Name: ____________________________________________
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
You may already know that hurricanes are major tropical storms that can cause
devastating waves, wind, and rain. They happen during “Hurricane Season,” which
is from June 1st until November 30th in the Atlantic Ocean and from May 15th until
November 30th in the Pacific Ocean. A hurricane that forms in the Atlantic Ocean
begins as tropical disturbance. This is a large area of windy thunderstorms that forms
over the warm ocean, near the equator. When the storms grow larger, rains and wind
pick up, and the “disturbance” can develop into a fullfledged hurricane.
Stages of a Hurricane: Simple Storms Grow Into Giants
A storm progresses through four different stages before it is actually considered a
hurricane. First is a tropical disturbance, which has thunderstorms and rotating winds,
or what scientists call cyclonic circulation. Next is a tropical depression, which is similar
to a tropical disturbance, but has winds between 23 and 39 miles per hour. A tropical
storm is the next level, which has stronger wind speeds between 40 and 73 miles
per hour. Once winds reach 74 miles per hour, the storm is officially classified as a
hurricane. The winds pick up energy from the warm surface ocean water.
Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise
in the Southern Hemisphere. Hurricanes can vary in size and can grow to have a
diameter of up to 600 miles, which is longer than the entire state of Florida!
As a hurricane crosses over land, it begins
to dissipate, or break apart and reduce in
strength. This is because it is no longer over the
warm ocean water that it needs for energy.
At this point, a hurricane can still cause a lot
of damage because of high winds, rain, and
flooding, but unless it makes its way back over
the open ocean, it is downgraded from a
hurricane back to a tropical storm.
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Hurricane Dangers
When a hurricane makes landfall, it
can be very dangerous along coastlines
because of a storm surge, where ocean
waters rush onto land. When this is combined
with heavy rainfall, there can be devastating
floods.
The center of a hurricane is called the
eye. While most of a hurricane contains
dangerously strong winds, the eye is actually a calm area in the storm. When the eye
of a hurricane passes over land, people might think that it’s over, but before long the
wind and rain increase again as the second part of the hurricane moves through.
Predicting Hurricanes and Protecting People
What’s the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?
During a hurricane watch, there is the possibility that a hurricane will make landfall
within 36 hours, and people are advised to prepare for a possible storm ahead. When
a hurricane warning is issued, a hurricane is definitely on the way, and will make
landfall within 24 hours.
The National Hurricane Center,
located in Miami, Florida issues watches
and warnings before hurricanes
approach the coastline. They use
computers with satellite images to
figure out where and when a hurricane
will come on shore. Sometimes, if a
hurricane is strong enough, officials
may require citizens to evacuate, or
leave their homes, and travel to a safer
place.
Can you imagine flying a plane
through a hurricane? If you’re a
hurricane hunter, it’s your job! Hurricane Hunters, who work for the Air Force Reserve,
fly airplanes called WC-130’s on weather missions to help the National Hurricane
Center make predictions about hurricanes, and gives them the information needed to
issue accurate warnings. Pilots determine how fast the winds are blowing, how big the
hurricane is, and which direction it’s moving. This helps people to be better prepared
for hurricanes as they approach shore.
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Categories of Hurricanes
There are five categories of
hurricanes, which are based on wind
speeds. The categories help to make
people aware of how much damage
a hurricane may cause because the
greater the wind speed, the more
dangerous the storm.
Category 1 – Winds 74 – 95 mph
Winds snap branches, uproot trees, and overturn mobile homes that aren’t secured to
the ground.
Category 2 – Winds 96 – 110 mph
Winds are strong enough to destroy weak doors and windows, and create 8-foot ocean
waves.
Category 3 – Winds 111 – 130 mph
Intense winds cause major flooding near the coast, which can destroy homes and
businesses.
Category 4 – Winds 131 – 155 mph
Winds are strong enough to destroy some buildings and cause heavy damages to
building roofs.
Category 5 – Winds greater than 155 mph
Buildings along the shorelines are washed away. Buildings can be completely destroyed.
Tornado vs Hurricane: Which is Stronger?
Hurricanes can cover an area
hundreds of miles wide, while
tornadoes are almost always less
than a mile wide. While they are
smaller than hurricanes, tornado
winds can be stronger and more
powerful. Some tornadoes have
winds of over 300 miles per hour,
while hurricanes rarely exceed 200
miles per hour.
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What’s Your Name, Hurricane?
Hurricanes and tropical storms are given names to help people identify them.
Scientists refer to hurricanes and storms by name as they track them across the
ocean.
Before 1953, hurricanes were not given official names. From 1953 through 1978,
hurricanes were only given female names, like Isabel, Camille, Claudette, and Wilma.
Beginning in 1979, hurricanes were given the names of both women and men. Today,
the names alternate by gender, and they are named alphabetically.
For example, in 2010, storms were named as follows:
Alex (male)
Bonnie (female)
Colin (male)
Danielle (female)
Earl (male)
and so on...
There are six different lists of names that change, so the same names are used
every six years. The only way that a new name is added is when a hurricane has been
particularly deadly or costly and the name is retired, then replaced with a new one.
Hurricane Katrina: One of the Deadliest Storms in History
Hurricanes can leave behind lots of destruction. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina
ripped through Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. This was the sixth windiest
hurricane on record, and it was one of the deadliest hurricanes in history.
Many people are surprised to learn that Katrina’s wind didn’t cause most of the
damage. The wind had caused
levees in New Orleans to break,
(Levees are embankments that
hold water away from cities.)
When the levees broke, water
from the Gulf of Mexico rushed
into the low-lying land. Over 80%
of the city of New Orleans was
buried in flood water.
Hurricane Katrina took 1,833
lives and caused over 76 billion
dollars in damages.
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Hurricane Safety Tips
There is no way to stop a hurricane or
make it change direction, so if you ever find
yourself in the path of a hurricane, be sure to
follow any emergency procedures that your
community has in place. Here are some other
hurricane safety tips.
• Be sure you have a battery-powered
radio, batteries, fresh drinking water, and a supply of food. Also, if anyone in your
family needs special medication, be sure you have a full supply.
• Tell neighbors, friends, and family members your emergency plans. Tell them
where you’ll go if you need to leave your home.
• If you live near the ocean, in low-lying area, or in a mobile home, leave your
home and travel inland to a safe place. You could stay with a friend or family
member, in an inland hotel/motel, or in an emergency shelter area.
• Keep listening to the radio if a hurricane is approaching. If local authorities
instruct you to evacuate, do it immediately.
• Before a hurricane arrives, be sure your family’s car is filled with fuel. If the
electricity goes out, the fuel pumps at gas stations will not work.
• Stay inside during the storm. You could be seriously injured if you go outside.
But What About My Pets?
We should always take good care of our pets and keep them indoors during a
storm. If you have to evacuate your home, remember that pets are not allowed in
some emergency shelters and hotel rooms. If you leave a pet behind, be sure you set
out plenty of food and water for them. Also, be sure they’re wearing a collar with your
family’s name and phone number on it.
The Five Worst Hurricanes in U.S. History
Hurricane Year State(s) Hit Category Deaths
Great Galveston Hurricane 1900 Texas 4 8,000
Lake Okeechobee Hurricane 1928 Florida 4 2,500
Hurricane Katrina 2005 Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama 5 1,833
Cheniere Caminanda 1893 Louisiana 4 1,100
Sea Islands Hurricane 1893 South Carolina, Georgia 3 1,000
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Name: ____________________________________________
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
1. Complete the chart by listing the correct category for each hurricane.
Hurricane Name Top Wind Speed Category
Hanna 102 mph
Arthur 160 mph
Fey 80 mph
Cristobal 129 mph
2. Explain the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Billy tells his teacher that his grandfather lived in the state of Florida in 1969
and survived Hurricane Michael. His teacher does not believe him. Why not? Use
information from the hurricane packet to support your answer.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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Name: ____________________________________________
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
1. Which of these hurricanes had the strongest winds?
a. Sea Islands Hurricane, in 1893
b. Hurricane Katrina, in 2005
c. Lake Okeechobee Hurricane, in 1928
2. What does a hurricane hunter do?
a. use computers with satellite images to predict the paths of hurricanes
b. issue official watches and warnings to notify people of danger
c. fly airplanes through hurricanes
3. Which sequence of storm stages is in the correct order?
a. tropical depression, tropical disturbance, tropical storm, hurricane
b. tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane
c. tropical storm, tropical depression, tropical disturbance, hurricane
4. What would you observe if you were in the eye of a hurricane?
a. strong, spinning winds
b. calm or very little wind
c. heavy rain, thunder, and lightning
5. What caused the most destruction during Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
a. floods due to breaking levees
b. houses being blown away
c. people going outdoors during the storm
6. What happens when a hurricane crosses over land?
a. it breaks apart and forms tornadoes
b. it moves more quickly
c. it loses strength
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Name: ____________________________________________
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
Tell whether each statement is true or false.
1. _________________ When a hurricane warning is issued, a hurricane will definitely hit
landfall within 24 hours.
2. _________________ From 1953 to 1978, all tropical storms were given male names.
3. _________________ The Great Galveston Hurricane hit Florida in 1903.
4. _________________ Hurricanes form over warm ocean water.
5. _________________ Hurricanes begin to lose strength when they hit land.
6. _________________ More people were killed by Hurricane Katrina than by the Great
Galveston Hurricane.
7. _________________ Hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.
8. _________________ The center of a hurricane is called the eye.
9. _________________ Hurricanes are given names and tropical storms are not.
10. _________________ Category 4 hurricanes have winds over 155 miles per hour.
11. _________________ Mobile homes are a safe place to stay during a hurricane.
12. _________________ Hurricanes were not given official names before 1953.
13. _________________ Hurricane Katrina flooded the city of New Orleans in 2005.
14. _________________ Scientists can make hurricanes change direction.
15. _________________ A levee keeps ocean water away from cities.
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Name: ____________________________________________
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
Complete each statement with a word from the box at the bottom of the page.
Not all words from the box will be used.
1. In the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane season runs from ____________________ 1st
through November 30th.
2. A tropical _______________________ has winds between 29 and 39 miles per hour.
3. A tropical _______________________ has winds between 40 and 73 miles per hour.
4. In the Southern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate _______________________________.
5. Hurricane names are reused every ____________________ years.
6. Hurricane Katrina flooded the city of ________________________________.
7. During a hurricane _____________________, there is a possibility that a hurricane will
reach landfall.
8. During a hurricane _____________________, a hurricane will definitely reach landfall.
9. The National Hurricane Center is located in the city of _____________________.
10. If a hurricane is strong enough, citizens might be required to ______________________,
or leave their homes.
Word Box
four clockwise New York depression storm satellite
June disturbance May New Orleans tornado eye
Louisiana ten six counterclockwise watch weather
Miami Florida April evacuate warning category
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Name: ____________________________________________
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
Match each vocabulary word on the left to its definition on the right.
1. ______ levee a. an imaginary line around the center of the
Earth
2. ______ hurricane hunter b. an area of swirling thunderstorms over the
ocean with wind speeds between 23 and
39 miles per hour
3. ______ equator c. a wall or embankment that holds ocean
water away from a city
4. ______ tropical depression d. an area of thunderstorms over the ocean
with wind speeds between 40 and 73 miles
per hour
5. ______ tropical storm
e. to be forced to leave a home because of
danger
6. ______ hurricane f. a giant wind and rain storm that forms over
warm water with winds between 74 and
155 miles per hour
7. ______ dissipate
g. a pilot who flies airplanes through
hurricanes to measure the wind speed
8. ______ coastline
h. a spinning storm that is less than one mile
wide, with swirling winds that can reach
over 300 miles per hour
9. ______ evacuate
i. area where the ocean meets the shore
10. ______ tornado j. to break apart and reduce in strength
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ANSWER KEY
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
1. Complete the chart by listing the correct category for each hurricane.
Hurricane Name Top Wind Speed Category
Hanna 102 mph Category 2
Arthur 160 mph Category 5
Fey 80 mph Category 1
Cristobal 129 mph Category 3
2. Explain the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning.
A hurricane watch means that there is a possibility of a
________________________________________________________________________________
hurricane approaching within 36 hours. A warning means that
________________________________________________________________________________
a hurricane will definitely approach land within 24 hours.
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Billy tells his teacher that his grandfather lived in the state of Florida in 1969
and survived Hurricane Michael. His teacher does not believe him. Why not? Use
information from the hurricane packet to support your answer.
She didn’t believe him because hurricanes did not have
________________________________________________________________________________
male (boy) names until 1979.
________________________________________________________________________________
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ANSWER KEY
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
1. Which of these hurricanes had the strongest winds?
a. Sea Islands Hurricane, in 1893
b. Hurricane Katrina, in 2005
c. Lake Okeechobee Hurricane, in 1928
2. What does a hurricane hunter do?
a. use computers with satellite images to predict the paths of hurricanes
b. issue official watches and warnings to notify people of danger
c. fly airplanes through hurricanes
3. Which sequence of storm stages is in the correct order?
a. tropical depression, tropical disturbance, tropical storm, hurricane
b. tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane
c. tropical storm, tropical depression, tropical disturbance, hurricane
4. What would you observe if you were in the eye of a hurricane?
a. strong, spinning winds
b. calm or very little wind
c. heavy rain, thunder, and lightning
5. What caused the most destruction during Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
a. floods due to breaking levees
b. houses being blown away
c. people going outdoors during the storm
6. What happens when a hurricane crosses over land?
a. it breaks apart and forms tornadoes
b. it moves more quickly
c. it loses strength
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ANSWER KEY
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
Tell whether each statement is true or false.
true
1. _________________ When a hurricane warning is issued, a hurricane will definitely hit
landfall within 24 hours.
2. false
_________________ From 1953 to 1978, all tropical storms were given male names.
3. false
_________________ The Great Galveston Hurricane hit Florida in 1903.
4. true
_________________ Hurricanes form over warm ocean water.
5. true
_________________ Hurricanes begin to lose strength when they hit land.
false
6. _________________ More people were killed by Hurricane Katrina than by the Great
Galveston Hurricane.
7. true
_________________ Hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.
8. true
_________________ The center of a hurricane is called the eye.
9. false
_________________ Hurricanes are given names and tropical storms are not.
false
10. _________________ Category 4 hurricanes have winds over 155 miles per hour.
false
11. _________________ Mobile homes are a safe place to stay during a hurricane.
true
12. _________________ Hurricanes were not given official names before 1953.
true
13. _________________ Hurricane Katrina flooded the city of New Orleans in 2005.
false
14. _________________ Scientists can make hurricanes change direction.
true
15. _________________ A levee keeps ocean water away from cities.
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ANSWER KEY
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
Complete each statement with a word from the box at the bottom of the page.
Not all words from the box will be used.
1. June
In the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane season runs from ____________________ 1st
through November 30th.
2. depression
A tropical _______________________ has winds between 29 and 39 miles per hour.
3. storm
A tropical _______________________ has winds between 40 and 73 miles per hour.
4. clockwise
In the Southern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate _______________________________.
5. six
Hurricane names are reused every ____________________ years.
6. New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina flooded the city of ________________________________.
7. watch
During a hurricane _____________________, there is a possibility that a hurricane will
reach landfall.
8. warning
During a hurricane _____________________, a hurricane will definitely reach landfall.
9. Miami
The National Hurricane Center is located in the city of _____________________.
evacuate
10. If a hurricane is strong enough, citizens might be required to ______________________,
or leave their homes.
Word Box
four clockwise New York depression storm satellite
June disturbance May New Orleans tornado eye
Louisiana ten six counterclockwise watch weather
Miami Florida April evacuate warning category
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ANSWER KEY
Hurricanes:
Nature’s
Wildest Storms
By Erin Ryan
Match each vocabulary word on the left to its definition on the right.
c. levee
1. ______ a. an imaginary line around the center of the
Earth
g. hurricane hunter
2. ______ b. an area of swirling thunderstorms over the
ocean with wind speeds between 23 and
39 miles per hour
a. equator
3. ______ c. a wall or embankment that holds ocean
water away from a city
b. tropical depression
4. ______ d. an area of thunderstorms over the ocean
with wind speeds between 40 and 73 miles
per hour
d. tropical storm
5. ______
e. to be forced to leave a home because of
danger
f. hurricane
6. ______ f. a giant wind and rain storm that forms over
warm water with winds between 74 and
155 miles per hour
j. dissipate
7. ______
g. a pilot who flies airplanes through
hurricanes to measure the wind speed
i. coastline
8. ______
h. a spinning storm that is less than one mile
wide, with swirling winds that can reach
over 300 miles per hour
e. evacuate
9. ______
i. area where the ocean meets the shore
h. tornado
10. ______ j. to break apart and reduce in strength
KH
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