Hurricanes are intense, rotating oceanic storms that form over warm tropical waters and can have very strong winds up to 60 mph. They require warm ocean waters, atmospheric moisture from evaporation, and wind patterns near the surface to form. Famous Hurricane Hugo in 1989 was a category 5 hurricane with 140 mph winds that caused extensive damage as it traveled from the Virgin Islands to South Carolina over two weeks, destroying homes, cars, crops, and killing many people and animals. Hurricanes can cause major damage through strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding that can take weeks or months to clean up.