Hurricanes
Hurricanes What is a hurricane? A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has winds of 119 km per hour or higher. A typical hurricane is about 600 km across. Forms in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Hurricanes formed in the Western Pacific Ocean are called typhoons.
Hurricanes When are hurricanes formed? Hurricanes that affect the U.S. form in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator during August through November.
Hurricanes How are hurricanes formed? A hurricane begins over warm ocean water as a low-pressure area, or a tropical disturbance. It draws energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean’s surface. As the air rises and forms clouds, more air is drawn into the system. Inside the storm are bands of very high winds and heavy rains.
Hurricanes Winds spiral inwards toward the area of lowest pressure at the center. The lower the air pressure at the center of a storm, the faster the winds blow toward the center.
Hurricanes Hurricane winds are strongest in a narrow band around the center of the storm. At the center of is a ring of clouds, called the eyewall, that encloses the quiet eye.
The wind gets stronger as the eye approaches The wind gets stronger as the eye approaches. When the eye arrives, the weather changes suddenly. The air grows calm and the sky may clear. After the eye passes, the storm resumes, but the wind blows from the opposite direction. Hurricanes
Hurricanes How do hurricanes move? Hurricanes tend to last longer than other types of storms. Those that form in the Atlantic Ocean are steered by easterly trade winds toward the Caribbean islands and the southeastern U.S. They can go a long distance over water.
Hurricanes
DAMAGE Hurricanes Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Hurricane Ike, 2008 Hurricane Alicia, 1983
Hurricanes A storm surge is a “dome” of water that sweeps across the coast where the hurricane lands. These can wash away beaches, destroy buildings along the coast, and erode the coastline.
Hurricanes Hurricane Safety A hurricane watch means that it is possible to have a hurricane in your area within the next 36 hours. A hurricane warning means that a hurricane will hit your area within the next 24 hours.
Hurricane If you are under a hurricane warning and told to evacuate (move away temporarily), do so immediately! If you stay in the house, stay away from windows, and make sure to have candles, lanterns, bottled water, canned food, and a weather radio.
Winter Storms
Winter Storms In the winter months in Northern United States, much of the precipitation that falls is snow. Fun Fact: All year round, most of the clouds that cause precipitation are made up of snow. If, when that precipitation falls, the air is colder than 0 degrees C, the precipitation will remain in snow form.
Traps people in their homes Emergency Vehicles have a hard time moving Winter Storms Damage Blocks roads Traps people in their homes Emergency Vehicles have a hard time moving Crop damage Water pipes freeze and burst
Winter Storms
Winter Storms Lake-Effect Snow There are two cities that usually receive the most snowfall: Buffalo and Rochester, both in upstate New York. Each city usually receives about 3 meters of snow each winter. Why do they get so much snow? It is called the Lake-Effect.
Winter Storms During the fall and winter months, the land near the lakes of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario cool more rapidly than the lake water. The water is still cold, but not as cold as the land around it. When the cold, dry air mass from central Canada moves southeast across the lake, it picks up water vapor and heat from that lake. Once the air mass has reached the other side of the lake, the air has risen and cooled again. The water vapor condenses and falls as snow.
Winter Storms Snow Safety Stay indoors if possible Avoid driving If caught outside, immediately find shelter Cover up exposed skin and stay dry If in a car, only run engine if exhaust pipe is clear Bring animals inside Cover outside facets before storms hit and slowly drip water from inside facet.