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A Hurricane Is Coming!
How Will It Affect Your Vacation?
By Sharon Waldrop
Category 1 (minimal), Wind Speed 74 - 95 mph
Category 2 (moderate), Wind Speed 96 - 110
Category 3 (extensive), Wind Speed 111 - 130
Category 4 (extreme), Wind Speed 131 - 155
Category 5 (catastrophic), Wind Speed 155+
When is hurricane season and where are hurricanes prone to hit? In the Northern Hemisphere, which consists of the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane season occurs between June and November. "The peak season is usually towards the end of summer into early fall," says Dr. Richard E. Peterson, Chairman of the Department of Geosciences at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Areas that are not normally targets for hurricanes can experience "economic destruction and the risk of lost lives due to record rainfalls associated with a nearby hurricane," says Peterson. "Increasingly, the biggest threat is the inland flooding. In addition there can be tornadoes associated with the rain bands."
Hurricane season is when the ocean temperatures are highest in the warmest tropical waters. The ocean takes longer to cool down than land, which is why the season stretches into autumn.
We are fortunate to have the use of sophisticated technologies that can detect and track the location and rating of hurricanes. Hurricane watches and warnings are announced by the Tropical Prediction Center, a branch of the National Weather Service. The Tropical Prediction Center was formally known as the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch is announced when a pending hurricane is possible within the next several days. During a hurricne watch, travelers should:
Want to see more?
- Hurricane Tips: American Red Cross Urges You to Take Lifesaving Steps to Prepare Now
- American Family Safety Offers Hurricane Preparedness Advice: Preparing Before a Storm Hits Is Key to Protecting Your Family in an Emergency
- Keeping Cool: Babies at the Beach
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