Where and when do hurricanes occur?
Tropical ocean basins are where they occur. Many hurricanes have their origins in easterly waves. Hurricane activity in the Atlantic maximizes between 1 June and 30 November, peaking on 10 September. Hurricane Intensities Tropical wave Unorganised band of convective rain showers with gusty winds up to 30 mph. Tropical depression Organised region of circulation characterized by heavy rains and winds of 20 – 39 mph sustained (at the center). These are what we call cold core systems. Tropical storm: obtains a name, well-organised region of heavy convective rains. The storm becomes warm core. The storm begins to develop an eye. Winds 39 – 73 mph. Hurricane: An eye appears. Winds are stronger that 74 mph. Winds can be as strong as 200 mph. Hurricanes are categorized based on wind speeds. The Saffir – Simpson scale rates hurricanes based on their damage potential. Weak hurricanes: Category 1: 74 – 95 mph Minimal Category 2: 95 – 110 mph Moderate Strong hurricanes: Category 3: 111 – 130 mph E
