How hurricanes form
HURRICANES FORM ONLY OVER TROPICAL WATERS. THAT'S WHAT MAKES A TROPICAL STORM WHICH IS HOW a HURRICANE starts. HuRRICANES NEED WARM WATER THAT IS 79 DEGREES F (26 DEGREES C) OR HIGHER TO FORM. AS THE WATER EVAPORATES INTO THE WARM AIR, THE AIR BEGINS TO RISE. IT COOLS AND CONDENSES INTO LARGE CLOUDS. THE AIR OVER THe OCEAN RUSHES IN TO REPLACE THE RISING AIR, CREATING WINDS. THE EARTH'S ROTATION CAUSES THOSE WINDS TO FORM A LARGE SWIRL. THE LARGE SWIRL CAN BE VERY INTENSE. THE MORE THE INTENSITY INCREASES, THE TIGHTER THE EYE OF THE STORM, AND THE STRONGER THE HURRICANE WILL BE.
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005. It had winds of 140 mph and created a 30-foot storm surge. The water overtook the dykes ( a wall or barrier) that protected the city. It caused $200 million in damage and more than 1 million people were forced to leave their homes. Hurricane Katrina is the most expensive and destructive natural disaster in U.S. History.
famous hurricanes
Hurricanes and tropical storms are named after both men and women. The NOAA rotates between male and female names for every tropical storm that is formed. These are some of the most famous hurricanes recorded: Edna, Ike, Wilma, Rita, Katrina, Dennis, Jeanne, Ivan, Frances, Carol,
Charley, Isabel, Iris, Keith, Floyd, Mitch, Opal, Andrew, Hugo, Gilbert, Alicia, Agnes, Camille, Donna, Connie, Diane, Hazel, Carol, Great Atlantic, New England, Florida Keys Labor Day, San Felipe-Okeechobee, Great Miami, Atlantic-Gulf, and Galveston.
Charley, Isabel, Iris, Keith, Floyd, Mitch, Opal, Andrew, Hugo, Gilbert, Alicia, Agnes, Camille, Donna, Connie, Diane, Hazel, Carol, Great Atlantic, New England, Florida Keys Labor Day, San Felipe-Okeechobee, Great Miami, Atlantic-Gulf, and Galveston.