Tropical CyclonesChapter 11Meteorology 1010Professor BundsUtah Valley University
Tropical Cyclone Naming, Paths and Seasonstyphoonshurricanescyclones
Paths of All Tropical Cyclones 1985 - 2005
Hurricane Air Flow
Upper Level Hurricane Air Flow
Hurricane Rankings
Saffir-Simpson CategoryMaximum sustained wind speedMinimum surface pressureStorm surgemphm/sktsmbftm1 74-95 33-4264-82greater than 9803-51.0-1.7 296-110 43-49 83-95979-9656-81.8-2.6 3111-130 50-58 96-113964-9459-122.7-3.8 4131-155 59-69114-135944-92013-183.9-5.6 5156+ 70+ 136+less than 92019+5.7+
Hurricane FormationPowered largely by warm waterHurricanes are most common late summer to fall hurricane seasonVaries by regionWeaken over landUsually weaken as they approach coastline alsoForm near but not over equator, given proper conditions (next slide)
Ingredients for Hurricane FormationWarm water at least 80oFRelatively cool air at altitudeRelatively moist air at moderate altitude (3 miles up)At least 300 miles from the equatorLittle wind shear between surface and upper air (6 miles up)Divergence aloftA trigger e.g., big thunderstorms
Hurricane HazardsStorm SurgeOn average, the biggest threat to life and propertyWindsFlooding from extreme precipitationCan cause major problems far inland
Galveston Hurricane, 1900> 10,000 fatalities,worst natural disaster in U.S. history
Storm Surge
Tropical Cyclone Winds & Storm Surge
Hurricane Ike Storm SurgeSeptember 2008
Hurricane Ivan10 am FridayLink to visible loop
Hurricane Ivan10 am FridayLink to visible loop
Hurricane Ivan 1:45pm Thursday
Hurricane Ivan 1:45pm Thursdaylink to infrared loop
Hurricane Ivan 9:45pm Fridaylink to infrared loop
Hurricane Ivan 9:45pm Fridaylink to infrared loop
Link to visible loopLink to IR loop
Ivan, 9.15.04 11:15 am EDT
Ivan, 9.15.04 10:45 am EDT
Mississippi Delta
Mississippi River DeltaActive Lobe~ 500 years oldMississippi wants to follow course of Atchafalaya River
Ivan, 9.17.04 4:15 pm EDT
Hurricane Ike Storm SurgeSeptember 2008
Path of hurrican and locations of tidal gauges that recorded storm surge, as shown on following slides
This and following photos are of Galveston, TX, and nearby areas
Houston, TX
High Island, Texas
Gilchrist, Texas
Orange, Texas
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