Hurricanes

 Photo: Hurricane Emily "Juracan" was the Taino (Extinct Indian native to Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands) word for "God of the Storms". When the Spanish came to the island, they used the word to describe the fierce storms that sunk their Armadas and cargo ships. Today, it's simply referred to as the "hurricane" (see the resemblance?).

                           

         What Is A Hurricane???

A large, rotating tropical weather system with wind speeds of at least 75 mph (It can't be counted as an actual hurricane if it's below 75 mph. Then it would be a tropical storm).

 

                    

                                     

                                        How Does A Hurricane Form????

  There have to be specific conditions (Usually found from June to November). There has to be high humidity, warm waters, and low pressure. When all of these things clash, you make a hurricane.

               In Case You Were Wondering....

A lot of people were wondering... why did we have so many hurricanes last year? Well, some people blame the global warming. Some people blame the long-lasting effects of "El Nino". If you think about it, they both are contributing factors.  Global warming and El Nino warm up the water more than usual. Now you know why we had so many hurricanes, devastating ones at that.

                                  Photo: Hurricane Wilma        hurricane

     How Do You Measure A Hurricane?

Pretty simple kids, you measure hurricanes in categories.

Category 1: Wind Speeds:74-95 mph. Pretty weak. Just a lot of rain and wind...

Category 2: Wind Speeds:96-110 mph. It's also nothing big, but, time to start worrying.

Category 3: Wind Speeds: 111-130 mph. An average hurricane. It can be weathered at your house.

Category 4: Wind Speeds:131-155 mph. It's a good idea to leave... It's a pretty strong hurricane.

Category 5: Wind Speeds: Greater than 155 mph. Leaving is mandatory. Kiss your town goodbye.

 

Games/Activities

Hurricane Game
Back To Homepage