Stages Of Hurricanes

_Elsa_

‘Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season typically runs between June 1st and November 30th. However, these dates can shift by a few days between seasons. While we all hear about when hurricane season starts, we aren’t aware of the varying stages of a hurricane. Most hurricanes start as barely rainstorms before becoming the overpowered giants as we know them. Knowing the proper stages of a hurricane leaves you better prepared to defend yourself against these powerful forces of nature.

Stages Of A Hurricane

• Disturbance Formation

• Tropical Disturbance

• Tropical Depression

• Tropical Storm

• Hurricane

• Dissipation

The stages of a hurricane begin with the formation of a disturbance. There are several “ingredients” required for a hurricane to form. It starts with the sun heating tropical ocean waters to the point of it evaporating. As it evaporates, a cloud of warm air forms. These warm clouds heat the air around them, creating even more densely packed clouds as air rushes in. As the air continues to heat up, a large mass of warm rain clouds forms over the ocean. 

Tropical Disturbance - A tropical disturbance is this formation of loosely packed rain clouds forming thunderstorms. Wind circulation is very light, with meager chances to cause any amount of damage. This storm system is officially considered a tropical disturbance once it maintains its structure for more than twenty-four (24) hours. They can have sustained winds of up to twenty-three (23) miles per hour.

Over one hundred (100) tropical disturbances will form each year; however, only ten (10) of them will become a tropical storm, and five (5) of those will become a hurricane. 

Tropical Depression - A tropical disturbance requires specific criteria to take the next step to become a tropical depression. Wind speeds up to anywhere between twenty-three (23) miles per hour and thirty-eight (38) miles per hour. Winds become more organized, circulating in the center of the storm. A tropical depression begins to take the shape of a more significant storm; however, it doesn’t have the power necessary to take the next step and still lacks the true form. 

Tropical Storm - Tropical storms begin to form as tropical depressions become stronger. Wind speeds increase from a max of thirty-nine (39) miles per hour to seventy-three (73) miles per hour. Tropical storms look like hurricanes, just smaller in size and strength. Tropical cyclones are nothing to brush off, though. These storm systems bring heavy rains, capable of causing severe flooding wherever they make landfall. 

Hurricanes - A tropical storm becomes a hurricane as soon as its wind speeds reach seventy-four (74) miles per hour. It takes the true final form of a hurricane as its eye forms completely, and its distinct parts become recognizable. Hurricanes are judged by tiers, following the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (HWS). 

Category 1 Hurricane — 74 miles per hour to 95 miles per hour

Category 2 Hurricane — 96 miles per hour to 110 miles per hour

Category 3 Hurricane — 111 miles per hour to 129 miles per hour

Category 4 Hurricane — 130 miles per hour to 156 miles per hour

Category 5 Hurricane — Over 157 miles per hour 

Dissipation - Hurricanes will continue powering up as they float over the warm tropical waters, speeding up progressively. Hurricanes stop powering up as they make landfall. They no longer have warm water to use to power themselves, so they become less and less organized as wind speeds fall drastically. Eventually, the hurricane will break into thunderstorms, before falling apart completely. As the hurricane floats over land, its high-speed winds and heavy rains cause immense damage, potentially leveling entire towns in the process. 

Hurricanes are powerful storms that have a significant potential to cause severe damage. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for them in the meantime. Prepare by stockpiling water, food, and other essential supplies.’ (Source) 

Elsa finds this information to be very helpful in understanding hurricanes. Now she wants to learn more about climate change so she begins a new search. 

Let’s continue - The Effects of Climate Change

Start at the beginning – Here comes Hurricane Elsa!