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Hurricanes
Midlatitude Cyclones vs. Tropical Storms
 Midlatitude Cyclones
 Cover large area
 Have cold fronts and
warm fronts
 Less violent (except
for tornadoes!)
 Tropical Storms
 Concentrated over a
small area
 Do not have warm or
cold fronts
 More destructive
What is a hurricane?
 A tropical storm that
has wind speeds
greater than 120 km/h
that spiral inward
towards an intense
low pressure center
 Develop over warm
oceans
Steps in Hurricane Development
 A cold air mass is located
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


above a cluster of tropical
storms
Warm, moist air over the
ocean rises rapidly
Condensation occurs
Classified as a hurricane
when the wind speed
reaches 64 knots
A pronounced rotation
develops
Anatomy of a Hurricane
 The Eye
 A region 20-50km wide
found at the center of the
hurricane. Low pressure
center with clear skies and
light winds
 Eye Wall
 Ring of cumulonimbus
clouds that swirl around the
eye. Contains the heaviest
rains and winds of the
storm
 Spiral Rain Bands
 Bands of showers that
spiral inward towards
center
Cyclones and Anticyclones
Tornadoes and Hurricanes
2005 – Category 5
Hurricanes
- Wilma
- Rita
- Katrina