As the summer comes to an end and the warm days of June and July cool down to the final days of August and September, the most dangerous storms on earth begin to form: hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, but typically peaks at this time towards the end of summer. According to the NOAA, this period is thought of as the "season within the season," a time of about two months that sees the most dangerous tropical storm and hurricane activity. With hurricanes come powerful winds, heavy rains, storm surges, and flooding. These effects can cause power to go out for days and displace thousands of people from their homes.
Image courtesy of NOAA
Despite the extreme damage they can cause, hurricanes are formed by only two very simple components: heat and water. Hurricanes typically begin over the waters near the equator that have been gathering heat all summer. The air near the water absorbs the heat and moisture, and the heated air rises high into the atmosphere. The cold air in the atmosphere is then displaced and falls back to the earth. This exchange of hot and moist air with cold air creates swirls that form into thunderstorms, which then condense to create hurricanes.
Hurricanes can cause a lot of damage, but there are many resources to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared. Below you can find several helpful links:
