A Hurricane
Hurricanes are powerful tropical cyclones with winds speed getting to at least 74 mph. In different parts of the world, they are known as typhoons in the Western Pacific or cyclones in the Indian Ocean. They are still share the same characteristics. Hurricanes form over hot ocean water, often in the northern hemisphere. For them to form it has to be a least 80 degrees at the sea/ocean surface. They are measured on the Safir-Simpon scale. In the scale there are five categories, they are all based on wind speed. Category 1: 74-95 mph winds speeds, category 2: 96-110 mph winds speeds, category 3: 111-129 mph winds speeds, category 4: 130-156 mph winds speeds and category 5: 157 mph winds speeds and above. Hurricanes are named on a predetermined list. The list rotates every six years, but if a hurricane was very deadly or costly the name is replaced. For example, there will never be a Hurricane Katrina again. To prepare for a hurricane(s) you should have an emergency plan ready and be ready to evacuate in a moment's notice. A storm surge is undoubtably one of the deadliest things a hurricane does. It is a rise in sea level due to the storm's extreme winds. The surge can lead to severe flooding in areas that get hit by the hurricanes. Hurricanes can be up to six hundred miles. The eye of the storm is peaceful, but don't get your hopes up because you would have to get through the eye wall which has the fastest winds. The largest hurricane was Typhoon Tip. The longest lasting was hurricane John. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane at an estimated 125 billon dollars in damage! The "Great Hurricane" killed the most people at a record holding 20,000 deaths. Hurricane Sandy was the largest hurricane in the Atlantic on record. Luckly, we have meteorologists and Hurricane hunters that predict the intensity of the storm and predict where it will go. A few notable ones are marge, maria and Andrew.
Hurricanes can also create tornadoes, but the tornadoes aren't as strong as naturally appearing tornadoes. The hurricane with the highest wind speeds is Hurricane Patricia, with wind speeds over 215 mph! The hurricane with the tallest storm surge, is Cyclone Mahina in northern Australia in 1899. The storm surges at its peak was over 40 feet tall! That's taller than an average tsunami.