The Emerald Coast has still yet to fully recover from the hurricanes of 2005, and scientists along the Emerald Coast are already predicting another busy hurricane season for 2007.
With
the growing population and business development
along the Emerald Coast, greater numbers
of people and property are exposed to the
threat of hurricanes. It is very important
for residents and visitors on the Emerald
Coast to understand what a hurricane is,
what causes a hurricane, and what to do
when a hurricane approaches the coastline.
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone – a low-pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The cyclone is accompanied bythunderstorms and a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the Earth’s surface.
Classifications of tropical cyclones include:
·
Tropical depressions – an organized
system of clouds and thunderstorms with
a defined surface circulation and maximum
sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
· Tropical storm – an organized
system of strong thunderstorms with a defined
surface circulation and maximum sustained
winds of 39-73 mph.
· Hurricane – an intense tropical
weather system of strong thunderstorms with
a well-defined surface circulation and maximum
sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.
What causes a hurricane?
Tropical cyclones form over warm waters from pre-existing disturbances. These disturbances typically emerge every three to four days from the coast of Africa as tropical waves that consist of areas of unsettled weather.
- There are no tropical cyclones at this time.
00:01:27 Gmt - Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook
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For The North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico,
Tropical Cyclone Formation Is Not Expected During The Next 48 Hours.
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Forecaster Beven