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What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a certain type of tropical cyclone, the general term for all circulating weather systems that are over tropical waters (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere). Tropical cyclones are usually classified as follows:

Tropical Depression: An organized system of thunderstorms  and clouds and with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.

Tropical Storm:

An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots).

Hurricane:

An exteme tropical weather system with a very well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher. In the western Pacific region, hurricanes are usually called “typhoons,” and similar storms in the Indian Ocean are referred to as “cyclones.”

Hurricanes are primarily products of a tropical ocean and atmosphere. They are powered by heat from the sea, and they are steered by the easterly trade winds and the temperate westerlies as well as by their own ferocious and powerful energy. Around their core, winds normally grow with tremendous velocity, generating very violent seas. When they move ashore, they sweep the ocean inward while spawning tornadoes aw well as producing torrential floods and rains and. Every  year, on average, ten tropical storms, of which six become hurricanes, develop over the Caribbean Sea , Atlantic Ocean,  or the Gulf of Mexico. Many of these remain over the ocean; however,at times about five or so hurricanes strike the United States coastline every three years. Of these five, two will most likely become major hurricanes, category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.