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Hurricane Facts

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The Saffir-Simpson Scale categorizes hurricanes by current winds and even the expected storm surge.
Read more about the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

View a list of
Hurricane Names

What is a Hurricane?

A Tropical Storm is an organized system of thunderstorms that forms over tropical waters with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots).

A Hurricane has many of the same characteristics of a tropical storm but is more intense with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher. In the western Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons and similar storms in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones.

Read more about hurricanes

WeatherBug and Rachel Peterson

How Do Hurricanes Form?

WeatherBug Meterologist, Rachel Peterson, explains how hurricanes are formed.
Watch video

Hurricane Being Tracked

Track Hurricanes

Use our interactive Hurricane Tracker to follow the paths of hurricanes, past and present.

A Hurricane

How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Assigning a name to tropical storms and hurricanes is a practice that can trace its roots back several centuries.
Learn how storms received names in the past and how meteorologists name them today.

Watch the "How Hurricanes are Named" video from Farmers' Almanac TV

Hurricane Hunter Plane

Inside A Hurricane Hunter Plane

Did you know that there is a special team designated to fly inside hurricanes?
Read about these daring hurricane hunters.

Hurricane Model Tool

Hurricane Safety Tools

Download the Hurricane Watcher Widget to view the latest satellite images on your Mac OS X Dashboard.

Receive severe weather alerts on your desktop.

Learn about professional weather solutions that offer risk management tools for your business, government and emergency management operations.

Red Cross

Hurricane Safety

Read hurricane safety tips and learn how to prepare for an approaching storm.
Visit our Hurricane Safety section.

Your Hurricane Experiences

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