Hurricanes are the most destructive natural weather calamity. They are strong tropical winds spiraling at the speed of 75 to 200 mph. They are known as cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean and as typhoons in the western Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes form in tropical zones between 5° to 15° latitude north and south of the equator over warm ocean water.

The essential components of hurricanes are the low-pressure system, warm temperature over the ocean of 80°F, tropical wind pattern and moist warm air.

Hurricanes begin at low-pressure areas when warm moist air from ocean water begins to rise and meet cooler air. This causes the warm water vapors to condense and form storm clouds. Water vapors are its source of energy as it releases the latent heat of condensation which warms the cool air making it rise and giving way to more warm humid air from the ocean. As this cycle continues, more warm moist air is drawn into the mounting storm. The Coriolis force causes the air to rotate. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. The heat exchange creates a spiral wind pattern around a calm low-pressure center known as the “eye.” Hurricanes weaken rapidly when they travel overland or colder ocean waters.

Hurricanes do huge damage through fierce winds, floods, torrential rains, storm surge and massive waves crashing ashore. A great deal of the damage from hurricanes is from the “storm surge”, in which water is blown onshore by the high winds rises rapidly.

Hurricanes intensity is rated on the Saffir-Simpson scale which varies from Category 1 to Category 5 which are chosen upon the amount of damage they produce.