A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, the generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. Hurricanes are defined as an organized rotating weather system that has sustained winds of 74 mph or greater. Hurricanes are one of nature's most widespread and destructive weather events. If a cyclones wind speeds are between 30 mph and 73 mph it is considered to be a tropical storm. While generally less dangerous than hurricanes, tropical storms still can be deadly.
There are five categories of hurricanes, depending on the maximum sustained winds of the system.
Category 1 – Winds of 74 mph to 95 mph
Minimal Damage – Key Characteristics: Building structures usually receive no significant damage. Low- lying coastal roads may become flooded and there can be damage to shrubbery, trees and unanchored mobile homes. Small boats in exposed anchorages can also be torn from moorings. Recent Category 1 storms include Lili in coastal Louisiana in 2002 and Gaston in 2004 in Central South Carolina.
Category 2 – Winds of 96 to 110 mph
Moderate Damage – Key Characteristics: Coastal roads and low-lying escape routes inland are cut off by rising waters two to four hours before the arrival of the hurricane's center. A Category 2 storm generally causes some damage to windows, doors and roofing materials. Mobile homes will likely suffer major damage. There will likely be considerable damage to poorly constructed signs, piers, shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Hurricane Frances made landfall over Florida in 2004 as a Category 2 storm, and Hurricane Isabel hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2003.
Category 3 – Winds of 111 to 130 mph
Extensive Damage – Key Characteristics: Low-lying escape routes are cut off by rising water 3-5 hours before the hurricane's center arrives. Mobile homes/trailers are destroyed. Small buildings, including homes, receive structural damage. Small buildings along the coast are damaged by battering waves and floating debris. In 2004, Hurricanes Jeanne and Ivan made landfall as Category 3 hurricanes in Florida and Alabama respectively. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.
Category 4 – Winds of 131 to 155 mph
Extreme Damage – Key Characteristics: Trees are blown down. There's complete destruction of mobile homes. Major damage occurs to lower floors of buildings near the shore because of flooding and battering by waves and debris. Roofs collapse on residences. Damage is extensive to windows, doors and roofing materials. Examples of Category 4 hurricanes are Hurricane Charley in Florida in 2004 and Hurricane Dennis in Cuba in 2005.
Category 5 – Winds of more than 155 mph
Catastrophic Damage – Key Characteristics: Small buildings are overturned or blown away. Extensive shattering of glass in windows and doors ensues. Roofs collapse on many residential and industrial buildings. Category 5 hurricanes that have struck the U.S are the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 in Florida, Hurricane Camille in 1969 in Mississippi and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 in Florida.
Hurricane Names
Atlantic tropical storms (including hurricanes) have been named since 1953. Storm names are maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. Originally storms featured only women's names. In 1979, men's names were introduced and they alternate with the women's names. There are six lists of names that are used in rotation.
2010
Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Igor, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tomas, Virginie, Walter
2011
Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, Whitney
2012
Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie, William
2013
Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, Wendy
2014
Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy
Vicky, Wilfred
2015
Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, Wanda
© 2012 Claimsolvers.com - All Rights Reserved