- Like did you know that hurricanes typically last for a whole week?
These horrific hurricane facts may surprise you. Do you think you know all the facts on this list?
- Hurricane strength is defined according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale:
- Category 1 Hurricane: Wind speeds from 74 miles per hour to 95 miles per
hour. - Category 2 Hurricane: Wind speeds from 96 miles per hour to 110 miles per hour.
- Category 3 Hurricane: Wind speeds from 111 miles per hour to 129 miles per hour.
- Category 4 Hurricane: Wind speeds from 130 miles per hour to 156 miles per hour.
- Category 5 Hurricane: Wind speeds from over 157 miles per hour.
- Hurricanes are giant tropical storms, also called tropical cyclones.
- The word hurricane comes from the Taino Native American word ‘Huracan’. This is the God of wind, storm, and fire who was worshiped by the Mayans.
- The Mayan word “hurucane” meant “evil spirit of the wind”.
- Hurricanes are created when warm, moist air forms above the ocean surface and rises, therefore the air around it gets sucked in. The same process happens to this “new” air and creates a cycle that forms clouds. The clouds then rotate with the spin of the Earth and with enough warm water to feed it, a hurricane is born. Do you think this is the worst of the horrific hurricane facts?
- An average of 10 tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Carribean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico every year.
- Around 6 tropical storms a year turn into full blown hurricanes.
- A tropical storm is considered a hurricane when its wind speeds are 74 mph or more.
- Hurricanes come with heavy rain and powerful winds.
- Hurricanes kill approximately 50 to 100 people in the United States every 3 years or so.
- Hurricanes usually form in tropical parts of the world around the earth’s equator including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
- The winds of a hurricane can reach up to 200 miles per hour.
- Mid-September is considered the peak of the hurricane season.
- Hurricanes can occur outside of the hurricane season.
- The three parts of a hurricane are the eye, the eye wall and rain bands.
- The “eye” is the center of the hurricane and usually the hurricane will rotate
around the “eye“. - The eye of the hurricane is the safest part of the hurricane, generally with calm winds and no clouds.
- The eye of a hurricane can be anywhere from 2 miles in diameter to over 200 miles, however they’re usually around 30 miles wide.
- The eye wall of a hurricane surrounds the eye and is the most dangerous part of the hurricane. There are harsh winds, thick clouds and heavy amounts of rain. Do you think this is bad enough to be on the list of horrific hurricane facts?
- There are rainbands along the outer part of the hurricane that spin with it and the rain that falls is so heavy it can cause floods.
- Most hurricanes happen in the warm ocean waters, making them harmless.
- A hurricane usually lasts for over a week, moving 10-20 miles per hour over the open ocean.
- When a hurricane hits the land, it causes the hurricane to weaken and slow down because without the moisture from the sea.
So what did you think about these horrific hurricane facts? Tell me all about it in the comments!