Hurricanes

HURRICANES

I have never witnessed a hurricane and I hope it stays that way! Hurricane comes from the Spanish word "huracan" which was inspired by Hunraken, the name for the ancient Mayan storm god or Hurakan, the Quiche god of thunder or any number of Caribbean terms for evil spirits or big winds. The word "hurricane" was first used to describe any localized tropical cyclone in the West Indies.

What is a hurricane?

A hurricane is defined as a tropical cyclone with sustained winds that have reached speeds of 74 mph or higher. These storms reach the status of "hurricane" only after strengthening over a period of days or even weeks.

Where do hurricanes form?

The process begins in the warm, moist air over the waters of the region known as the tropics, which includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the eastern North Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. Tropical depressions, tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons are all tropical cyclones, and all may develop in this region.



Hurricane Katrina



What are the stages?

Before it can become a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must pass through four distinct stages:

Stage 1: TROPICAL DISTURBANCE

A tropical disturbance is a discrete system of clouds, showers, and thunderstorms that originates in the tropics and goes on for 24 hours or more.

Tropical waves are a type of tropical disturbance that develops about every four to five days, and some of these waves eventually strengthen to become tropical storms and hurricanes. Sometimes called easterly waves, they are areas of low pressure that move generally from east to west, embedded in the tropical easterly winds.

Stage 2: Tropical depression

When a tropical disturbance develops a closed circulation (counter-clockwise winds blowing around a center of low pressure in the Northern Hemisphere), it is designated as a tropical depression. Tropical depressions contain maximum sustained one-minute winds of 38 mph or less, at an elevation of 10 meters.

Stage 3: Tropical storm

A tropical cyclone is given a name by the National Hurricane Center once it reaches tropical storm status. Tropical storms have maximum sustained one-minute winds of 39-73 mph, at an elevation of 10 meters.

STAGE 4: THE HURRICANE STAGE IS CONTINUED IN MY NEXT BLOG...

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