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Keep exploring 

Find even more resources on hurricanes  in our searchable resource database.

Hurricanes are one of nature’s most powerful storms. They produce strong winds, storm surge flooding, and heavy rainfall that can lead to inland flooding, tornadoes, and rip currents.

A satellite image of Hurricane Humberto with a well-defined eye off the coast of the Southeastern United States.

Hurricane Humberto, as captured by a NOAA satellite September 15, 2019. (Image credit: NOAA Satellites)

What is a hurricane?

Hurricanes, known generically as tropical cyclones , are low-pressure systems with organized thunderstorm activity that form over tropical or subtropical waters . They gain their energy from warm ocean waters.

Two satellite images side by side. In the image on the left, there is no clear thunderstorm banding. On the right, the disturbance has escalated to a tropical storm and it has become "organized" with bands wrapping around the center.

As storm systems strengthen into hurricanes, the surface winds move continuously in a circular motion. Meteorologists refer to this pattern as “closed circulation." The direction of circulation is different depending on where the storm is located: it is counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.

This satellite image of Hurricane Michael from October 10, 2018 has arrows superimposed on top to show the closed circulation wind pattern that is characteristic of a hurricane.

These rotating winds lead to the development of the characteristic “eye” of the hurricane, the calm, clear center of the storm. The eye is surrounded by the eyewall , where winds are strongest. 

Tropical cyclones are classified by their maximum wind speed. 

  • Winds less than 39 mph: Tropical depressions
  • Winds 39-73 mph: Tropical storms 
  • Winds 74 mph or greater: Hurricanes

Major hurricanes have winds of at least 111 mph and can reach speeds of over 180 mph, with gusts of 200 mph.   

This image from the GOES-7 satellite shows Hurricane Andrew at its peak intensity on August 24, 1992 before making landfall near Homestead, Florida.

In the rearview mirror, life-changing events can look a little different. An extreme weather event survived by a young Anthony Arguez later altered his life in a positive way. Despite the devastation, Hurricane Andrew’s landfall in the summer of 1992 sent him on a new path that led to NOAA.

What’s in a name?

Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones are actually all the same type of storm, but have different names based on where they form. In the North Atlantic and central and eastern North Pacific, these storms are called “hurricanes.” In the western North Pacific, they are called “typhoons” and in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, they are called “cyclones.” (Tropical cyclones are rare in the South Atlantic.)

Once a storm escalates to tropical storm-level winds, it is given a name . The names are chosen by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization offsite link (WMO). Names are reused every six years, although the WMO may retire the name of a particularly deadly or costly storm.

Tropical Storm Allison on June 5, 2001, early in its life, strikes the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana. Satellite image is from GOES-8, channel 1 visible mixed with the cloud-free blue marble as background.

How do tropical cyclones form?

Tropical storms form from an atmospheric disturbance like a tropical wave or group of thunderstorms. For these disturbances to grow into a tropical cyclone, the following environmental conditions must be in place:

  • Warm ocean waters (at least 80°F/27°C).
  • An unstable atmosphere driven by differences in temperature, where temperature decreases with height.
  • Moist air near the mid-level of the atmosphere.
  • Must be at least 200 miles (with rare exceptions) north or south of the equator for it to spin (due to the Coriolis effect ).
  • Little change in wind speed or direction with height (known as low vertical wind shear ).

This image of Tropical Storm Arlene was captured by NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite on April 20, 2017

Hurricane safety 

Hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions pose a variety of threats to people and property. Storm surge and inland flooding have historically been the number one offsite link and two causes of loss of life during hurricanes. Hurricanes can also bring strong winds, tornados, rough surf, and rip currents. The time to prepare for a hurricane is before hurricane season begins, June 1 in the Atlantic and May 15 in the Eastern and Central Pacific.

Hurricane categories only tell part of the story 

Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , which addresses wind speed on a scale from one to five. However, a tropical storm or category one or two hurricane can cause as much overall damage as a major hurricane.  

NOAA-20 captured this nighttime view of the eye of Cyclone Cebile, as it swirled at Category 4 strength in the Indian Ocean on January 30, 2018.

Every storm is different

Each tropical system can bring a variety of unique, life-threatening hazards to a given location. It’s critical to know your risk, especially if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone or in an area where flooding could occur. Even if you’ve previously survived a storm in your area, future hurricanes may bring different hazards.

Local officials may issue evacuation orders before storm or storm surge watches or warnings are issued for your area. Evacuation orders are released to ensure residents have enough time to leave vulnerable areas before the first hazards from the storm arrive. Be prepared to evacuate and do so immediately when ordered.

Hurricanes bring extreme rainfall 

Warm air can hold more moisture than cool air. In tropical cyclones, the air is particularly warm and can hold a tremendous amount of moisture. The moisture cools as it rises and condenses into heavy rain, often much more than a typical low pressure system offsite link . These rains can occur not only at the coast, but many miles inland , causing flooding that can continue for days or even weeks after a storm. Always follow evacuation orders and never drive into flooded roadways. If you live in a low-lying or flood prone area, always have an evacuation plan before a storm begins.

Mosaic image showing new NOAA hurricane products.

Water, not wind, is the biggest threat

Though hurricanes are well known for strong and destructive winds, hurricane storm surge is the greatest threat. Storm surge is water that is pushed toward the shore by winds swirling around the storm. This rise in water level can cause severe flooding in coastal areas. With much of the United States' densely populated Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines less than 10 feet above mean sea level, the danger from storm surges is tremendous. Historically, about half of direct fatalities offsite link from hurricanes that make landfall in the U.S. are from storm surge. Always follow evacuation orders.

Run from the water, hide from the wind

When you’re at risk from flooding, it’s important to get to high ground away from bodies of water and any flood-prone areas. When there are high winds, but no danger of flooding (rare in hurricanes, but also important during any storm), it’s important to shelter in place in a sturdy structure, away from doors and windows. This is why most evacuation orders are given for water, not wind.

Causes of direct fatalities from Atlantic tropical cyclones 1963-2012. Storm surge: 49%, rain: 27%, surf: 6%, offshore: 6%, wind: 8%, tornado: 3%, other: 1%. Note that 88% of deaths can be attributed to water hazards. Chart adapted from Fatalities in the United States from Atlantic Tropical Cyclones: New Data and Interpretation by Edward N. Rappaport, 2014.

Stay safe after a storm passes

Hurricane-related hazards don’t disappear when the weather clears. After the storm , use generators safely, be careful not to overexert yourself, and do not venture into storm-damaged areas before it is safe to do so. Many fatalities are reported after storms end, due to heart attacks, issues related to power outages, and accidents.

EDUCATION CONNECTION

As the climate changes, hurricane impacts also change. Coastal communities are particularly vulnerable as rising sea levels compound storm surge flooding. This collection provides educators and students with resources to explore how hurricanes form, their potential effects, ways to prepare for hurricanes, and even a citizen science project to classify hurricanes from satellite imagery.

  • climate change

What I’ve Learned From a Life Filled With Hurricanes

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

W e’re at Lowe’s buying plants, but all the signs posted around the garden center are about propane tanks and the upcoming hurricane. ONE PER CUSTOMER, someone has scrawled in black marker. My girlfriend and I have just moved back to Orlando after spending two years in Miami and before that, six months in Las Vegas for a residency that coincided almost exactly with the start of the pandemic. Before all of that, my roots had slid snug and deep into the soil of Orlando. It is a pleasure to be back home, but as usual, it’s a pleasure tinged with pain. Our things are still sitting in boxes and Hurricane Ian ’s eye is headed straight for us. We leave with a couple of new plants, draped over the back seat like wild green mermaid hair. We won’t put them outside just yet. They’ll have to live in the house with us for the duration of the storm.

I’d just set up the yard. There are swaths of Edison bulbs, lights strung around the planters, and the heavy-duty plastic chairs that I acquired for seating around a brand-new firepit. All of it must go inside the garage, including a free-standing umbrella that I bought on a whim, one that allows the perfect amount of shade when I sit outside to write or enjoy a beer. It takes twice as long to take everything down as it did to put it up. I watch the yard turn back to its natural state. There’s a wealth of kudzu, potato vines, tree branches dripping with Spanish moss. It looks like we were never there at all. That is what Florida does, maybe. It takes itself back, over and over again. It wants to be wild. But I still want to sit there and be wild with it.

We should buy water, I say, at Publix. It’s the Saturday before Ian is scheduled to make landfall – though it’s still projected as a tropical depression. “Still” is an interesting word choice here, I know, one that I employ as a lifelong Floridian who has weathered my fair share of storms. I talk about hurricane prep with my non-Floridian girlfriend, who is nervous, but I try to make everything seem manageable. Here are the steps, I say, listing items off on my fingers as we meander down the increasingly crowded aisles of the grocery store. Water, batteries, unscented candles. Shelf-stable food items. Chex Mix is on sale, buy one, get one free, so I grab two family-sized bags. I’ve only ever participated in hurricane prep in the way that many Central Floridians do, which is to joke that it’s a good excuse to have a party.

Read More: Yes, Climate Change Is Making Storms Like Hurricane Ian Worse

We start a group chat with our friends so we can keep track of each other. We are spread out around town, some of us North, some of us East, and none of us know whose power will last the longest and who will get theirs back first. Whoever’s home has power can host, we say. Whoever has power can provide water so people can shower and eat and sit in the air conditioning. There can be food and beer and company. Company is the most important part.

Friends text from all over. Advice from people who’ve weathered other hurricanes, too, larger ones like Katrina. My writer friend, Lauren, offers up space if we need to travel away, says we are welcome to take her parent’s unoccupied house in Gainesville, that we can stay there while we wait to see what will happen next. I send them my love. We’re fine here, I reply. But I thank them for worrying. It’s hard to know exactly what we’ll need until after it’s all over.

Perhaps that is the thing that makes hurricanes so difficult. There is no knowing what will occur so there is no way to adequately prepare. There is no understanding what will be the best-case scenario or maybe even the worst. There is just watching and waiting. There is looking up at the blue, cloudless sky and understanding that in less than 24 hours it could be roiling black with clouds, wind knocking into the oaks that line the backyard, slamming projectile debris into the side of our new home. This place has got so much natural light , I’d said admiringly when we did our first walk-through. Oh God, there are so many windows , I say once I learn of the incoming storm, and I’m thinking not about the way the light gets in, but the way that glass can break all at once. What to do if a window does break, especially one high up? I’ve got a tarp, but no ladder.

During Hurricane Irma in 2017, I hunkered down in the dark as the wind whipped around the yard of a different home and listened to the crash of a gigantic tree as it ripped free of its mooring. The sound was so loud I could not tell where it had actually hit. Against my better judgment, I pushed open the front door and peered into the inky black. All the power was off down the street, around the block, and there was no way to see what had happened. There was just noise. In the morning, I was able to walk outside and see that one of the large oaks from the shared lawn with our neighbor had chosen its own path. In the coin toss of life, the tree had decided to swipe right instead of left, crashing onto my neighbor’s garage instead of smashing through my roof. Up and down the street, we waved to each other and asked who needed help: arms to carry and lift dead branches, tools to cut them up, trucks to drag and haul them away from our homes. Water, carted in children’s wagons. Whatever food we could share: tinfoil-wrapped pizza rolls and chicken strips from our freezers cooked over the grated top of a firepit. We sweat and glistened in the Florida heat. We waited together.

Read More: Why Atlantic Hurricanes Are Getting Stronger Faster Than Other Storms

Before that, in 2004, Hurricane Charley swept the same neighborhood and culled what felt like hundreds of the beautiful old live oak trees that line the streets in Central Florida. In the aftermath of this, my grandfather climbed onto his roof and used the muscles he’d accrued from years of moving furniture to hack up the large branches that had fallen atop my grandparents’ home. He sweat and labored for hours over this, and a few nights later succumbed to a massive heart attack while my grandmother slept fitfully in the bed. He’d gotten up in the middle of the night to get her a cold compress for her leg, which had been bothering her for days. When she woke later on, still in pain, she found him in the chair beside her, already gone.

What do storms take from us? What can be cut from the body of this place, or from ourselves, and the both of us still manage to exist? What is recovery?

This time, when the hurricane comes, I’m in the new place with my girlfriend, as ready as we’re able. My son–who I had when I was young enough to still be with my own family, a teenager–is living and experiencing his first hurricane on his own. We talk on the phone while we still have power and cell service, texting questions, comparing notes about the differences between this storm and the last ones that have swung through the area. We look at the meteorological data together that’s displayed hourly on the news. Everyone becomes an armchair weather person whenever there’s a hurricane, I joke, but I can tell my son takes it seriously.

Will this one be worse? he asks. He can’t really remember the other ones that came before, when he was still young enough that I could think about the storm for him. A teenager for Hurricane Irma, more worried about a lack of internet at the time than the larger looming threat of natural disaster. But now, an adult himself, he wants to know: will this one be worse?

They’ll all be worse. Each one worse than the last, I think, because our government isn’t doing nearly enough to address the reality that our state is sinking into the ocean, that the climate is shifting and changing and sliding into something wildly and completely untenable. But that is not what I want to say to my son, who has so much life left in him, so I think about the poem by Maggie Smith, the one about how life is short and our children need beauty. I say the storm will pass. I tell him that every storm comes with light afterward. Not the rainbow, like I was taught by my evangelical parents – a loveliness that comes with strings attached – but rather a brightness that could mean there are people out there searching for you. Community, that shining beacon, hands outstretched and ready to help free you from any lasting damage.

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Writing Prompts about Hurricane

  • 🗃️ Essay topics
  • ❓ Research questions
  • 📝 Topic sentences
  • 🪝 Essay hooks
  • 📑 Thesis statements
  • 🔀 Hypothesis examples
  • 🧐 Personal statements

🔗 References

🗃️ essay topics on hurricane.

  • Analyzing the devastating impact of hurricanes on coastal communities.
  • Understanding the formation, intensity, and tracks of hurricanes.
  • The role of climate change in increasing hurricane frequency and intensity.
  • Examining the hurricanes and climate justice.
  • The relationship between hurricanes and human activities.
  • The global warming effects.
  • The history of notable hurricanes from past catastrophes.
  • The impact of global warming on hurricane frequency and strength.
  • Assessing the ecological impact of hurricanes and wind damage.
  • Images of hurricanes in literature and media.
  • Understanding the key differences between hurricanes and typhoons.
  • The history and significance of assigning names to hurricanes.
  • The impact of hurricanes on infrastructure and urban planning.
  • The anatomy of a hurricane and its core characteristics.
  • The hurricane Katrina history.
  • The role of atmospheric conditions in shaping hurricane characteristics.
  • Hotspots and the geography of hurricane formation.
  • Investigating the relationship between sea surface temperature and hurricane intensity.
  • The influence of wind shear on hurricane formation and development.
  • Categorizing hurricanes and the Saffir-Simpson scale.
  • Exploring the characteristics of the eye in a hurricane.
  • The role of moisture and humidity in hurricane development and intensity.

❓ Hurricane Essay Questions

  • What are the key meteorological factors that contribute to hurricane development?
  • What is the relationship between sea surface temperature and hurricane intensity?
  • How do the Earth’s atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns influence hurricane tracks and paths?
  • What are the long-term trends in hurricane frequency and intensity?
  • How does the structure of a hurricane’s eyewall impact its strength and potential for damage?
  • What role do upper-level winds play in either enhancing or inhibiting hurricane formation and intensification?
  • How do factors such as humidity, wind shear, and atmospheric stability affect the lifecycle of a hurricane?
  • What are the mechanisms behind the formation and evolution of the distinct eye feature in hurricanes?
  • What are the ecological impacts of hurricanes on marine and terrestrial ecosystems?
  • How do hurricanes affect global weather patterns and contribute to broader climatic phenomena?
  • How do hurricanes interact with other weather systems, such as troughs, fronts, and other tropical cyclones?
  • How does the size of a hurricane impact its potential for destruction and rainfall distribution?
  • What are the main challenges in hurricane research?
  • What are the physical processes driving hurricane-related tornado formation and their characteristics?
  • How do hurricanes differ in terms of structure, behavior, and impact in different regions of the world?

📝 Hurricane Topic Sentences

  • Hurricanes, also known as tropical cyclones or typhoons, depending on the region, are powerful and destructive natural phenomena that originate over warm ocean waters.
  • The increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes in recent decades have raised concerns about the potential impact of climate change on these extreme weather events.
  • As coastal communities face the looming threat of hurricanes each year, understanding the science behind storm surge becomes crucial for effective disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.

🪝 Hooks for Hurricane Paper

📍 definition hooks on hurricane for essay.

  • A hurricane, a formidable force of nature, can be described as a swirling, violent storm born over warm ocean waters, boasting wind speeds that can rival the fastest race cars and the potential to unleash catastrophic destruction upon coastal and inland regions alike.
  • When we speak of a hurricane, we refer to a tempestuous giant, a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a low-pressure center, organized thunderstorms, and a fierce determination to leave an indelible mark on the landscapes it traverses.

📍 Statistical Hooks about Hurricane for Essay

  • According to the National Hurricane Center, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season recorded a record-breaking 30 named storms, highlighting the urgent need for a deeper understanding of these natural disasters and their potential impacts on human communities and ecosystems.
  • Over the past decade, the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has shown a significant upward trend, underscoring the urgency of studying the factors driving this intensification.

📍 Quotation Hooks for Essay on Hurricane

  • “The fury of the hurricane is one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles, reminding us of the immense power and unpredictability that the natural world holds.” – Dr. Jane Johnson
  • “In the face of a raging hurricane, humanity is humbled by the realization that, despite our technological prowess, we are still at the mercy of the Earth’s forces.” – Prof. David Anderson

📑 Hurricane Thesis Statements

✔️ argumentative thesis examples on hurricane.

  • Climate change-induced hurricanes pose an urgent threat to coastal communities, demanding immediate action in the form of robust mitigation strategies and adaptation measures to safeguard lives and infrastructure.
  • Despite significant advancements in meteorology and forecasting, the human and economic toll of hurricanes remains high due to inadequate disaster preparedness, necessitating a comprehensive approach that integrates science, policy, and public awareness.

✔️ Analytical Thesis Samples on Hurricane

  • The increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes in recent years are indicative of the complex interplay between climate change and atmospheric conditions, necessitating urgent and comprehensive strategies to mitigate the environmental and societal impacts of these extreme weather events.
  • An analytical exploration of historical hurricane data reveals valuable insights into the patterns and behaviors of these storms, offering essential knowledge to enhance hurricane forecasting, disaster preparedness, and coastal resilience for vulnerable communities worldwide.

✔️ Informative Thesis about Hurricane

  • The study of hurricanes is essential for understanding the complex interactions between oceanic and atmospheric systems, their intensification processes, and the potential implications of climate change on their frequency and intensity.
  • Understanding the complex interplay of meteorological factors and climate change in shaping hurricane behavior is critical for improving forecasting accuracy and preparedness measures for vulnerable regions.

🔀 Hurricane Hypothesis Examples

  • Increasing sea surface temperatures will lead to a higher frequency of intense hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean due to enhanced heat and moisture availability.
  • Hurricanes that make landfall in areas with significant coastal development and inadequate infrastructure will result in higher economic losses and longer recovery times compared to those impacting less populated and well-prepared regions.

🔂 Null & Alternative Hypothesis about Hurricane

  • Null Hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between climate change and the frequency of hurricanes over the past century.
  • Alternative Hypothesis: Climate change has led to a statistically significant increase in the frequency of hurricanes over the past century.

🧐 Examples of Personal Statement about Hurricane

  • As a student fascinated by the natural world and its complexities, hurricanes have always intrigued me. I aim to delve into the meteorological factors that contribute to their development, explore their ecological and societal consequences, and discuss the role of climate change in shaping these formidable natural phenomena. I hope to contribute to the knowledge base that can help communities become more resilient and better prepared in the face of future storm events.
  • As someone residing in a coastal region frequently threatened by hurricanes, the subject of these powerful storms hits close to home for me. I aim to not only understand the meteorological science behind hurricanes but also to explore the importance of hurricane preparedness and disaster management in vulnerable communities. I hope to gain insights into the strategies that can help my community, and others alike, build resilience and safeguard lives and property when faced with the wrath of nature’s most formidable forces.
  • Hurricane regimes for forests of North and Central America
  • Estimating willingness to pay and costs associated with hurricane evacuation
  • Florida hurricanes and tropical storms: 1871-1993, an historical review
  • Hurricanes: Interesting Facts and F.A.Q.
  • Global Warming Effects on Us Hurricane Damage

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Miami 4th-Graders Write About Their Experiences With Hurricanes

Elissa

Elissa Nadworny

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

Antonio Santamaria (from left), Emilia Rubalcaba, Veronica Segredo, Louis Perez and Olivia Geller. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Antonio Santamaria (from left), Emilia Rubalcaba, Veronica Segredo, Louis Perez and Olivia Geller.

When the fourth-graders in Mrs. Marlem Diaz-Brown's class returned to school on Monday, they were tasked with writing their first essay of the year. The topic was familiar: Hurricane Irma.

By Wednesday, they had worked out their introduction and evidence paragraphs and were brainstorming their personal experiences. To help them remember, Mrs. D-B had them draw out a timeline — starting Friday before the storm. Then, based on their drawings, they could start to talk about — and eventually, write about — what they experienced.

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

After drawing their experience during Hurricane Irma, students had an easier time talking about it to the class. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

The essays all started off this way: The name Irma will always strike fear, disappointment, and dismay in our city. Here's what else they had on their minds:

Antonio Santamaria, 9

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

Antonio Santamaria Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Antonio Santamaria

"I felt like Dorothy and her dog in the Wizard of Oz, the winds were howling around my house, the rain came on and off, lights flickering on and off in the kitchen. Irma, she devastated the internet and the cable, so we played board games. We had a really good family time experience. Florida and hurricanes ... it's a perfect recipe for disaster. Now we have Maria and Jose and Lee on the loose. For them, I would suggest that you always should stay safe, always try to remember that even if it seems like the world is all darkness, it's always gonna be a way out. Always. You may not see it, but it's there."

Emilia Rubalcaba, 9, and Veronica Segredo, 9

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

Emilia Rubalcaba, Veronica Segredo Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Emilia Rubalcaba, Veronica Segredo

Emilia: "Everyone was like really excited, because like, hello, like we've never been in a hurricane before, what this is like? And I'm like, 'Just because you've never been in a hurricane before doesn't mean it's good.' My mom and I evacuated to Canada, but first, we had to wait 11 hours to get on the flight."

Veronica: "I wasn't like scared or anything, I was fine. But we did lose power. Something I just wanted to say, my grandma's name is called Irma, and now she wants to change her name."

Olivia Geller, 9

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

Olivia Geller Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Olivia Geller

"It's a little scary once it starts because most of us hadn't been in a hurricane yet. Most of the hurricane was gloom, but not all of it. The actual day of the hurricane was boring. We played hide and seek and we ate snacks."

She offers this advice: "Always stay inside, if you lose power have snacks in case you are really hungry. If something happens and you need to evacuate always put gas in your car."

Louis Perez, 9

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

Louis Perez Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Louis Perez

"A bad thing is that I had to go sleep in a closet. It's kind of hard sleeping there like you're always squished. But it was just for a day. It's like a bad dream, happening in a fake world but it's real. It was like swirling winds a lot. You could hear like schwooooo schwooo. "

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Essays on Hurricane

Writing a hurricane essay is exciting, as this natural phenomenon is terrifying and impressing in equal measure. Forces of nature are truly remarkable – when you see their power, you are often overcome with primal fear and realization of their vastness and your insignificance in comparison. Hurricanes are enormous storms that form over the water and are shaped like a swirl. When they reach land they can cause havoc and extreme destruction. You can explore their nature as well as the aftermath in hurricane essays. Humans were always drawn to powerful natural occurrences, so essays on hurricane, tornado, and tsunami essays are quite popular. In case you need some samples to draw inspiration for your essay, we prepared a variety of hurricane essay samples for you to review.

Storm systems typically generate in the tropic regions where the water is much warmer. I intend on providing evidence that because of the water temperature storm systems are created more intensely than the water in the northern hemisphere. The storms occur when a focal point of low pressure occurs having...

The Response to Hurricane Katrina The response to Hurricane Katrina is widely regarded as a failure. This is because of the level of attention directed towards homeland security following the attacks of 9/11 and creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) instead. The government appeared seemingly unable to provide an...

Different disciplines offer different perspectives of analyzing world events and activities and their impact on people. Sociology helps in understanding the social concepts underlying human behavior as well as the influence of the society to human behavior (Nath, 2018). According to Mills (1959), the sociological perspective in the approach to...

Words: 1205

Numerous natural catastrophes that have caused significant loss of life and property have plagued the world since the dawn of humanity. The hurricane stands out among these natural catastrophes. It is important to keep in mind that although natural deserters are typically out of human control right away, their impacts...

Hurricane Katrina and the Displacement of Refugees Hurricane Katrina drove the Katrina refugees to leave the southern part of the United States. People from the Orleans were among those who had been temporarily relocated to other towns. More than a million people were displaced by Katrina, making it the largest climate-driven...

One of the worst natural disasters in recorded history was Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane is regarded as one of the biggest hurricanes that proved to be expensive in terms of management throughout history, but particularly in the United States of America. It held the record for the most catastrophic hurricane...

Words: 2051

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The current event chosen for this project is Hurricane Irma, which occurred in the United States and neighboring islands. On September 10, 2017, at ten in the morning, a coast-to-coast battering with gusts reaching 130 mph started in Florida. The wind flips boats and houses, destroys power and communication, and...

Words: 1359

Have you ever seen the Coral Springs Museum? If you haven't already, you should go to this art and gallery show. On my visit to the Coral Museum, I was able to see a variety of photographs featuring the work of Charcoal artist Virginia Fifield. The Contemplation Hurricane is Virginia's...

Words: 1068

Hurricanes are classified into five categories, with category five being the most catastrophic and category one being the mildest but still deadly. Hurricanes cause trauma to casualties and have a huge impact on a region's economic status. Since low-income earners lack the means to relocate, these natural disasters have been...

Words: 1839

Hurricanes and Their Impacts Hurricanes have recently ravaged the western hemisphere, causing untold devastation to those who live there. They include, but are not limited to, the loss of life and property damage. As a result, it is critical that people become aware of the precautions that should be taken to...

Words: 1191

Normal physical conditions have an effect on the beach and the shoreline. Natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, winds, and tides all have an effect on beaches. Many of these causes have varying effects on the shoreline and beach. Following the beach assessment, it was discovered that the tides had...

Words: 1027

Weather analysts describe Hurricane Harvey as an extraordinary storm Weather analysts have described Hurricane Harvey as an extraordinary storm that has exceeded even the most pessimistic weather predictions. Flooding caused major damage in areas of Houston and Southeast Texas, as well as the death of civilians, among other tragic actions. Many...

Words: 1182

Related topic to Hurricane

Earth Science for Kids

Weather - hurricanes (tropical cyclones).

  • Eye - At the center of the hurricane is the eye. The eye is an area of very low air pressure. There are generally no clouds in the eye and the wind is calm. Don't let this fool you, however, the most dangerous part of the storm is at the edge of the eye called the eye wall.
  • Eye wall - Around the outside of the eye is a wall made up of very heavy clouds. This is the most dangerous part of the hurricane and where the highest speed winds are. The winds at the eye wall can reach speeds of 155 miles per hour.
  • Rainbands - Hurricanes have large spirally bands of rain called rainbands. These bands can drop huge amounts of rainfall causing flooding when the hurricane hits land.
  • Diameter - Hurricanes can become huge storms. The diameter of the hurricane is measured from one side to the other. Hurricanes can span a diameter of over 600 miles.
  • Height - The storm clouds that power hurricanes can become very tall. A powerful hurricane can reach nine miles into the atmosphere.

4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

  • Tropical Depression - 38 mph or less
  • Tropical Storm - 39 to 73 mph
  • Category 1 - 74 to 95 mph
  • Category 2 - 96 to 110 mph
  • Category 3 - 111 to 129 mph
  • Category 4 - 130 to 156 mph
  • Category 5 - 157 or higher mph
  • Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. This is due to the rotation of the Earth called the Coriolis effect.
  • The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not used for the first letter when naming hurricanes.
  • The names are alternated between boy and girl names.
  • Weather forecasters draw a cone showing where they think the hurricane is most likely to travel.
  • You can always find out the latest information on hurricanes at the website of the National Hurricane Center which tracks and forecasts hurricanes.
  • Take a ten question quiz about this page.
  • Listen to a recorded reading of this page:

Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Natural Disasters — Compare And Contrast Hurricanes And Tornadoes

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Compare and Contrast Hurricanes and Tornadoes

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Published: Mar 25, 2024

Words: 493 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

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4 paragraph essay about hurricanes

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10 Facts about Hurricanes!

Ten facts about hurricanes, hold on tight, gang – and we mean super tight – because we’re about to check out ten facts on one of nature’s most powerful forces – hurricanes .

1.  Hurricanes are giant tropical storms that produce heavy rainfall and super -strong winds.

2.  Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters near the equator. The warm, moist air above the ocean surface rises, causing air from surrounding areas to be “sucked” in. This “new” air then becomes warm and moist, and rises, too, beginning a continuous cycle that forms clouds. The clouds then rotate with the spin of the Earth. If there is enough warm water to feed the storm, a hurricane forms!

3.  Hurricanes rotate around a circular centre called the “ eye “, where it is generally calm with no clouds. Surrounding the eye is the eye wall – the most dangerous part of the hurricane with the strongest winds, thickest clouds and heaviest rain!

4.  Most hurricanes occur harmlessly out at sea. However, when they move towards land they can be incredibly dangerous and cause serious damage.

5.  The strong spiraling winds of a hurricane can reach speeds of up to 320kmph  – strong enough to rip up entire trees and destroy buildings!

6.  In the southern hemisphere, hurricanes rotate in a clockwise direction, and in the northern hemisphere they rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. This is due to what’s called the Coriolis Force , produced by the Earth’s rotation.

7.  When a hurricane reaches land it often produces a “ storm surge “. This is when the high winds drive the sea toward the shore, causing water levels to rise and creating large crashing waves. Storm surges can reach 6m high and extend to over 150km !

8.  Hurricanes are also called cyclones and typhoons , depending on where they occur. In the Atlantic Ocean and Northwest Pacific they are hurricanes, in the Northwest Pacific they are typhoons and in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean they are cyclones.

9.  The largest hurricane on record is Typhoon Tip , which occurred in 1979 in the northwest Pacific. With a diameter of around 2,220km , it was nearly half the size of the United States!

10.  Hurricanes are given names by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) so that they can be distinguished. Each year, tropical storms are named in alphabetical order according to a list produced by the WMO. That name stays with the storm if it develops into a hurricane. The names can only be repeated after six years.

Photos: Getty Images UK

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Hurricane Ida in the United States Essay

Ida’s impact, preparation and overcoming: hurricanes, lessons learned.

Hurricane Ida hit the coast of the United States, hitting the state of Louisiana. Ida became one of the most powerful hurricanes in US history. By the time it hit Louisiana, Ida had intensified to a Category 4 storm out of five. In just five hours, peak winds increased from 72 km/h to 230 km/h as Ida hit Louisiana on the same day as Category 5 Hurricane Katrina 16 years ago (Livingston, 2021). That time, the hurricane broke a seawall and flooded the city of New Orleans.

Local authorities said that due to the rapid intensification of Hurricane Ida, 390,000 people did not have time to carry out a general evacuation. New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell urged residents to evacuate on their own or prepare for extended power outages. Nevertheless, “the media reported 91 deaths caused by Hurricane Ida across nine states, 56 (61.5%) of which occurred in the Northeast” (Hanchey et al., 2021, p. 1385). Although levees and drainage systems have been reinforced in New Orleans since the devastating Katrina flood, authorities are not ruling out the possibility of flooding this time as up to 61 cm of rain was expected in some areas. The Louisiana National Guard has prepared personnel and equipment, including vehicles and inflatable boats, to help with the storm’s aftermath. Companies have mobilized more than 10,000 workers across the state to deal with power outages.

Ida developed from a confluence of many low-latitude meteorological systems, beginning on August 14 with a tropical storm rising from the African coast. As it traveled gradually westward in the rainfall through atmosphere across the eastern tropical Atlantic, this storm was feeble and difficult to follow. Ida made a quick shift to the north-northwest soon after making landfall, and this movement took the eye over southeast Louisiana. Early on August 30, a persistent northerly, northwesterly motion placed the center approximately west of LaPlace (Beven et al., 2022). The cyclone’s energy gradually reduced as it went onshore, and by the time its core crossed over southeastern Mississippi, it had degraded to a tropical storm.

Hurricane Ida hit the US energy industry – the effects were on economic growth, but their impact was relatively moderate. Ida affected the oil market; government statistics show that 95 percent of oil and gas production in the Gulf Coast region was halted when the Ida made landfall (Crutsinger, 2021). At the same time, this practice did not affect oil prices. During the auction, there was a drop of only 1.2 percent to $67.91 per barrel (Crutsinger, 2021). Many factories have been protected from hurricanes, but disruptions are still highly likely due to flooding, power outages, and staff displacement.

Meanwhile, corn futures fell to their lowest level in seven months. Grain is piling up with growers because it can’t be shipped down the Mississippi River, which runs through the main corn-growing regions of the US Midwest. Because of the hurricane, the river changed its direction. At the same time, there is an increased demand for the product.

Producer and distributor of agricultural fertilizers CF Industries suffered from disruptions in logistics. He stated that he could not fulfill the orders of his nitrogen complex in Donaldsonville (State of Louisiana). After that, prices for nitrogenous fertilizers skyrocketed. Hurricane Ida was a test for the US economy. Damage to insurers from Hurricane Ida in the United States amounted to $18 billion. (Livingston, 2021). As a result of the disaster, about a million people were left without electricity in Louisiana. The infrastructure of the nuclear power plant located in the region was damaged.

Modern technologies allow predicting environmental disasters long before they occur, which gives the possibility to evacuate the population and prepare appropriately. The hydrometeorological service, as a rule, gives a hurricane warning a few hours in advance. The recommendations are that doors, attic rooms, and dormer windows should be closed (CDC, 2019). It is also important to glue the glass with strips of paper or cloth. From balconies, loggias, and window sills, things that, if dropped, can cause injury to people are to be removed. The gas should be turned off; emergency lighting – lanterns, candles – should be prepared. Individuals are recommended to have a supply of water and food for 2-3 days (CDC, 2019). Medicines and dressings should be put in a safe and visible place. People are to keep radios and televisions constantly on: various messages and orders can be transmitted.

Then, it is essential to move people from light buildings to solid buildings. Beware of injury from glass and other flying objects. If one finds themselves in an open area, it is best to take cover in a ditch, pit, ravine, or any recess. Individuals should lie down on the bottom and snuggle tightly to the ground (CDC, 2019). The authorities are to allocate the necessary recourses – evacuation groups and temporary accommodations – for people who will be impacted by a hurricane.

The presented natural disaster that impacted the US to a considerable extent has revealed several important aspects to me. First, I figured out that modern technologies make it possible to predict and prepare for a hurricane in advance. The authorities can evacuate the population, enhance the availability of emergency services, and mobilize the required emergency groups. Second, such disasters significantly affect the economy to a great degree. The government should possess the resources needed to recover the economic affairs of a particular state or nation as a whole. Finally, I thoroughly learned the recommendations on how to behave in case of a hurricane.

Hanchey, A., Schnall, A., Bayleyegn, T., Jiva, S., Khan, A., Siegel, V., Funk, R., & Svendsen, E. (2021). Notes from the field : Deaths related to Hurricane Ida reported by media — nine states, August 29–September 9, 2021. Weekly / , 70(39), 1385–1386.

Beven, J. L., Hagen, A., & Berg, R. (2022). Hurricane Ida . National Hurricane Center. Web.

CDC. (2019). Preparing for a Hurricane or other tropical storm. Web.

Crutsinger, M. (2021). Economists foresee modest damage to US economy from Ida. Inside Logistics . Web.

Livingston, I. (2021). Ida’s impact from the Gulf Coast to Northeast — by the numbers. The Washington Post . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, June 13). Hurricane Ida in the United States. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hurricane-ida-in-the-united-states/

"Hurricane Ida in the United States." IvyPanda , 13 June 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/hurricane-ida-in-the-united-states/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Hurricane Ida in the United States'. 13 June.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Hurricane Ida in the United States." June 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hurricane-ida-in-the-united-states/.

1. IvyPanda . "Hurricane Ida in the United States." June 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hurricane-ida-in-the-united-states/.

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One Dead in Texas as Rain Pummels Parts of the State

A 4-year-old boy died on Sunday in Johnson County, Texas, after being swept away by floodwaters, the authorities said.

Floodwaters Inundate Texas

Residents in parts of southeast texas waded through waist-high water as rescue efforts were underway..

Rescue worker: “We all right here?” OK, you good? Yeah.

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By Amanda Holpuch and Livia Albeck-Ripka

A 4-year-old boy died on Sunday in Johnson County, Texas, the authorities said, after being swept away by floodwaters caused by heavy rains that have pounded parts of the state over the past few days.

His body was found southeast of Fort Worth before 8 a.m., several hours after the authorities received a 911 call reporting that two adults and the boy were stuck in a vehicle in fast-moving water, Johnson County’s Office of Emergency Management said on Facebook .

All three tried to get out of the vehicle and were swept into the floodwaters, but the adults survived, the agency said. The boy, whom the authorities identified as Lucas N. Warren, was just weeks from his fifth birthday, according to the death records. Local authorities had previously given his age as 5.

The death comes as rounds of storms have prompted evacuations and rescues in the state, with forecasters warning of potential flash flooding. The storms exacerbated dangerous conditions and forecasters said that once the storms passed, rivers could be swollen for days or even weeks.

Parts of southeast Texas were under a flood warning on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Houston . Other areas remained under flood watches , and up to eight inches of rain were possible in some areas through Sunday, forecasters said.

Heavy rainfall was expected to taper by Sunday evening, the Weather Service said . Forecasters said that because of the recent rounds of rainfall, flooding could occur earlier than would be expected in ordinary conditions.

The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said that as of 10 a.m. on Sunday, there had been 233 rescues of people and 164 pet rescues in the county.

A man in a white Stetson with a dog on a gray air boat. The dog is wearing an orange vest.

There remained a risk of flash flooding from central to northeastern Texas, the Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said on Sunday afternoon.

Jeremy Justice, hydrological operations manager at Harris County Flood Control District, said on Saturday that some parts of Harris County could experience flooding near the record levels that were set during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 , an event that claimed at least 68 lives and caused $125 billion in damage .

Several rivers in Texas had yet to reach their highest flows on Sunday morning, but were expected to crest in the next 24 hours, FEMA said . After cresting, the rivers’ recession would be slow, leaving the waterways above the major flooding stage through the middle of the week.

Eleven rivers were in a major flooding stage on Sunday morning, which means the flooding had caused an excessive inundation of roads and structures and required significant evacuations.

Another 18 rivers were experiencing moderate flooding, which can inundate some structures and may lead to evacuations.

Amanda Holpuch covers breaking news and other topics. More about Amanda Holpuch

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a Times reporter based in Los Angeles, covering breaking news, California and other subjects. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka

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Adelaide Hasse: The GPO’s Founding Mother of the SUDOC Classification System

By thomas giangreco, walsh library – gov docs, microforms, and digitization.

Have you ever come across a call number that looks something like this in the library catalog: Y 1.1/5:109-322? * “What is that?”, you might have asked yourself. It’s not a Library of Congress call number or a Dewey Decimal System number. It’s a Superintendent of Documents number, or SUDOC for short, and it is used to classify documents produced by the Government Publishing Office (GPO). And, did you know that the entire SUDOC system is the brainchild of one remarkable, but largely unknown (to the general public, at least) woman: Adelaide Hasse.

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Born on September 13, 1868 in Milwaukee, her family moved to southern California and in 1889 she went to work at the Los Angeles Public Library. Interestingly, there is no record of Adelaide having any formal education in library science. What she did have was an intuitive knowledge of libraries, a capacity for hard work, and a gift for organization. In 1891, the Los Angeles Public Library joined the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) , and Adelaide had her first introduction to the world of Government Documents . What are Government Documents? Simply, they are anything published by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) , or in her day the Government Printing Office, which opened on March 20, 1861, the same day President Lincoln was inaugurated, in Washington D.C. The mission statement of the GPO is “ keeping America informed ” by making available virtually everything produced by the various branches and departments of the government that is not deemed classified or secret.

Adelaide was confronted with a massive amount of material to organize and catalog. Unhappy with the Dewey Decimal System, she set about creating a classification system all her own beginning, sensibly enough, with the Agriculture Department . She developed a system organized not by title or author, but rather by department. A for agriculture, D for defense, T for treasury, etc. It may seem confusing at first, but it has a strict and coherent internal logic. **

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In 1895, She left the Los Angeles Public Library for Washington, D.C. and a job at the Government Printing Office. It was here, in the nation’s capital, that her work with Government Documents reached its zenith. Her task involved archeological work as much as librarianship. She had to first uncover documents that were stored in every nook and cranny of the government’s buildings, often crawling through hard-to-reach places inside walls and ceilings to find the material and then having it transported to the GPO. Once in her hands, Adelaide applied the classification system she had invented in Los Angeles for the Agriculture Department publications. Her efforts were even chronicled in a June 2, 1897 article in the New York Times . The reporter for the Times began his interview by stating “you have the reputation of knowing more about political documents than any other woman.” In the Times article she described her work and the condition of the government’s massive collection of papers as “perfect chaos” and it is noted that she retrieved 160,000 volumes from the Interior Department alone!

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You might think that this achievement would have assured her respect and professional success, but, sadly, that was not to be. She moved on to the Government Documents Division of the New York Public library, but she did not last there, being considered “difficult” to work with. At one point, she was even the target of what would now be considered sexual harassment from none other than Melvil Dewey (he of Dewey Decimal System fame). And if this were not enough, with the outbreak of World War I she was targeted for her German ancestry. An FBI file was even opened on her.

Adelaide Hasse moved around from one library and government job to another for the rest of her career. She died on July 28, 1953. If you haven’t heard of her, that’s understandable, but she is someone who can and should be remembered as a pathfinder with a genius for creative organization, even if her name is not a household one like Susan B. Anthony , Amelia Earhart , or Eleanor Roosevelt .

So come down to the Walsh Library basement, visit Fordham’s Government Documents collection, and tip your hat to the founding mother of the SUDOC system!

Further Reading

The Library of Congress has the Adelaide Rosalia Hasse Papers in its manuscript collection:

There is a nice Wikipedia entry on Adelaide Hasse

ArcGis StoryMaps has an excellent illustrated article entitled “Adelaide in DC” covering her time at the

For more on the origins of the SUDOC system see: Gail K. Nelson and John V. Richardson, Jr., “Adelaide Hasse and the early history of the U.S. Superintendent of Documents classification scheme” in GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS REVIEW vol.13, iss.1 (Jan-Feb 1986)

To find out more about the life and career of Adelaide Hasse there is an excellent biography by Clare Beck, The New Woman as Librarian

* If you are wondering, this is the congressional report on Hurricane Katrina.

** The only branch of government that is not immediately obvious in the SUDOC system is the congress, which is classified under X and Y.

Curious about other government documents available through the Fordham Libraries? Visit our  Government Documents  research guide to learn more.

Fordham has been a proud member of the  Federal Depository Library Program  (FDLP) since 1937. The FDLP is devoted to the mission of “keeping America informed” by the free-of-charge dissemination of non-classified government information and publications to participating libraries. You can find the Federal Register and Congressional Record, transcripts of congressional hearings, the Congressional Serial Set going back to 1789, United States Supreme Court Reports, and a multitude of federal department publications from every branch of the federal government. From the earliest acts of congress to the Mueller Report, our Government Documents collection is a primary source history of the United States government in one location.

Dr. Thomas C. Giangreco

Walsh Library – Gov Docs, Microforms, and Digitization

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