Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Flashcards covering key concepts about hurricanes and tornadoes including formation, classification, and preparedness.

What are different names for hurricanes based on location?

Atlantic = Hurricanes, Western Pacific = Typhoons, Indian Ocean = Cyclones

What are the stages of hurricane formation?

Tropical disturbance -> Tropical depression -> Tropical storm -> Hurricane

When is it officially a hurricane?

When sustained winds reach 74 mph (Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale)

What are the main parts of a hurricane?

Eye, eyewall, and rainbands

Where is the low pressure in a hurricane?

In the eye (center of the storm)

Where is the high pressure?

Outside the storm, in surrounding atmosphere

What direction does air flow overall in a hurricane?

Inward and upward around the center (counterclockwise in Northern Hemisphere)

How do hurricanes rotate?

Counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

Where do hurricanes form?

Over warm ocean waters near the equator

What is needed for hurricane formation?

Warm water (at least 80°F), moist air, and minimal wind shear

What is hurricane season in the U.S.?

June 1 to November 30

How is hurricane season changing with climate change?

Seasons are longer and storms are more intense and wetter

What parts of the U.S. are impacted by hurricanes?

Gulf Coast, Southeast, and sometimes the Northeast

Are hurricanes predictable?

Generally yes, several days in advance

What are the main effects of hurricanes?

Strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge

What do we use to classify hurricanes?

Wind speed

What scale is used to classify hurricanes?

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

How many categories of hurricanes are there?

Five (Category 1 to 5)

What is storm surge and why is it dangerous?

A rise in sea level from storm winds pushing water onto land - it causes severe flooding

How can we prepare for hurricanes?

Evacuation plans, emergency kits, securing property, weather alerts

What is a tornado?

A rapidly rotating column of air that touches the ground and extends from a thunderstorm

How do tornadoes differ from hurricanes in size?

Tornadoes are much smaller and more localized

What conditions are needed for tornadoes?

Warm, moist air meeting cool, dry air; unstable atmosphere; wind shear

What forms before a tornado?

A thunderstorm

What is wind shear?

A change in wind speed or direction with height

Why is wind shear good for tornadoes but bad for hurricanes?

It helps tornadoes form by tilting the storm, but it disrupts the structure of hurricanes

What are the tornado formation stages?

Thunderstorm -> Rotation begins -> Funnel cloud forms -> Touches ground = tornado

Where in the U.S. do tornadoes commonly form?

Tornado Alley - Great Plains: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska

Why are tornadoes mostly in one area?

Geography allows warm, moist Gulf air to meet cold, dry Canadian air over flat land

What systems detect tornadoes?

Doppler radar, storm spotters, warning systems

What are signs a tornado is coming?

Dark, greenish sky, loud roar, rotating wall cloud, hail, sudden calm after a storm

How can you prepare for a tornado?

Identify shelter areas, have emergency kits, follow alerts, practice drills