Hurricanes - Sarah

Dear Krithika,

You would never believe what is going to happen! Miami is supposed to get hit by a category 4 hurricane this weekend! It is said that there will be winds over 150 miles per hour! The hotel we are staying at may not be able to survive the storm, so we will need to move inland quickly. Don't worry though, we will be fine as long as we are prepared. Wait, you do know what a hurricane is, don't you?

The word "hurricane" came from the West Indians and literally means "big wind." To be considered a hurricane, it has to have winds of AT LEAST 74 mph, and they can even get up to almost 250 mph! They are known for their high winds, severe damage, heavy rain, and coastal flooding. And over 80% of deaths from hurricanes are due to drowning! Hurricanes form out in the open ocean in tropical regions of the world. It must be a very low pressure area, be exposed to a lot of sunlight, and the temperature of the water's surface must be at least 80 degrees fahrenheit to even have the possibility of a forming hurricane. Because of how warm the water is, it condenses into clouds. Warm air rises and when the wind is just right, the air mass begins to spin. It gains speed and more clouds begin to form. And I bet you don't know this: in the eye of the storm, the winds are the calmest, and there aren't any clouds! Most hurricanes have an eyewall of dense cumulonimbus clouds as well as cumulonimbus spiral arms. You can check out the NOAA website to learn more!

This hurricane is coming towards Miami at top speed, so I really have to go. Don't worry, we'll be fine. I'll keep you posted and let you know what is going on soon! Have fun on the rest of your Bahamas vacation! Hope to see you soon and stay safe!

Your Friend,

Sarah

P.S. - Hurricanes sometimes have a tendency to turn around, so watch out :)