Hurricane

A hurricane is a huge storm It can be up to 600 miles across and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph. Each hurricane usually lasts for over a week moving 10-20 miles per hour over the open ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around the eye of the storm.

 in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. The center of the storm or eye. is the calmest part. It has only light winds and fair weather. Hurricanes only form over really warm ocean water of 80 F or warmer. The atmosphere must cool off very quickly. Also, the wind must be blowing in the same direction and at the same speed to force air upward from the ocean surface. Winds flow outward above the storm allowing the air below to rise.

storm surges are frequently the most devastating element of a hurricane. As a hurricane’s winds spiral around and around the storm they push water into a mound at the storm’s center. This mound of water becomes dangerous when the storm reaches land because it causes flooding along the coast. The water piles up unable to escape anywhere but on land as the storm carries it to the land.

A hurricane is dangerous but to survive you can do these things  Stay away from low-lying and flood prone areas. Always stay indoors during a hurricane, because strong winds will blow things around.