20 to 30 mile wide.