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What is a
Hurricane?
A Hurricane is a rotating,
organized system of clouds
and thunderstorms that
forms over tropical waters
How do
Hurricanes
Form?
Hurricanes start out as Thunderstorms!
Hurricanes get their energy from the evaporation of warm ocean
water (80oF or warmer)
As warm air above the ocean surface rises, it creates an area of low
pressure. This rising air cools and condenses forming clouds.
Cooler air swirls in to replace the rising air, and as the system of
clouds and wind grows and spins faster and faster, an eye forms in
the center.
Saffir-Simpson Scale
Category
Pressure
(mb)
Winds
(knots)
Depression
TD
-----
< 34
< 39
Green
Tropical Storm
TS
-----
34-63 39-73
Yellow
Hurricane
> 980
64-82 74-95
4-5
Red
Hurricane
965-980
83-95 96-110
6-8
Light Red
Hurricane
945-965
96-112
111-130
9-12
Magenta
Hurricane
920-945
113-135
131-155
13-18
Light Magenta
Hurricane
< 920
>135
>155
>18
White
Winds Surge
(ft)
(mph)
Line Color
NOTE: Pressures are in millibars and winds are in knots where one knot is equal to 1.15
mph
Category
Pressure
(mb)
Winds
(knots)
Depression
TD
-----
< 34
< 39
Green
Tropical Storm
TS
-----
34-63 39-73
Yellow
Hurricane
> 980
64-82 74-95
4-5
Red
Hurricane
965-980
83-95 96-110
6-8
Light Red
Hurricane
945-965
96-112
111-130
9-12
Magenta
Hurricane
920-945
113-135
131-155
13-18
Light Magenta
Hurricane
< 920
>135
>155
>18
White
Winds Surge
(ft)
(mph)
Line Color
2014
Hurricane
Names: Is
YOUR
NAME on
the list?!