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| The word hurricane is derived from the Spanish word huracan which means great wind. In different areas hurricanes are called different names. In the United States they're called hurricanes and in the Western Pacific they're called typhoons Over the Indian Ocean they're called tropical cyclones and Fillipinos |  |
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| call hurricanes bagios. Below is a picture of Hurricane Elena. | ||
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Hurricanes typically form around the equator which is at zero degrees latitude. Hurricanes travel at ten to twenty miles per hour ground speed. The fastest wind speed ever recorded, was a speed of 155 miles per hour. The clouds reach a height of 40,000 to 50,000 feet high. |  |
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Hurricanes can measure 200,000 to 600,000 miles across; 1,056,000 feet to 3,168,000 feet across. The eye of the hurricane (the center) can measure 50 miles across and can be sunny and warm. Hurricanes are put into categories by the amount of damage they do and their wind |
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speed. The categories range from one to five. One being the weakest and five being the strongest. A category one hurricane has 74 to 95 mile per hour wind speeds and a 4 to 5 foot storm surge (a rise in sea level caused by a hurricane). A category two hurricane has wind speeds of 96 to 110 miles per hour with a 6 to 8 foot storm surge. A category three hurricane has |
| 9 to 12 foot storm surge with 111 to 130 mile per hour winds. Category four hurricanes have131 to 155 mile per hour winds, with a 13 to 18 foot storm surge. Category five hurricanes have winds of 155 miles per hour or more and a 18 foot storm surge on top of the wind. Storm surge causes ten out of every ten deaths in hurricanes. |
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| Hurricanes can also cause flooding. Safety in hurricanes is also important to live. One tip |
| is to listen to the TV. and radio for watches and warnings. If an evacuation order is given, listen and get the bags packed. | |
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