| Hurricanes! |
| Blow, winds, and crack thy cheeks! Rage, blow! -William Shakespeare |
| What is a hurricane? A hurricane has a maximum sustained wind of 74 mph. The term hurricane is used north of the equator and east of the International Date Line. The term typhoon is used north of the equator and west of the International Date Line |
| Hurricanes measured on a scale, called The Saffir-Simpson Scale: Catergory 1: Central Pressure: >28.94"; Winds (MPH): 74-95; Damage: Minimal Catergory 2: Central Pressure: 28.01-28.50"; Winds (MPH): 96-110; Damage: Moderate Catergory 3. Central Pressure: 29.47-27.91"; Winds (MPH): 111-130; Damage: Extensive Catergory 4: Central Pressure: 27.88-27.17"; Winds (MPH): 131-155; Damage: Extreme Catergory 5: Central Pressure: <27.17"; Winds (MPH): >155; Damage: Catastrophic |
| The Costliest Hurricanes: Andrew (1992): $26.5 billion Hugo (1989): $7 billion Fran (1996): $3.2 billion Opal (1995): $3 billion Frederic (1979): $2.3 billion Agnes (1972): $2.1 billion Alicia (1983): $2.1 billion |
| Awesome Facts! A mature hurricane is the most powerful force on Earth Winds can surpass 200 mph A typical hurricane generates enough energy to provide all the electric power needed in the U.S. for 3 or 4 years |
| Weird Science The impact of waves during the 1938 New England hurricane was so intense it registered on seismographs in Alaska. People caught outside in the 200-mph winds of the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 were sandblasted to death. Birds flying in hurricanes often drown in mid-air |
| This page was created on 9/30/01 |