The recent landfall of Hurricane Laura in southwestern Louisiana, a key storm occurring within the South Central United States, has captured public attention due to its powerful wind speeds, reaching as far as 250 km or approximately 150 miles per hour. This category 4 storm, boasting severe potential to cause extensive damage and disruption, is part of an ongoing series of weather events that have been observed in the Atlantic and Pacific regions.
The Power of Category 4 Storms
With wind speeds oscillating between 130-156 mph, Category 4 storms such as Hurricane Laura possess serious destructive power. In their wake, they can uproot trees, bring down power lines and wreak significant havoc.
Understanding the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
To measure the intensity and potential impact of winds in hurricanes, meteorologists rely on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This scale ranges from 1 to 5 and classifies hurricanes based on their wind speed. The scale classifies any hurricane that reaches category three or higher as a major hurricane due to its potential to cause devastating damage to both property and lives.
Hurricane Timings
Hurricanes tend to occur during specific periods in the year, with two seasons of hurricanes observed in the Atlantic and Pacific regions. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1st June until 30th November, while the Eastern Pacific hurricane season takes place from 15th May until 30th November.
Recent Hurricanes: A Recap
The last storm to make landfall was Hurricane Hanna, which reached the Texan coast with wind speeds up to 90 mph. Classified as a Category 1 storm, it marked the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
The Science behind Hurricanes
Originating as tropical cyclones, hurricanes leverage warm, moist air as fuel, forming over warm equatorial waters. When this warm, moist air rises from the ocean surface, it leaves behind an area of low air pressure. As surrounding air rushes to fill this void, it too becomes warm and moist, eventually rising. The resulting system of clouds and winds continue to grow and spin, fuelled by the ocean’s heat and water evaporation. Storms that form towards the north of the equator rotate counterclockwise, while those that form south spin clockwise due to the Earth’s rotation.
Terminology of Tropical Cyclones Worldwide
Depending on their location globally, hurricanes might also be referred to as typhoons or cyclones. For instance, tropical cyclones are dubbed Typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean and termed Hurricanes in the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. In the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA, they’re called Tornados. Meanwhile, in north-western Australia, they’re known as Willy-willies and finally referred to as Tropical Cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region.