HurricanesHurricanes

Midlatitude Cyclones vs. Tropical StormsMidlatitude Cyclones vs. Tropical Storms

Midlatitude CyclonesMidlatitude Cyclones Cover large areaCover large area Have cold fronts and Have cold fronts and

warm frontswarm fronts Less violent (except Less violent (except

for tornadoes!)for tornadoes!)

Tropical StormsTropical Storms Concentrated over a Concentrated over a

small areasmall area Do not have warm or Do not have warm or

cold frontscold fronts More destructiveMore destructive

What is a hurricane?What is a hurricane?

A tropical storm that A tropical storm that has wind speeds has wind speeds greater than 120 km/h greater than 120 km/h that spiral inward that spiral inward towards an intense towards an intense low pressure centerlow pressure center

Develop over warm Develop over warm oceansoceans

Steps in Hurricane DevelopmentSteps in Hurricane Development

A cold air mass is located A cold air mass is located above a cluster of tropical above a cluster of tropical stormsstorms

Warm, moist air over the Warm, moist air over the ocean rises rapidlyocean rises rapidly

Condensation occursCondensation occurs Classified as a hurricane Classified as a hurricane

when the wind speed when the wind speed reaches 64 knotsreaches 64 knots

A pronounced rotation A pronounced rotation developsdevelops

Anatomy of a HurricaneAnatomy of a Hurricane The EyeThe Eye

A region 20-50km wide A region 20-50km wide found at the center of the found at the center of the hurricane. Low pressure hurricane. Low pressure center with clear skies and center with clear skies and light windslight winds

Eye WallEye Wall Ring of cumulonimbus Ring of cumulonimbus

clouds that swirl around the clouds that swirl around the eye. Contains the heaviest eye. Contains the heaviest rains and winds of the rains and winds of the stormstorm

Spiral Rain BandsSpiral Rain Bands Bands of showers that Bands of showers that

spiral inward towards spiral inward towards centercenter

Cyclones and AnticyclonesCyclones and Anticyclones

Tornadoes and HurricanesTornadoes and Hurricanes

2005 – Category 5 2005 – Category 5 HurricanesHurricanes

- Wilma- Wilma

- Rita- Rita

- Katrina- Katrina