The Hurricane Center is a leading resource on the Web for everything related to hurricanes.
Scroll down through the posts in this site to see live satellite maps, hurricane forecasts, hurricane warnings, expert hurricane-information links, hurricane tracking, hurricane facts — and much more. Enjoy this unique hurricane resource.
Hurricane Tracker satellite time-lapse image from AccuWeather.com
The National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service offers the very latest hurricane satellite and radar images; aircraft reconnaissance photos; hurricane advisories; hurricane analysis tools; hurricane awareness FAQs, and much more.
The National Hurricane Center also provides information regarding hurricane hunters, the Saffir-Simpson Scale, forecasting models, eyewall wind profiles, and storm histories, as well as extensive information about hurricane forecasts and forecasting — plus general climatology data.
Visit the National Hurricane Center at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
There are a number of excellent Hurricane Trackers online. Check out these popular resources:
Hurricane Tracker at MSNBC.com
www.HurricaneTrack.com
www.Stormpulse.com
Items for your hurricane preparedness kit:
Water – at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days (stock up days prior to anticipated hurricane landfall)
Food – at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils
Blankets / Pillows, etc.
Clothing – seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
Special Items – for babies and the elderly
Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
Flashlight / Batteries
Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones – Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards – Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
Keys
Toys, Books and Games
Important documents – in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
Tools – keep a set with you during the storm
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash
(above hurricane preparedness list courtesy of the National Hurricane Center)
Also consider an FRS “Family Radio Service” radio that you can purchase from most general retailers (such as WalMart, Staples, Radio Shack) for approx. $15. For more information, including “How to use an FRS radio in a Hurricane Zone”, visit the National SOS Radio Network’s Web site at www.NationalSOS.com.
2011 Hurricane names for 2010 Hurricane Season (Atlantic Ocean):
* Hurricane Arlene
* Hurricane Bret
* Hurricane Cindy
* Hurricane Don
* Hurricane Emily
* Hurricane Franklin
* Hurricane Gert
* Hurricane Harvey
* Hurricane Irene
* Hurricane Jose
* Hurricane Katia
* Hurricane Lee
* Hurricane Maria
* Hurricane Nate
* Hurricane Ophelia
* Hurricane Philippe
* Hurricane Rina
* Hurricane Sean
* Hurricane Tammy
* Hurricane Vince
* Hurricane Whitney
2011 Eastern Pacific Hurricane names:
* Hurricane Adrian
* Hurricane Beatriz
* Hurricane Calvin
* Hurricane Dora
* Hurricane Eugene
* Hurricane Fernanda
* Hurricane Greg
* Hurricane Hilary
* Hurricane Irwin
* Hurricane Jova
* Hurricane Kenneth
* Hurricane Lidia
* Hurricane Max
* Hurricane Norma
* Hurricane Otis
* Hurricane Pilar
* Hurricane Ramon
* Hurricane Selma
* Hurricane Todd
* Hurricane Veronica
* Hurricane Wiley
* Hurricane Xina
* Hurricane York
* Hurricane Zelda
Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that typically occur in the warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. When ocean waters heat up during the summer and fall, water evaporates into the lower atmosphere.
According to Wikipedia, hurricanes “…feed on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air.” The released heat is called “heat of condensation”. The released heat is “distributed vertically around the center of the storm. Thus, at any given altitude (except close to the surface, where water temperature dictates air temperature) the environment inside the cyclone is warmer than its outer surroundings.”
In an ordinary thunderstorm, the released heat of condensation is carried away by surrounding strong winds (called “wind sheer”). But when the winds are calmer, the heat can continue to build in the vicinity; this heat build up creates an intense low-pressure system — leading to the formation of a hurricane.
Because of a phenomenon called coriolis force, hurricanes have counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/basics/coriolis-understanding.htm
For more information on what causes hurricanes and how hurricanes form, visit the following Wikipedia reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone
The animated hurricane image in this post is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)