ClassX Video Lessons Hurricanes for Kids | What is a Hurricane? How are Hurricanes Formed? Learn these answers and more!
Hey there! Have you ever heard a weather report about a hurricane on TV or the radio? It might sound a bit scary, but don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn all about hurricanes, what they are, and how to stay safe if one is coming your way.
A hurricane is a huge, swirling storm with very strong winds. These winds can blow at least 74 miles per hour, which is super fast! In different parts of the world, hurricanes have different names. In the Northwest Pacific, they’re called typhoons, and in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, they’re known as cyclones. Each hurricane gets its own name to help us keep track of them.
Hurricanes usually form between June and November when the sun heats up the tropical sea water. This warm air rises and creates rain clouds. As the process continues, the storm starts to spin because of the Earth’s rotation. When the winds reach 39 miles per hour, it’s called a tropical depression and gets a name. If the winds get even stronger, reaching 74 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane!
Have you ever seen a picture of a hurricane from space? In the middle, there’s a calm area called the “eye.” But don’t be fooled! Around the eye is the eyewall, where the winds are the strongest and most dangerous.
Scientists keep a close watch on hurricanes using radar and special airplanes. They even fly into hurricanes to collect important data! Hurricanes are given names from a list that rotates every six years. If a hurricane is really destructive, its name is retired and never used again.
Hurricanes are ranked by their wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale:
If a hurricane is coming, it’s important to listen to local emergency instructions. Sometimes, people need to leave their homes to stay safe. Hurricanes can cause a lot of damage not just from the wind, but also from flooding. Always be prepared and know where to go if you need to evacuate.
Some hurricanes have caused a lot of damage in the past. For example, Hurricane Maria in 2017 was a Category 5 storm that hit Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands. It caused a lot of destruction and took a long time to recover from.
Even when a hurricane weakens, it can still be dangerous. Tornadoes can form, and heavy rains can lead to flooding. So, always stay alert and follow safety guidelines.
Now that you know more about hurricanes, you can be better prepared if one ever comes your way. Remember, don’t panic, and always follow the advice of your local emergency team. Stay safe and keep learning!
Thanks for learning with us! For more fun and educational resources, check out Clarendon Learning.
Hurricane in a Bowl: Create your own mini hurricane! Fill a large bowl with water and sprinkle some pepper on the surface. Use a spoon to stir the water in a circular motion. Watch how the pepper moves to the center, similar to how a hurricane forms. Discuss with your friends or family how the spinning motion relates to the Earth’s rotation and the formation of a hurricane’s eye.
Weather Watcher: Become a weather reporter for a week! Each day, check the weather forecast and note any mentions of storms or hurricanes. Draw a picture of what the weather looks like outside your window. If there’s a storm, describe how it might be similar or different from a hurricane. Share your weather report with your class or family.
Hurricane Safety Plan: With your family, create a simple safety plan for what to do if a hurricane is approaching. Discuss where you would go, what items you would need to pack, and how you would stay informed about the storm. Draw a map of your home and mark the safest areas to stay during a hurricane. Practice your plan to make sure everyone knows what to do!
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[Music] Hurricane alert! The National Weather Service has announced a hurricane.
Hey kids, if you heard this emergency report on TV or the radio, would you be concerned? Would you be alarmed? What would you do? Would you know what to do? Today, we’re talking about severe weather phenomena, specifically hurricanes. A hurricane is a giant swirling storm accompanied by severe thunderstorms, with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour.
This kind of storm is known as a typhoon in the Northwest Pacific and is called a cyclone in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. These severe storms have different names around the world, and each one gets its own name.
Have you ever been in a hurricane? Have you ever experienced a heavy rainstorm with thunder and lightning? It’s okay to be scared during a storm; severe weather can scare us all because it’s so unpredictable.
Let’s learn about how hurricanes are formed. A hurricane in the northern hemisphere generally forms between June and November as tropical sea water is heated by the sun. This warming air rises into the atmosphere, forming rain clouds. Meanwhile, cooler air is warmed and rises, creating a cycle that repeats as long as there is a supply of warm sea water. As the clouds cool, rain falls, and winds develop. The Earth’s rotation causes the storm to spin. If the resulting circulating winds reach 39 miles per hour, the storm becomes a tropical depression and gets a name.
Tropical storms are tracked closely by radar until they dissipate, but if they gain more energy from warm waters, they can grow. If the sustained wind speed reaches 74 miles per hour, a hurricane is born. These massive storms can reach 50,000 feet high and spread out 125 miles in diameter.
A named hurricane may wander out at sea, and in the northern hemisphere, they rotate counterclockwise, while in the southern hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. Look at the center of the hurricane in this satellite imagery. Can you see the eye of the hurricane? The eye has calm, clear skies, and you might think the storm is over, but it’s not. The eyewall is where the winds are the fastest and most destructive.
We know a lot about hurricanes, but there is still much to learn. It takes courageous men and women of NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to help us learn more. They fly aboard powerful Lockheed P-3 Orion airplanes, also known as Kermit and Miss Piggy. These brave scientists, called Hurricane Hunters, fly into the hurricane, collecting data to help us understand these storms better.
Hopefully, a hurricane will dissipate at sea, but it may head toward land. Watches and warnings are issued for entire regions and states, asking people to prepare for the coming storm. They may have to leave their homes. A list of names has been established for hurricanes, and they are used on a six-year rotation. Naming these storms helps avoid confusion, allowing them to be tracked more easily. Names alternate between boys and girls in alphabetical order, and if a hurricane is especially destructive, that name is retired.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is used to grade the intensity of hurricanes. Let’s look at the categories:
– Category 1: Winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour, may cause some damage.
– Category 2: Winds at 96 to 110 miles per hour, extensive damage expected.
– Category 3: Extremely dangerous, winds from 111 to 129 miles per hour, devastating damage.
– Category 4: Winds reaching 156 miles per hour, extreme damage expected.
– Category 5: Winds exceeding 157 miles per hour, catastrophic damage.
On September 20, 2017, a Category 5 hurricane struck Puerto Rico, causing devastating damage and loss of life. This hurricane was named Maria and affected many Caribbean islands. Recovery will take years.
Destruction is not only caused by high winds but also by the tremendous amount of water that comes with hurricanes, leading to massive flooding. The most important thing to do when a hurricane is approaching is to evacuate. Local governments often have emergency areas to evacuate to and provide shelter until the storm passes.
In 1900, an unnamed hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, and became the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, killing between 6,000 and 12,000 people. Other hurricanes in recent years, such as Andrew in 1992 and hurricanes Wilma, Rita, and Katrina in 2005, caused widespread destruction. In October 2018, Hurricane Michael, the first Category 5 hurricane since Andrew, impacted the Florida Panhandle and caused billions in losses.
Although a hurricane loses energy as it makes landfall, even a weakening storm can still cause significant damage. Severe tornadoes can also be a byproduct of weakening hurricanes.
What would you do if you heard a hurricane warning? Would you be prepared? Would you be willing to help those affected by these powerful storms? If you find yourself in the path of a hurricane, don’t panic. Follow the instructions of your local emergency response team and stay safe.
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