Hurricane Information- Current Hurricane Warnings, News and Resources

Tropical Depression- an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms in a low-pressure system, with a defined, closed surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of less than 39 miles per hour. It has no eye and does not typically have the organization or spiral shape of more powerful storms.

Tropical Storm- organized system of strong thunderstorms with defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds between 39-73 miles per hour. At this point, the distinctive cyclonic shape starts to develop, although an eye is not usually present.

Hurricane- a system with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. Storms of this intensity tends to develop an eye, an area of relative calm (and lowest atmospheric pressure) at the center of circulation. The eye is often visible in satellite images as a small, circular, cloud-free spot. Surrounding the eye is the eyewall, an area about 10-50 miles wide where the strongest thunderstorms and winds circulate around the storm's center. Maximum sustained winds in the strongest tropical cyclones have been estimated at roughly 195 miles per hour.

The following is a version of the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane intensity, paraphrased from Wikipedia.

Category 1
Sustained winds 74-95 mph
Storm surge 4-5 ft
Central pressure 980-989 mbar
Category 1 storms usually cause no significant damage to structures; however, they can tip over unanchored mobile homes, as well as uproot or snap trees. Poorly attached roof shingles or tiles can blow off. Some coastal flooding, as well as minor pier damage,may occur.

Category 2
Sustained winds 96-110 mph
Storm surge 6-8 ft
Central pressure 965-979 mbar

Storms of this intensity damage some roofing material, and also produce damage to poorly constructed doors and windows. Considerable damage is caused to vegetation, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Mobile homes, anchored or not, may be badly damaged, and many manufactured homes also suffer structural damage. Small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings.

Category 3
Sustained winds 111-130 mph
Storm surge 2.7-3.7 m 9-12 ft
Central pressure 945-964 mbar

Tropical cyclones at or above this intensity are classified as major hurricanes when located in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins. Such storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtain wall failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable-end roofs are peeled off. Manufactured homes usually sustain heavy irreparable damage. Coastal flooding destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are hit by floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well inland.

Category 4
Sustained winds 131-155 mph
Storm surge 13-18 ft
Central pressure 920-944 mbar

Category 4 hurricanes tend to produce more extensive curtainwall failures, with some complete roof failure on small residences. Heavy, irreparable damage and near complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures is common. Mobile and manufactured homes are leveled. Major beach erosion and flooding well inland.

Category 5
Sustained winds %u2265156 mph
Storm surge %u226519 ft
Central pressure <920 mbar

This is the highest category a tropical cyclone can obtain on the Saffir-Simpson scale. These storms cause complete roof failure on residences and industrial buildings, with some complete building failures. including small utility buildings blown over or away. Collapse of many wide-span roofs and walls, especially those with no interior supports, is common. Very heavy irreparable damage to many wood frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes. Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least three to five miles inland. These include office, condominium and apartment buildings and hotels that are of solid concrete or steel frame construction, public multi-story concrete parking garages, and residences that are made of either reinforced brick or concrete/cement block and have hipped roofs with slopes of no less than 35 degrees from horizontal and no overhangs of any kind, and if the windows are either made of hurricane resistant safety glass or covered with shutters.

The storm's flooding causes major damage to the lower floors of all structures near the shoreline, and many coastal structures can be completely flattened or washed away by the storm surge. Storm surge damage can occur up to four city blocks inland, with flooding, depending on terrain, reaching six to seven blocks inland. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if the hurricane threatens populated areas.[8]

Hurricanes in Maine?!?!

Many experts say that more hurricanes will be hitting states not generally associated with tropical weather.

Some say New York City could be affected very badly, and Hurricane Kyle recently skirted the coast of Maine.