Why are hurricanes named? According to what principles does this happen? What kind of categories are assigned to such elements? What are the most destructive hurricanes in history? We will talk about all this in our article.
How do hurricanes form?
Such natural phenomena originate in tropical zones in the middle of the ocean. A prerequisite is an increase in the temperature of the waters to 26 o C. The humid air, which is in contact with the sea surface, gradually rises. Upon reaching the desired height, it condenses with the release of heat. The reaction causes other air masses to rise. The process becomes cyclical.
Hot air flows begin to rotate counterclockwise, which is due to the movement of the planet around its own axis. An abundance of clouds is forming. As soon as the wind speed begins to exceed 130 km / h, the hurricane takes on a clear outline, begins to move in a certain direction.
Hurricane categories
A special scale for determining the nature of damage after was developed by researchers Robert Simpson and Herbert Saffir in 1973. The scientists based the selection of criteria on the magnitude of storm waves and the speed of the wind blowing. How many hurricane categories? There are 5 levels of threat in total:
- Minimum - small trees and shrubs are exposed to destructive influences. Insignificant damage to coastal piers is observed, small-sized vessels are unloaded from anchors.
- Moderate - Trees and bushes take significant damage. Some of them are uprooted. Prefabricated structures are severely damaged. Docks and piers are being destroyed.
- Significant - prefabricated houses suffer damage, large trees fall, roofs, doors and windows are torn off near capital buildings. Severe flooding has been observed within the coastlines.
- Huge - shrubs, trees, billboards, prefabricated structures soar into the air. Houses are crumbling under the foundation. Capital structures are subject to serious destructive effects. The height of the waters in the flooded areas reaches three meters above sea level. Floods can travel 10 kilometers inland. There has been significant damage from debris and waves.
- Catastrophic - all prefabricated structures, trees and bushes are swept away by a hurricane. Most buildings are critically damaged. The lower floors are seriously damaged. The consequences of the natural disaster are visible more than 45 kilometers inland. There is a need for mass evacuation of the population that lives in coastal areas.
How are hurricanes named?
The decision to give names to atmospheric phenomena was made during the Second World War. During this period, American meteorologists were actively monitoring the behavior of typhoons in the Pacific Ocean. Trying to prevent confusion, the researchers gave the manifestations of the elements the names of their own mother-in-law and wives. At the end of the war, the United States National Meteorological Service compiled a special list of hurricane names that were short and easy to remember. Thus, the compilation of statistics for researchers has been greatly facilitated.
Specific rules for naming hurricanes date back to the 1950s. At first, the phonetic alphabet was used. However, the method turned out to be inconvenient. Soon, meteorologists decided to return to the proven option, namely, the use of female names. Subsequently, it became a system. Other countries around the world have learned about how hurricanes are named in the United States. The principle of choosing short, memorable names began to be used to identify typhoons that formed in all oceans.
In the 70s, the naming procedure for hurricanes was streamlined. So, the first major natural phenomenon of the year began to be designated by the shortest, sweet-sounding female name according to the first letter of the alphabet. Subsequently, names were used in other letters according to their sequence in the alphabet. To identify the manifestations of the elements, a wide list was compiled, which included 84 female names. In 1979, meteorologists decided to expand the list to include the male names of hurricanes.
San Calixto
One of the largest hurricanes in history, it got its name from the famous Roman bishop-martyr. According to documented references, the natural phenomenon swept across the Caribbean islands back in 1780. As a result of the disaster, about 95% of all buildings were damaged. The hurricane raged for 11 days and killed 27,000 people. The insane elements destroyed the entire British fleet that was stationed in the Caribbean.
Katrina
Hurricane Katrina in America is arguably the most talked about hurricane in history. A natural disaster with a cute female name has caused devastating consequences in the territories of the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of the disaster, infrastructure in and Louisiana was almost completely destroyed. The hurricane claimed the lives of about 2,000 people. The states of Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky were also affected. As for its territory, it was subjected to a serious flood.
Subsequently, the disaster led to a social catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless. The cities that have suffered the most destruction have become the epicenter of massive crime. The statistics on property theft, looting, robberies have reached incredible figures. The government managed to return life to its usual course only a year later.
Irma
Hurricane Irma is one of the most recent tropical cyclones, with extremely devastating consequences. A natural phenomenon formed in August 2017, near the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. In September, the hurricane received the fifth threat category. The settlements located in the south of the Bahamas have suffered catastrophic destruction. More than half of the population lost their homes.
Then Hurricane Irma reached Cuba. The capital, Havana, was soon completely flooded. According to the data of meteorologists, waves up to 7 meters high were observed here. Gusts of gusty winds reached a speed of 250 km / h.
On September 10, the natural disaster reached the coast of Florida. Local authorities had to urgently evacuate more than 6 million people. Soon the hurricane moved to Miami, where it caused severe destruction. A few days later, Irma's category dropped to a minimum. On September 12 of this year, the hurricane completely disintegrated.
Harvey
Hurricane Harvey in the United States is a natural phenomenon that formed on August 17, 2017. A tropical cyclone triggered flooding in the southern and eastern parts. More than 80 people died in consequence. After the catastrophic destruction in Houston, cases of theft and looting have increased significantly. City officials were forced to impose a curfew. The public order became controlled by the military.
Repairing damage after Hurricane Harvey in the United States required $ 8 billion from the budget. However, according to experts, the complete restoration of infrastructure in the affected communities will require more significant financial investments, which are estimated at about 70 billion.
"Camilla"
In August 1969, one of the largest cyclones in history formed, which was named "Camilla". The epicenter of the attack fell on the United States. A spontaneous phenomenon, which was assigned the fifth category of danger, hit the state of Mississippi. The incredible amount of rainfall has led to extensive flooding. Researchers have not been able to measure the maximum wind force due to the destruction of all meteorological instruments. Therefore, the real power of Hurricane Camilla remains a mystery to this day.
As a result of the disaster, more than 250 people went missing. About 8,900 residents of the states of Mississippi, Virginia, Louisiana and Alabama were injured of varying degrees of severity. Thousands of houses were under water, littered with trees and covered with landslides. Material damage to the state amounted to about $ 6 billion.
"Mitch"
Hurricane Mitch caused a real disaster in the late 1990s. The epicenter of the disaster fell on the Atlantic Basin. In Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, the most numerous buildings and roads were destroyed. A large number of people died. According to official figures, the disaster claimed the lives of 11,000 people. A similar number of people were added to the lists of missing persons. A significant part of African territories have turned into continuous mud swamps. Cities began to suffer en masse from the shortage of drinking water. Hurricane Mitch raged for a whole month.
"Andrew"
Deserves a place in the list of the strongest hurricanes in history and "Andrew". In 1992, he walked throughout the territory, affecting the states of Florida and Louisiana. The disaster caused $ 26 billion in damage to the United States, according to official figures. Although experts say that this amount is significantly underestimated, and the real losses are equal to 34 billion.
Tornadoes and tornadoes are natural disasters that are caused by strong winds. Swirling into funnels, they descend to the surface of the earth, destroying buildings, cars and trees, and often the result of their appearance is the death of people. Tornadoes in the United States occur more often than in other countries, according to statistics, there are about 700 tornadoes annually on average.
The origin of the tornado
The nature of the origin and occurrence of a tornado consists in the collision of two oppositely directed strong winds. When a thundercloud passes, the headwind abruptly changes direction and blows vertically upward, then falls downward. Sometimes the upward and downward currents meet inside the cloud and begin to twist in a spiral, which becomes the beginning of the tornado.
Such a swirling column of air in meteorology is called a mesocyclone. A mass of rotating air - a vortex or whirlpool. Inside it there is a drop in atmospheric pressure, due to which the suction of the ambient air is greatly increased. As they grow, such tornadoes gain power and begin to rotate faster. Moreover, the speed of movement of the tornado is in the range of 20-60 km / h.
When air is drawn in from below, the tornado becomes like a funnel or cone. The larger the amount of air, the more conical it will become.
The shape of a tornado can be in the form of a thin rotating tube or a cone. The diameter can reach several hundred meters, and near water its lower diameter decreases to 30 m, and when it touches the surface of the earth - to 2-3 km.
The direction of air swirling inside a tornado in the Northern Hemisphere is always counterclockwise, in the Southern Hemisphere - along its course.
The color of a tornado can be very diverse and depends on the amount of dirt and dust raised from the ground. Most often it ranges from off-white, gray to brown or reddish brown when mixed with red clay. Also, its shades can change with lighting or sunset and other atmospheric phenomena. Nighttime tornadoes are often accompanied by lightning flashes within a thundercloud.
The wind speed inside a tornado can reach 1000 km / h, and trees, metal objects and in general everything that it sucks from the surface of the earth can move inside it with the same force.
Element in the USA
The weather in the United States and the physical and geographical features of its territory contribute to the emergence of a large number of tornadoes and hurricanes. In the flat part of it there are powerful westerly winds that blow over the Rocky Mountains. The movement of air masses over a huge plain, surrounded on both sides by oceans and mountains, has specific features. There is a "drought line" here, dividing dry western air and humid eastern winds.
When they enter the plain, they encounter the lower warm currents coming from the Gulf of Mexico. Typically, a tornado is accompanied by heavy rain, wind or hail. The collision of opposite air masses, as a rule, occurs over the central states, here powerful tornadoes form.
The most common type of tornado in the United States is the scourge (classic funnel with a smooth pillar). The most dangerous are compound vortices resembling a bundle in shape. Less common are firestorms that occur during a fire.
"Tornado Alley"
Tornadoes are a regular occurrence in the United States, but there are areas where they occur most often: the plains between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains.
Tornado Alley includes areas of the central United States, which includes the states of Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota. These regions account for 90% of all tornadoes that form in America.
The term "Tornado Alley" was first used in 1952 in a scientific project by E. Faubush and R. Miller, in which the weather in the USA was investigated. Then this name was picked up by the press, spreading it all over the world. Sometimes the term "Great Plains of the Tornado Belt" is also used.
Almost the entire territory of the Alley is the Great Plains, where there are no mountains, which often act as barriers to moisture discharge. Because of this, the flat area is open to cold fronts from Canada as well as warm ones from Mexico. When they collide, tornadoes are generated.
The number of tornadoes depends on weather conditions and the time of year. According to observations of meteorologists, the maximum amount is in the spring, the minimum - in the winter.
Science and tornado
Beginning in the 1950s, scientists began to officially record tornadoes in America, as well as conduct numerous studies of the natural disaster. Protection mechanisms began to be actively introduced, devices were developed that promptly signal the origin and passage of atmospheric vortices, calculating the degree of danger of a tornado.
The protection system includes meteorological satellites and radars; from photographs of passing fronts, scientists predict the likely appearance of tornadoes. In the regions included in the "Tornado Alley", during construction, special calculations of the structure of buildings are taken into account, shelters are being built, professional services have been created that notify residents about the beginning or approach of a natural disaster.
Aftermath of a tornado
Tornadoes in the United States bring terrible destruction and death to cities and settlements of the country, because when a tornado passes, all structures and objects inside the funnel are sucked into it.
Due to the low pressure inside the tornado, when it comes into contact with a building or any objects, an explosion and great destruction can occur. A curious case has survived in history when a tornado passed through a chicken coop, after which all the chickens were plucked. Scientists explained this by the explosion of air sacs located at the base of the feathers in the bird, in which the feathers were separated from the body.
A tragic example of destruction is the destruction of the whole town of Greensburg (Kansas), which occurred in May 2007: a tornado 2.7 km wide at a speed of 330 km / h destroyed 95% of the buildings (see photo located in the article below) and carried away 11 human lives, although the warning sirens passed in 20 minutes. before the tornado approached, and the inhabitants managed to hide.
Statistical data
According to scientists, as of today, 10 thousand people have been affected by the tornado in America.
The most terrible and destructive elements, according to historical data, occurred in the XX-XXI centuries. in such years:
- 1917 - Mattun Tornado;
- 1925 - a tornado 1.6 km wide passed through 3 states (Missouri, Illinois, Indiana), killing 690 people, destroying many settlements and farms;
- 1953 - a town in Texas is destroyed, more than 100 people died;
- 1998 - powerful tornadoes in Florida.
The record for the number of past tornadoes was 2011 - 1704 tornadoes and 553 dead. America's average annual material loss reaches nearly $ 8 billion.
Tornado-2017
This year, the element continued its destructive effect in some states.
Major tornadoes in the USA in 2017:
- March - the past tornado left 500 thousand people without light. in Michigan.
- May - 13 people became victims of the disaster that swept over 5 states of the United States, several more went missing.
- June - A tornado sweeps through the Pentagon Air Force Base in Nebraska and damages 10 nationwide emergency aircraft, several trees and one structure.
- August 11 - A tornado in the Texas town of Tulsa left 11 thousand residents without electricity, 30 people were injured.
- During the second half of August in Texas during the passage of Hurricane Harvey, meteorologists announced the passage of more than 70 tornadoes, so that the last tornado in the United States can still be considered a frequent occurrence.
Tornado hunters
People who had to deal with the phenomenon of a tornado in their life are divided into two categories: those who got into it by accident, and hunters who are specifically looking for a meeting with this natural disaster. Today, tornado hunting in the USA is one of the hobbies of people who love extreme situations.
Such a movement was created for purely scientific purposes. Indeed, to study the nature of a tornado, it was necessary to get closer to it. Scientists in cars tried to drive closer to the passing tornado, which often ended tragically. However, this could not stop the researchers and hunters of such spectacles, because the photos and videos taken at close range from this atmospheric phenomenon fascinate with their originality and formidable natural beauty.
Texas and the Gulf Coast continue to feel the impact hurricane harvey which brought with it severe floods.
The Weather Channel has compiled a list 10 worst hurricanes(and the floods caused by them) in the history of the United States, including those that have not yet been given names.
Hurricane at Galveston, September 1900
Hurricane in Miami, September 1926
The storm hit Miami when South Florida residents were not yet as prepared for the disaster as they are now. According to the Red Cross, the hurricane killed 372 people, and about 150 more drowned when water broke the Moore Haven dam in several places.
Hurricane in South Florida, September 1928
A Category 5 hurricane raged near West Palm Beach. Heavy rainfall overflowed Lake Okeechobee, flooding the surrounding area to a depth of more than 10 feet. About 2,500 people drowned, more than 1,700 houses were flooded.
Hurricane Labor Day, September 1935
The storm hit the Florida Keys with winds of up to 185 mph and 20-foot waves. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the hurricane killed 408 people, most of whom were WWI veterans working on construction sites in the area.
Long Island Hurricane, September 1938
This storm and winds, blowing at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, killed 256 people on Long Island on the way to New England. Houses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut were destroyed. The damage was $ 306 million.
Hurricane Camilla, August 1969
Camilla hit the Mississippi coast, causing waves up to 24 feet high. More than 140 people have died in cities on the Gulf Coast, and 113 more have died in flooding in Virginia.
Hurricane Andrew, August 1992
Andrew was a short but violent storm that hit South Florida with the strength of a Category 5 hurricane. Then the hurricane dropped to Category 3 and reached Louisiana. 65 people were killed, 127 thousand houses were damaged and destroyed, the damage amounted to $ 26 billion.
Hurricane Charlie, August 2004
The main force of the storm fell on Florida and South Carolina. 10 people were killed, and property damage from the destruction is estimated at $ 15 billion.
Hurricane Katrina, August 2005
The Category 3 hurricane killed about 2,000 people and caused $ 100 billion in damage, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Katrina. Water broke through dams and flooded 80% of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Storm Sandy, October 2012
A new hurricane, Jose, follows Irma into the Caribbean. On the islands of San Barthelemy and Saint Martin, which the elements have literally destroyed, the maximum level of danger is again declared. The situation is the same on the south coast of Florida.
Miami. Shots, like from a movie about a post-apocalypse: empty streets, boarded up doors and windows. The few residents who have decided not to leave dare to venture out to the store, if they are lucky enough to find one that is still open.
Showcases with fresh meat and seafood are packed to capacity. If they don't take it, it spoils too quickly. After a hurricane, you will most likely have to live without electricity for several days. And only a few remain at home, most of them have moved to shelters. Florida has about four hundred shelters open, mostly in school buildings. They will be able to accommodate more than 50 thousand people. Even the homeless are brought there. The Miami police said that if necessary, people from the street will be taken by force. But almost everyone agrees to go voluntarily.
At the Miami Zoo, only large animals remained in the enclosures. All young and rare birds were transported to a fortified bunker. More than two hundred cats and dogs have been flown from local pet shelters in Ohio.
While some are trying to escape from "Irma", others manage to make money on her behalf. In supermarkets there are cakes with the image of a hurricane and the signature "Irma, go away." Buyers were divided. Some considered it blasphemy, others say that a little humor in this situation will not hurt.
But those who have already been hit by a hurricane have no time for jokes. Irma has been raging in the Caribbean since mid-week. She claimed dozens of lives. Flooded Haiti, de-energized Puerto Rico and literally destroyed part of the islands that are in the possession of France, Great Britain and the Netherlands.
And in the Caribbean, another strong hurricane is now raging - "Jose". But the wind speed there is currently slowing down to 85 miles (135 kilometers) per hour.
The hurricane, considered the most powerful in 12 years, claimed the lives of at least 5 Americans. The exact number of victims and material damage will be announced in a few days. In the meantime, we cite the losses of the United States as a result of the most destructive hurricanes in the past 20 years.
Many of these hurricanes will not recur, if only because, by tradition, the US National Hurricane Center deletes from the register of names the names that received the most destructive hurricanes.
Express info by country
USA(USA) is a state in North America.
Capital- Washington
Largest cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston, Phoenix, San Diego, Dallas
Form of government- Presidential republic
Territory- 9 519 431 km 2 (4th in the world)
Population- 321.26 million people (3rd in the world)
Official language- American English
Religion- Protestantism, Catholicism
HDI- 0.915 (8th in the world)
Gdp- $ 17.419 trillion (1st in the world)
Currency- U.S. dollar
Bordered by: Canada, Mexico
Hurricane Hugo, 1989
"Hugo" took place in September 1989 over the northern Caribbean and the east coast of the United States. He was awarded the fifth, highest category on the hurricane scale. The maximum wind speed is 365 km / h. The number of victims has not yet been established. The figures are from 47 to 86 people. At the time, it was the most destructive hurricane on record. The amount of damage was $ 10 billion (hereinafter at the prices of that time).
Hurricane Andrew 1992
Hurricane Andrew in August 1992 swept through the northwestern Bahamas, southern Florida, and southwestern Louisiana. Assigned to category 5, wind speed - 285 km / h. Killed 65 people, the amount of damage - $ 26.5 billion. In terms of destructive power surpassed the "Hugo" and until 2005 retained the status of the most destructive hurricane in America.
Hurricane Opal, 1995
In late September and early October 1995, Hurricane Opal devastated Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. Developed up to category 4, wind speed - 240 km / h. 63 people died, damage amounted to $ 5.1 billion.
Hurricane Floyd 1999
Swept over the east coast of the United States in September 1999. Assigned to category 4, wind speed - 250 km / h. 87 people died. The damage amounted to $ 6.9 billion.
Tropical storm "Alison", 2001
Alison, which arrived in Texas in June 2001, did not have hurricane status. With a wind speed of 95 km / h, it brought destruction in the form of abnormal precipitation. In Houston, many houses have sunk under water with a roof. As a result, 55 dead, damage - $ 9 billion.
Hurricane Isabel, 2003
In September 2003, more than 10 states were affected, including New York. Reached the 5th category with a wind speed of 270 km / h. The hurricane uprooted thousands of trees and cut power lines all the way, leaving more than six million people without electricity. In North Carolina, a huge wave of Hurricane Isabelle washed away part of Hatteras Island, transforming it into what is now called Isabelle Cove. 51 people died, the amount of damage was $ 3.6 billion.
Hurricane Charlie, 2004
A Category 5 hurricane in August 2004 caused massive damage to Florida, North and South Carolina. At a speed of 240 km / h, it was assigned the 5th category. In some localities, all buildings were destroyed. 35 people died, the damage amounted to $ 16, 3 billion.
Hurricane "Ivan", 2004
Formed in September 2004, affecting Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and the eastern United States. At a wind speed of 270 km / h (category 5), it killed 25 Americans and caused damage of $ 18 billion.
Hurricane Francis, 2004
Having formed just three weeks after Hurricane Charlie, the Francis hit Florida again in September 2004. Awarded to the 4th category at a wind speed of 230 km / h. 50 people died, damage amounted to $ 9.8 billion.
Hurricane Wilma, 2005
Hurricane Wilma raged in October 2005. Wind speed reached 295 km / h (category 5), causing great damage in Florida. The hurricane killed at least 62 people, and the losses amounted to $ 21 billion.
Hurricane Katrina, 2005
The most devastating hurricane in US history. The wind speed reached 280 km / h (category 5), but the main damage was caused by floods. The most severe damage was caused to New Orleans in Louisiana, where about 80% of the city's area was under water. The states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were also affected. As a result of the natural disaster, 1,836 residents were killed, and the economic damage amounted to $ 125 billion.
Hurricane Rita, 2005
Hurricane Rita formed in September 2005. The wind speed reached 285 km / h (category 5). The states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida were affected. The death toll is estimated at 97 - 125 people. The damage amounted to $ 12 billion.
Hurricane Ike, 2008
Hurricane Ike formed in September 2008 and reached the southeast coast at a speed of 235 km / h (category 4). Affected North Carolina and Texas. A hurricane destroyed the town of Galveston, Texas. The number of victims reached 195, the damage - $ 29.5 billion.
Hurricane Irene, 2011
Hurricane Irene began in August 2011 and affected a wide area from Florida to New York and Connecticut. The wind speed was 195 km / h (category 3). In America, 45 people died, the damage amounted to $ 10 billion.
Hurricane Sandy 2012
The hurricane that affected the east coast of the United States in October 2012 reached Category 3 (wind speed 175 km / h). The most severe damage was caused to the northeastern states, in particular New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. 73 people died, damage amounted to $ 65 billion.
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