Why are hurricanes so dangerous?

Mystery Science2 minutes read

Hurricanes are massive windstorms that can reach up to 130 miles per hour, causing severe damage like blowing off roofs and pushing ocean water onto land, leading to flooding and requiring evacuation for coastal areas.

Insights

  • Hurricanes are massive windstorms that can be as large as an entire US state, starting in the ocean and becoming dangerous when they reach land, causing severe damage like blowing off roofs.
  • In addition to strong winds, hurricanes bring storm surges, pushing ocean water onto land, causing flooding and necessitating houses along the coast to be built on stilts, making them dangerous for coastal areas, often requiring evacuation.

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Recent questions

  • What are hurricanes?

    Hurricanes are massive windstorms originating in the ocean, becoming dangerous when they reach land due to strong winds, storm surges, and heavy rains.

  • How are hurricanes categorized?

    Hurricanes are categorized into five groups based on wind speed, with category 4 and 5 hurricanes having winds as strong as 130 miles per hour, causing severe damage like blowing off roofs.

  • What is a storm surge?

    A storm surge is when hurricanes push ocean water onto land, causing flooding and necessitating houses along the coast to be built on stilts for protection.

  • What kind of damage can hurricanes cause?

    Hurricanes can cause severe damage such as blowing off roofs, flooding due to storm surges, and heavy rains leading to dangerous conditions for coastal areas, often requiring evacuation.

  • Why are hurricanes dangerous?

    Hurricanes are dangerous due to their combination of strong winds, storm surges, and heavy rains, making them a significant threat to coastal areas and necessitating precautionary measures like evacuation.

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Summary

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Deadly hurricanes: wind, surge, rain, evacuation.

  • Hurricanes are massive windstorms that can be as large as an entire US state, starting in the ocean and becoming dangerous when they reach land.
  • Hurricanes are categorized into five groups based on wind speed, with category 4 and 5 hurricanes having winds as strong as 130 miles per hour, causing severe damage like blowing off roofs.
  • In addition to strong winds, hurricanes bring storm surges, pushing ocean water onto land, causing flooding and necessitating houses along the coast to be built on stilts.
  • Apart from strong winds and storm surges, hurricanes also bring heavy rains, leading to flooding, making them dangerous for coastal areas, often requiring evacuation.
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