Extreme Weather

Hurricanes

Hurricanes

Do you know the difference between a hurricane, a typhoon, and tropical cyclone? Surprisingly, they are just different names for the same kind of storm. You would just call it something different if you lived in Florida instead of Japan. We have so many names for these powerful storms because they happen all over the world. Every country with a warm coastline has to worry about hurricanes!

Whatever you choose to call it, a hurricane is a storm system that forms over the ocean characterized by a low-pressure center (the ‘eye'), strong winds, and heavy rains. Sometimes hurricanes never make it to land, but when they do, it is important to prepare in order to reduce the damage and minimize the casualties that these formidable storms can cause.

With that goal in mind, there are all sorts of questions we need to answer. Where do hurricanes come from? Can we predict when and where a hurricane will strike? What is the best way to prepare for a hurricane? Can we stop hurricanes from forming at all? In the articles and activities for this subject, you can find the answers to these questions and more!