Hurricane Joaquin was a powerful hurricane that took out several districts of the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, parts of the Greater Antilles, and Bermuda. Many buildings have been destroyed, and many lives have been lost. Today I am going to tell you what hurricanes are, when they happen, how big they can get, how Joaquin compares, and what we can do to prepare for them.
What are Hurricanes?
Hurricanes are large, swirling storms. They produce winds of up to 74 mph or higher. They usually form over warm oceans. According to the NASA website, “When a hurricane reaches land, it pushes a wall of ocean water ashore. This wall of water is called a storm surge.” This means that places near the water could be flooded. There are 3 parts of a hurricane. The eye (“Hole” at the center of the storm), the eye wall (Ring of …show more content…
Hurricanes happen when the oceans are warmed during summer. According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, “In the North Atlantic, hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30.” This means that most hurricanes happen in late summer to the middle of fall.
How big can Hurricanes get?
There are five categories of hurricanes. Category 1 (74-95 mph), Category 2 (96-110 mph), Category 3 (111-129 mph), Category 4 (130-156 mph), and Category 5 (157 mph). The Great Galveston Hurricane was the world’s biggest hurricane. It happened in 1900. It caused between 8000 and 12000 deaths. The storm hit the Texas coast on September 8 as a Category 4 hurricane with a storm surge of 8 to 15 feet.
How does Joaquin Compare?
Hurricane Joaquin was a Category 4 hurricane, but was 2 mph shy of becoming a Category 5 hurricane with speeds of 155 mph. Joaquin was the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Igor in 2010. Colorado State University tropical meteorologist Dr. Phil Klotzbach said “Joaquin was the first Category 4 hurricane to track through The Bahamas in October since 1866.”.
What we can do to prepare for
What are Hurricanes?
Hurricanes are large, swirling storms. They produce winds of up to 74 mph or higher. They usually form over warm oceans. According to the NASA website, “When a hurricane reaches land, it pushes a wall of ocean water ashore. This wall of water is called a storm surge.” This means that places near the water could be flooded. There are 3 parts of a hurricane. The eye (“Hole” at the center of the storm), the eye wall (Ring of …show more content…
Hurricanes happen when the oceans are warmed during summer. According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, “In the North Atlantic, hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30.” This means that most hurricanes happen in late summer to the middle of fall.
How big can Hurricanes get?
There are five categories of hurricanes. Category 1 (74-95 mph), Category 2 (96-110 mph), Category 3 (111-129 mph), Category 4 (130-156 mph), and Category 5 (157 mph). The Great Galveston Hurricane was the world’s biggest hurricane. It happened in 1900. It caused between 8000 and 12000 deaths. The storm hit the Texas coast on September 8 as a Category 4 hurricane with a storm surge of 8 to 15 feet.
How does Joaquin Compare?
Hurricane Joaquin was a Category 4 hurricane, but was 2 mph shy of becoming a Category 5 hurricane with speeds of 155 mph. Joaquin was the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Igor in 2010. Colorado State University tropical meteorologist Dr. Phil Klotzbach said “Joaquin was the first Category 4 hurricane to track through The Bahamas in October since 1866.”.
What we can do to prepare for