Anatomy of a Hurricane

Anatomy of a Hurricane

• not a single storm
• a band of thunderstorms rotating around a center
• most intense rain and wind gusts in rain bands   * if tornadoes are associated with the hurricane they form

Eyewall and Eye

• $eyewall:$ a ring of tall thunderstorms encircling the eye   * highest wind speeds and heaviest rainfall
• warm air spirals upwards and outwards
• outflow of air replaced with cool air that sinks into the center from the top of the storm   * warm and absorbs moisture   * leaves core of storm (eye) clear and cloud-free

Eye

• hurricane hunters fly into the eye of the storm   * eye is calm
• Hurricane Irma, September 2017:   * most powerful hurricane on record until Dorian (2019)   * most intense hurricane to strike continental US since Katrina (2005)

Hurricane Dissipation

• hurricanes dissipate (lose energy) if:

     1. they move over cool water (separated from heat source)   2. they move over land (separated from moisture source)

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