Hurricane bits - facts about hurricanes

Ranger Rick, August, 1996

* Hurricanes are powerful, whirling storms that start over warm water in the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean. They usually happen in late summer or early fall, and may measure up to 300 miles (480 km) across. In the center is a calm area about 20 miles (32 km) across called the eye.

* The eye is surrounded by wall clouds, where the strongest winds and heaviest rains are found. The wall clouds in Hurricane Camille had winds of more than 155 miles (248 km) per hour. That's what hit the house in this story. Such winds can cause a storm surge, where the ocean along a shore rises up to 15 feet (5 m).

* Hurricanes get their energy from warm ocean water. Once they hit land, they begin to weaken. But a lot of damage can happen first. Before it finally died out, Hurricane Camille raged across seven states, killed 256 people, and caused more than a billion dollars of damage.

* Hurricanes have different names in other places around the world. In the Indian Ocean they're called cyclones, and in the western Pacific Ocean they're called typhoons.

* Scientists use satellites, airplanes, radar, and computers to track hurricanes and predict their movements. When the experts think a hurricane is headed toward a certain place, they may issue a "Hurricane Watch." And when they're even more sure, they announce a "Hurricane Warning." Experts may also recommend that people leave the area. If you're ever in one of those places, listen to the experts!