Understanding Hurricanes

A hurricane is a huge storm that generally forms over

warm ocean waters near the equator. The warm air
above the ocean rises upward, creating an area of low
pressure below. Air from the surrounding areas push in
and try to fill the area with low air pressure which also
becomes warm and moist and rises. Hurricanes are
divided into five categories depending on the speed of
their wind. Category three, four, and five hurricanes are
the most damaging. A huge hurricane can release
energy equivalent to 10 atomic bombs per second.
Hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean are known as typhoons.
The most damaging winds are the rain bands which are
a storm with a pinwheel-like appearance. The eye wall
is the most powerful and destructive part of the storm,
with winds that spin around fueled by the ocean's heat
and water vapor. The clouds and winds are a mixture
of rain bands that surround the eye wall and give the
storm a pinwheeling appearance. The center of a
hurricane is called the eye of the hurricane, which is
the calmest part of the storm, but the most dangerous
part is the eye wall.

• Hurricanes are divided into five categories

depending on the speed of their wind.
• The most damaging winds are the rain bands which
are a storm with a pinwheel-like appearance.
• The eye wall is the most powerful and destructive
part of the storm, with winds that spin around
fueled by the ocean's heat and water vapor.