Highlights
Hurricanes are nature's most powerful storms, bred out of heat, moisture and intense low pressure. Serving as a heat-release valve in the Earth's atmosphere, hurricanes can be as expansive as 600 miles in diameter, build to a height of more than 50,000 feet into the sky and pack sustained winds of up to 185 mph. In the Northern Hemisphere, they always swirl counterclockwise. To give the public a reading on their power and potential for destruction, hurricanes are classified into five categories under the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The scale is based on maximum sustained winds: Category 1: 74 to 95 mph; Category 2: 96-110 mph; Category 3: 111-130 mph; Category 4: 131-155 mph; Category 5: More than...
Hurricanes are nature's most powerful storms, bred out of heat, moisture and intense low pressure. Serving as a heat-release valve in the Earth's atmosphere, hurricanes can be as expansive as 600 miles in diameter, build to a height of more than 50,000 feet into the sky and pack sustained winds of up to 185 mph. In the Northern Hemisphere, they always swirl counterclockwise. To give the public a reading on their power and potential for destruction, hurricanes are classified into five categories under the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The scale is based on maximum sustained winds: Category 1: 74 to 95 mph; Category 2: 96-110 mph; Category 3: 111-130 mph; Category 4: 131-155 mph; Category 5: More than 155 mph.
When a hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 it is considered a major - or intense - hurricane. Since 1925, hurricanes have caused almost $5 billion in damage per year on average in the United States. Major hurricanes account for more than 80 percent of the damage and strike the United States every 1.3 years on average.
Storm surge, a steady rise of sea waters above tide levels, is the most deadly aspect of hurricanes, as it can result in severe flooding and battering waves. Inland flooding also has proven to be a prolific killer. Yet, many people die in the aftermath of storms from downed electrical wires, water-covered ditches or falling objects such as trees.
Some of the most deadly U.S. hurricanes include:
-- The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 hit Galveston, Texas on Sept. 8, 1900 as a Category 4 system with an estimated death toll between 8,000 and 12,000;
-- The Great Florida Hurricane of 1928 hit near West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 16, 1928 as a Category 4 with an estimated death toll of about 2,500, most of those around Lake Okeechobee;
-- And Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005 as a Category 3 and was estimated to kill more than 1,800 in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.
Florida is the most hurricane vulnerable state in the nation. Since 1900, 67 hurricanes have struck the state, 29 of them major. Texas is closest behind with 40 hurricanes, 17 major.
Scientists say hurricane activity rises and falls based on a natural cycle of warm waters ebbing and flowing into the tropical regions where hurricanes frequently are spawned. These cycles, or eras, can last 20 to 30 years. However, in recent years, a growing number of scientists say global warming has increased the number of major hurricanes each year, as well as increased their intensity.
The storm seasons spanning 1995-2005 comprised the most active 10 consecutive hurricane years on record. Hurricanes are born out of low-pressure areas called tropical waves. In the Atlantic basin, these waves are frequently created by the heat of the North African desert. The waves feed off warm ocean waters. Thunderstorms develop and a low-pressure center forms.
When the thunderstorm activity forms a closed circulation around a low-pressure center, the system is deemed to be a tropical depression. When the sustained winds reach 39 mph, the system becomes a tropical storm. When those winds reach 74 mph, it becomes a hurricane.
The strongest winds of a hurricane are usually found near the eye wall, or the circle of clouds around the center. The eye can be 10 to 30 miles in diameter. Generally, the stronger the hurricane, the smaller the eye.
While hurricanes most commonly form between June and November, the most powerful hurricanes are spawned near the Cape Verde Islands between mid August and the end of September. Officially, the hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.
When a hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 it is considered a major - or intense - hurricane. Since 1925, hurricanes have caused almost $5 billion in damage per year on average in the United States. Major hurricanes account for more than 80 percent of the damage and strike the United States every 1.3 years on average.
Storm surge, a steady rise of sea waters above tide levels, is the most deadly aspect of hurricanes, as it can result in severe flooding and battering waves. Inland flooding also has proven to be a prolific killer. Yet, many people die in the aftermath of storms from downed electrical wires, water-covered ditches or falling objects such as trees.
Some of the most deadly U.S. hurricanes include:
-- The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 hit Galveston, Texas on Sept. 8, 1900 as a Category 4 system with an estimated death toll between 8,000 and 12,000;
-- The Great Florida Hurricane of 1928 hit near West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 16, 1928 as a Category 4 with an estimated death toll of about 2,500, most of those around Lake Okeechobee;
-- And Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005 as a Category 3 and was estimated to kill more than 1,800 in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.
Florida is the most hurricane vulnerable state in the nation. Since 1900, 67 hurricanes have struck the state, 29 of them major. Texas is closest behind with 40 hurricanes, 17 major.
Scientists say hurricane activity rises and falls based on a natural cycle of warm waters ebbing and flowing into the tropical regions where hurricanes frequently are spawned. These cycles, or eras, can last 20 to 30 years. However, in recent years, a growing number of scientists say global warming has increased the number of major hurricanes each year, as well as increased their intensity.
The storm seasons spanning 1995-2005 comprised the most active 10 consecutive hurricane years on record. Hurricanes are born out of low-pressure areas called tropical waves. In the Atlantic basin, these waves are frequently created by the heat of the North African desert. The waves feed off warm ocean waters. Thunderstorms develop and a low-pressure center forms.
When the thunderstorm activity forms a closed circulation around a low-pressure center, the system is deemed to be a tropical depression. When the sustained winds reach 39 mph, the system becomes a tropical storm. When those winds reach 74 mph, it becomes a hurricane.
The strongest winds of a hurricane are usually found near the eye wall, or the circle of clouds around the center. The eye can be 10 to 30 miles in diameter. Generally, the stronger the hurricane, the smaller the eye.
While hurricanes most commonly form between June and November, the most powerful hurricanes are spawned near the Cape Verde Islands between mid August and the end of September. Officially, the hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.
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Food Banks Prepare for Hurricane Season
WGNO NewsIn a matter of hours, volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank will have packed 1,200 disaster response kits. Macy's operations manager John Weiss says, "The team that I'm working with right now, we've packed about 10 pallets so far and it's about 50...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Disasters and Accidents, Natural Disasters, Charity
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MaxPro Windows
NOLA MarketplaceAbout MaxPro Windows: - Tested, Approved, and Certified Hurricane Impact Window - Security: Helps Keep the Burglars Out! - Noise Reduction - Blocks out 99% of the Sun’s Harmful UV Rays - No More Fading Wood Floors, Wood Furniture or Draperies -...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Hurricane Katrina (2005), Disasters and Accidents, Natural Disasters
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Say Goodbye To Useless Hurricane Predictions, Hello To Hurricanes!
In a surprise announcement that is sure to finally give Aaron Broussard some competition for front page space at the Incompetence Gazette, the two men behind the yearly Hurricane Season Storm predictions are calling it quits*, admitting their yearly...Tags: Tropical Weather, Meteorological Disasters, MSNBC (tv network), Television, Entertainment
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Hurricane Model Predicts Skyrocketing Insurance Costs
It's called RMS-11 and shows the potential impact of catastrophes such as earthquakes or hurricanes. WGNO meteorologist Bruce Katz explains, "It's not a model that we use for intensity or direction of storms, it's actually a model that dictates the...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Insurance, WGNO, Disasters and Accidents, Natural Disasters
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"Floodwall" Monument Burns At Algiers Bonfire
WGNO NEWSThe massive artwork, "Floodwall" was used to construct the 2011 Algiers Bonfire on Saturday night. "Floodwall" is a monument of immeasurable loss designed by Jana Napoli. The art piece contained 710 drawers, each one found in the wreckage left by...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Disasters and Accidents, Natural Disasters
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UNO's Hurricane Wrecked "Cove" Rebuilt and Re-opened
WGNO NewsThe Cove was "the" hangout for years where students grabbed a beer, a sandwich, and just kicked back. But it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, and students ever since have not been able to enjoy the same sense of community it brought former student...Tags: Music, Meteorological Disasters, Bobby Jindal, Entertainment, Disasters and Accidents
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What Will Happen To Six Flags Destroyed By Hurricane Katrina Years Ago?
WGNO NEWSSome say it's been like a rollercoaster trying to figure out what to do with the Six Flags amusement park that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, six years ago. Since the storm, Six Flags officials abandoned plans to re-open the city-owned site in New...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Disasters and Accidents, Six Flags Inc., Theme Park Vacations, Gardens and Parks
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Tropical Storm Sean forms; watch issued for Bermuda
CNNA tropical storm watch was issued for Bermuda on Tuesday ahead of newly formed Tropical Storm Sean, forecasters said. Sean formed early Tuesday, midway between Bermuda and the Bahamas, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. As of midday Tuesday,...Tags: Tropical Weather, Tropical Storms, National Hurricane Center, Disasters, Weather
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Tropical Storm Sean may become hurricane Thursday
Tropical Storm Sean may strengthen into a hurricane Thursday as it moves between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda.
The 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Sean's winds may increase to 75 miles per hour on Thursday. The U.S. National...Tags: Tropical Storms, National Hurricane Center, Disasters, Natural Disasters
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Irene's silver lining. For us!
Is there a silver lining for hurricane Irene? Probably not much of one for the East coast. They've got over 4 million people without power, a few dozen deaths, and some flooding they've never seen before. But there is a silver for us down here and it's a...Tags: NYSE, Hurricane Damage, Hurricane Irene (2011), Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Washington, DC
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TS Lee's aftermath brings up bad BP memories
Another hurricane season is almost over in south Louisiana. Just a few more weeks and we can rest easy for another season.
It's been a relatively peaceful hurricane season for us except for labor day weekend Tropical Storm Lee which hit our coast...Tags: BP Plc, Tropical Storms, Tropical Storm Lee (2011), Disasters, Natural Disasters
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High River has Army Corps of Engineers on High Alert Heading into Hurricane Season
New Orleans - As we move closer to hurricane season, the high river has kept the Army Corps of Engineers on high alert.
In fact, the Army Corps of Engineers says the high river has helped the agency be better prepared for a hurricane because...Tags: Meteorological Disasters, Tropical Storms, Disasters and Accidents, Disasters, Natural Disasters
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