Because they are so powerful, it’s important that you know the facts about hurricanes. Although there’s nothing we can do to prevent their coming, knowing basic information helps in keeping people safe.

Formation

They are formed around the equator, specifically in the north and south zones. These areas are filled with warm water. Under normal circumstances they’ll form thunderstorms. Under certain conditions, these storms get very large and spin. This movement adds to its strength.

At 40 miles per hour, it’s classified as a tropical storm. At this point this thunderstorm could move towards land. As it does it picks up speed. It may carry strong winds and rain. Based on current facts about hurricanes, a storm will only be classified as such if it goes up to 75 mph.

Characteristics

These formations could be hundreds of miles across. At its corners will be the rain showers. The eye is at the center of these clouds. Their size varies, with some less than 6 miles and others over 100 miles in diameter. This area is usually clear and when passing through the eye, the winds and rain may stop temporarily.

Effects

Although the eye is calm, the water around it goes up. The results are the storm surges. Adding to this are winds and together they can create massive waves across the seas. The sea level will also go up.

You may have noticed that as it heads up to land, the speed and winds go up. The facts about hurricanes have established that water gives it power. When it makes landfall, it loses much of its energy. But even then it can cause great destruction. The constant rainfall can cause flooding. Strong winds can topple billboards and rooftops. Storms over 150 mph can destroy houses and buildings.

Period

At the Atlantic, the peak season runs from June 1 to November 30. The greatest numbers come out around early August up to early October. In other parts of the world they are called typhoons or cyclones.

Safety Tips

Unlike earthquakes, it’s become possible to detect these weather formations while they’re still forming. It gives people time to prepare. Here are some safety facts about hurricanes.

If local officials ask you to evacuate the area, you should do so. Refusing to leave can have disastrous consequences. If there’s no need to leave your home, you should still prepare. You can start by boarding the windows. Turn off all electrical appliances. If you don’t the storm might suddenly knock out the power, damaging the wiring. It might even cause a fire.

Days before the storm comes, stock up on batteries for flashlights and radio. Use the radio to monitor the storm’s direction. Have plenty of canned food, water and medicines.

After the storm has passed, there will be debris all around. Avoid stepping on electrical wires or sharp objects. Stay away from flooded areas. If you have insurance, taking some snapshots of the damage will help.

More facts about hurricanes have been established compared with other disasters. Use the information available to keep yourself secure and out of harm’s way.

A very dangerous kind of tropical cyclone that commonly occurs in eastern Pacific Oceans as well as in Atlantic Ocean, hurricane is characterized by thunderstorms that create heavy rain and strong winds. The development of hurricane is usually caused by various heat mechanisms like polar lows and warm core storm systems. The movement of this type of tropical cyclone is triggered by the troposphere’s steering winds. There are different reasons why people give names to hurricanes. To know the reasons, it is important to look at the truth behind tropical cyclone names.

Naming of Tropical Cyclones

Why are hurricanes given names? Hurricanes are named so that people can differentiate them with tropical storms. In addition to this, these tropical cyclones are given names to prevent confusion if ever a storm is followed by another storm at the same time. Meteorological organizations in the world agree that a storm transforms into a tropical cyclone if the wind speed hits 75 miles per hour.

To help people identify the natural disaster, meteorological groups provide different sets of names for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin, eastern Pacific as well as central Pacific. The Region 4 Hurricane Committee of the World Meteorological Organization is the agency assigned to give names to tropical cyclones that developed or originated in the Atlantic Basin. The names are commonly French, Spanish and English. Additionally, the organization alternates female and male names. It has chosen several sets of tropical cyclone names.

Other Relevant Information About the Names Given to Tropical Cyclones

Weather forecasters as well as meteorologists started giving names to tropical cyclones in 1950. After a year, meteorologists decided to use the international phonetic alphabet for the names given to hurricanes. The names given to the cyclones with the English origin started in 1953. In 1979, naming hurricanes with alternate female and male names was implemented.

Bob, David as well as Frederick are the three male names that were first used. Several years after, these names were retired because these have caused tremendous damages. The names David and Frederick were retired in 1979 while the name Bob was retired in 1991 when the hurricane with this name killed thousands of people in New England.

Every year, the first storm and hurricane in the eastern Pacific as well as Atlantic Basin have names that start with letter A. However, the first hurricane in a year that will originate from the central Pacific and will develop 140 degrees west longitude from the International Date Line always gets the succeeding name from the list.