Hurricane

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is a generic term for a low-pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms? and, in the [Northern Hemisphere]?, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the Earth's surface. Tropical cyclones are classified as follows:

Tropical Depression: An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds* of 38 mph (33 kt*) or less.

Tropical Storm: An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 kt).

Hurricane: An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher.

Sustained winds are defined as a 1-minute average wind measured at about 33 ft (10 meters) above the surface. (* 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour or 1.15 statute miles per hour. Abbreviated as "kt".)

The ingredients for a hurricane include a pre-existing weather disturbance, warm tropical oceans, moisture, and relatively light winds aloft. If the right conditions persist long enough, they can combine to produce the violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains, and floods? we associate with this phenomenon.

Each year, an average of ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, [Caribbean Sea]?, and [Gulf of Mexico]?. Many of these remain over the ocean. On average, six of these storms become hurricanes each year. In an average 3-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the United States coastline, killing approximately 50 to 100 people anywhere from Texas to Maine. Of these, two are typically "major" or "intense" hurricanes (winds greater than 110 mph).

Hurricanes also strike Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean? island nations, often doing intense damage: they are deadlier when over warmer water, and the United States is better able to evacuate people from threatened areas than many other nations.

In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch? caused severe flooding and mudslides in Honduras, killing at least 10,000 people and changing the landscape enough that entirely new maps of the nation were needed.

Hurricanes are categorized according to the strength of their winds using the [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale]]. A Category 1 storm has the lowest wind speeds, while a Category 5 hurricane has the strongest. These are relative terms, because lower category storms can sometimes inflict greater damage than higher category storms, depending on where they strike and the particular hazards they bring. In fact, tropical storms can also produce significant damage and loss of life, mainly due to flooding.

Hurricane Names

When the winds from these storms reach 39 mph (34 kt), the cyclone is given a name. Years ago, an international committee developed six separate lists of names for these storms. Each list alternates between male and female names. The use of these easily remembered names greatly reduces confusion when two or more tropical cyclones occur at the same time. Each list is reused every six years, although the names of hurricanes that have resulted in substantial damage or death are retired.

Much of this is from the NOAA hurricane site; US government, so public domain. I added the material about damage to Latin America and the Caribbean, rearranged a bit, and Wikified. Is there a meteorologist in the house?