What Is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is also known as a “tropical cyclone”, which is a rotating low pressure weather system that contains organized thunderstorms but no fronts. “Fronts” are boundaries separating two air masses of different densities. Tropical cyclones, having maximum sustained winds of less than 39 miles per hour, are called tropical depressions. When they reach maximum sustained winds of 39 miles per hour or higher they are called tropical storms.  

Once the maximum sustained winds of a storm reach 74 miles per hour they are called hurricanes. The storm is given a severity rating based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale’s 1 to 5 categories, a measurement taken and based on the storm’s maximum sustained winds. The higher the hurricane or storm’s category, the higher the potential for property damage. 

Hurricanes originate in the Atlantic basin, this includes the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, eastern North Pacific Ocean and, sometimes, the central North Pacific Ocean. Not as frequently, however possibly, the central North Pacific Ocean. 

It is key to remember that Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Hurricanes can and have happened outside of this season but are very rare.