Hurricanes and Winter Storms

Objectives:

1. Describe the formation and effects of hurricanes, and the measures taken to mitigate their damage.

2. Describe the weather conditions associated with mid-latitude lows during winter.

Key Terms:

hurricane storm surge Saffir-Simpson scale blizzard

Notes: (20.4)

The word hurricane conjures up images of blown down trees, flooding and mass destruction. Hurricanes are a seasonal events on the Eastern seaboard and in the tropics (5^o-20^o). The damage that they can create can completely devastate and destroy whole communities. They are characterized by strong sustained winds above 119km/hr and sustained rain.

Formation of a Hurricane(moving gif courtesy of www.nhc.noaa.gov)

Starts as a tropical depression over a large body of water - low created by moisture

As the humid air rises and condenses the pressure continues to drop in the center creating a counterclockwise rotating cloud mass

The cloud mass will continue to grow as long as there is a source of moisture

Wind speed

	1-61km/h = tropical depression
	61-119km/h = tropical storm
	119 & up = hurricane

Hurricanes will strengthen ONLY when the reside over warm water

weaken quickly over land

Hurricane Photo (www.tyndall.af.mil/ HURRICANE.jpg)

(www.9wusa.com/images/ w_hurricanenames.gif)

Last modified: January 09, 2004