74+ mph is when we start calling them hurricanes
Before we get to hurricanes, you should be aware of tropical waves, tropical depressions, and tropical storms. A tropical wave is an elongated area of showers and storms that typically moves from east to west across the Atlantic Ocean, along the tropics, near the equator. As this warm moist air rises, low pressure forms at the surface of the ocean.
As this air rises, surrounding air moves in to take its place, forming a center of circulation. We call these storms “tropical depressions”. Once the sustained surface winds reach 39+ mph, then we call it a “tropical storm”. Once sustained surface winds reach 74+ mph, we can now call it a hurricane.
Did you know that in the last 200 years hurricanes have killed ~2 million people! These powerful storms are not to be taken lightly. If you have ever been through a big one, you already know this.
What's with the names?
This is what a tropical storm looks like from underwater, looking up. Tropical Storm Colin
Did you know the US began naming storms back in early 1950’s? At first the US just used female names, and only named storms in the Northern Pacific. It wasn’t until 1978 that male names were used. And it wasn’t until 1979 that we started officially naming storms in the Atlantic Ocean.
So then, who is naming these storms? You might guess NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association), and you would be wrong. It is the World Meteorological Organization. There is actually a list of names that are on a 6-year rotation. The only time they do not reuse a name is if the storm was so deadly or destructive that it would be inappropriate to use its name on another storm.
Do you know who names the hurricanes each year?
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