Hurricane Basics

Hurricane Basics

1997 Names 1998 Names
Ana Larry Alex Lisa

Bill Mindy Bonnie Mitch

Claudette Nicholas Charley Nicole

Danny Odette Danielle Otto

Erika Peter Earl Paula

Fabian Rose Frances Richard

Grace Sam Georges Shary

Henri Teresa Hermine Tomas

Isabel Victor Ivan Virginie

Juan Wanda Jeanne Walter

Kate
Karl

1997 Names	1998 Names
Ana	Larry	Alex	Lisa
Bill	Mindy	Bonnie	Mitch
Claudette	Nicholas	Charley	Nicole
Danny	Odette	Danielle	Otto
Erika	Peter	Earl	Paula
Fabian	Rose	Frances	Richard
Grace	Sam	Georges	Shary
Henri	Teresa	Hermine	Tomas
Isabel	Victor	Ivan	Virginie
Juan	Wanda	Jeanne	Walter
Kate		Karl

The Saffir-Simpson Damage-Potential Scale

Category Central Pressure Winds Surge

1 - Minimal greater than 980 mb or 28.94 in 74-95 mph or 64-83 kts 4-5 ft.

2 - Moderate 965-979 mb or 28.50-28.91 in 96-110 mph or 65-96 kts 6-8 ft.

3 - Extensive 945-964 mb or 27.91-28.47 in 111-130 mph or 97-113 kts 9-12ft.

4 - Extreme 920-944 mb or 27.17-27.88 in 131-155 mph or 114-135 kts 13-18 ft.

5 - Catastrophic less than 920 mb or 27.17 in greater than 155 mph or 135 kts greater than 18 ft.

Category	Central Pressure	Winds	Surge
1 - Minimal	greater than 980 mb or 28.94 in	74-95 mph or 64-83 kts	4-5 ft.
2 - Moderate	965-979 mb or 28.50-28.91 in	96-110 mph or 65-96 kts	6-8 ft.
3 - Extensive	945-964 mb or 27.91-28.47 in	111-130 mph or 97-113 kts	9-12ft.
4 - Extreme	920-944 mb or 27.17-27.88 in	131-155 mph or 114-135 kts	13-18 ft.
5 - Catastrophic	less than 920 mb or 27.17 in	greater than 155 mph or 135 kts	greater than 18 ft.

Category 1 [Minimal]

damage primarily restricted to shrubbery, trees, and unanchored mobile homes; no substantial damage to other structures; some damage to poorly constructed signs
low lying roads inundated; minor damage to piers; small craft in exposed anchorages torn from moorings
Catetgory 2 [Moderate]
considerable damage to shubbery and tree foliage, some trees blown down; major damage to exposed mobile homes; extensive damage to poorly constructed signs and some damage to windows, doors and roofing materials of buildings, but no major destruction to buildings
coastal roads and low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water about 2 to 4 hours before landfall; considerable damage to piers and marinas flooded; small craft in protected anchorage torn from moorings
evacuation of some shoreline residences and low lying areas required
Category 3 [Extensive]
foliage torn from trees; large trees blown down; poorly constructed signs blown down; some damage to roofing, windows, and doors; some structural damage to small buildings; mobile homes destroyed.
serious flooding along the coast; many small structures near the coast destroyed; larger coastal structures damaged by battering waves and floating debris
low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water about 3 to 5 hours before landfall; flat terrain 5 feet or less above sea level flooded up to 8 or more miles inland
evacuation of low lying residences within several blocks of shoreline may be required
Category 4 [Extreme]
shrubs, trees, and all signs blown down; extensive damage to roofs, windows, and doors, with complete failure of roofs on many smaller residences; mobile homes demolished
flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland as far as 6 miles; flooding and battering by waves and floating debris cause major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore; low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water about 3 to 5 hours before landfall; major erosion of beaches
massive evacuation of all residences within 500 yards of the shore may be required, as well as of single story residences in low ground with 2 miles of the shore.
Category 5 [Catastrophic]
trees, shrub, and all signs blown down; considerable damage to roofs of buildings, with very severe and extensive damage to winds and doors; complete failure on many roofs of residences and industrial buildings; extensive shattering of glass in windows and doors; complete buildings destroyed; small building overturned or blown away; mobile homes demolished
major damage to lower floors of all structures less than 15 feet above sea level within 1500 feet of the shore
low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water about 3 to 5 hours before landfall; major erosion of beaches
massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of the shore may be required Note:This text was derived from The Weather Channel.

Structure of a Hurricane...
1. Outflow. The high level clouds moving clockwise out away from the hurricane at heights of over 35,000 feet. These clouds are indicative of air spreading out over the top of the storm, which is essential to its development.
2. Feeder Bands. These are squally bands of showers characterized by strong gusty winds and heavy rains. These bands become more pronounced as the storm intensifies, and are fed by the warm ocean.
3. The Eyewall. A band of clouds, strong winds and heavy rains surrounding the eye of the storm. At the eyewall, there is rapid movement of air toward the center and upward into the cloud.
4. The Eye. What goes up must come down, so with the violent rising air converging toward the storm center at the eye, sinking air develops within. This air dries out, creating the clear, calm eye. Winds are very light here since the focus of convergence and hence strong winds are in the eyewall.

Low pressure in the hurricane acts as a plunger, pulling up the water level. Higher water level allows waves to strike farther inland, causing massive property damage.
The strongest surge comes ashore just to the right of the eye, where the fierce hurricane winds are blowing toward land. Winds on the left side of the storm might actually cause the water level to run slightly lower than normal.