We all know how destructive, devastating, and deadly hurricanes can be. We’ve seen the news stories or even been through one ourselves.
There’s a lot more to a hurricane than meets the eye. Here are seven interesting facts you may not know:
A Hurricane Does Not Start as a Hurricane
Hurricanes go through a series of changes before they become hurricanes. A hurricane starts as a tropical disturbance. With cyclonic circulation and faster wind speeds, it becomes a tropical depression. Next, if the wind keeps getting faster, it becomes a tropical storm [cyclone], then a hurricane if winds reach 74 miles per hour (119 kph) or more. This is why meteorologists keep a close eye on tropical cyclones as those storms can quickly develop into hurricanes.
Until 2012, Hurricanes Were the Only Named Storms
The Weather Channel began naming significant winter storm events during the 2012-2013 season. Up until that time, hurricanes were the only weather disasters given names.
Who Picks the Names of Hurricanes?
The names of tropical cyclones and hurricanes used each year are chosen by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
How Does a Hurricane Name Get Retired?
The WMO says a name can be retired or withdrawn at the request of any Member State of the WMO, if a name becomes associated with a storm that saw substantial human casualties and damage. For example, Katrina, Sandy, and Michael have been retired as those storms resulted in catastrophic damage and a significant loss of life.
What Was the Most Active Hurricane Season?
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has cited 2020 as the most active hurricane season to date. Meteorologists say there were 31 tropical or subtropical cyclones in 2020—only one failed to develop into a named storm. Of those 31 named storms, 14 developed into hurricanes and seven became major hurricanes. That year, the WMO’s tropical season name list was exhausted, and the Greek Alphabet was used, concluding with Hurricane Iota.
Because of this record-breaking year, the WMO decided in 2021 to use a list of supplemental tropical cyclone names if the initial list of tropical cyclone names was exhausted in a single season.
How Big is a Hurricane?
Officials at Weather.gov say a typical hurricane is about 300 miles wide.
However, storms can vary in size and shape. The outer rainbands of a hurricane contain dense thunderstorms that can cause extreme storm damage. Most hurricanes contain an eye that’s a relatively calm, clear area approximately 20 to 40 miles in width. The winds closest to the eye of the storm are the strongest.
How Much Rain Does a Hurricane Contain?
According to experts, hurricanes can carry extreme amounts of rain within their cyclonic systems. Since hurricanes are constructed of warm air, the storm holds more moisture than a typical storm, able to dump anywhere from six to 12 inches of rain across a region.
SERPVRO is Ready for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Your local SERVPRO works hard to be prepared for any type of storm cleanup and repair. Our technicians are skilled and ready to offer roof tarp and board up services for your property after a storm strikes. And SERVPRO is ready for whatever the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season brings. From storm cleanup to catastrophic hurricane damage and restoration, we are always available with our 24-hour emergency services and Disaster Recovery Teams. Our teams are strategically placed ahead of the storm so that we can move in to help when the storm passes. Every day, any of our 2350 locations in the United States and Canada are available to you around-the-clock, including weekends and holidays.
For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has worked tirelessly to serve businesses and homeowners with our commercial and residential property cleanup, repair, and restoration needs. Each of our locations are staffed with IICRC certified professional technicians who are dedicated to serving you and your cleanup, repair, and restoration needs. It’s why we are the #1 choice in fire and water cleanup and restoration*. We work hard to make it “Like it never even happened.”
For more information, please visit our Storm Damage Resources.