Hurricanes are large, swirling storms with very low pressure and winds between 75-200 mph that form over warm ocean waters. They rotate counterclockwise around an inner eye with light winds. When hurricanes make landfall, they cause significant damage to buildings, trees, and cars from high winds and storm surges that push water inland, especially in shallow coastal areas. The Atlantic and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons run from June-November, though most storms occur in the fall. Hurricanes are named from rotating lists to identify them.

1. Hurricanes What is a hurricane?

2. Hurricanes are very large, swirling storms with very low pressure at their center. Hurricanes can be up to 600 miles wide and have winds of 75 to 200 mph. Evaporation from warm sea water increases their power. What is evaporation?

3. The Eye Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise around an eye. The eye has only light winds and fair weather.

4. When hurricanes come onto land they cause a lot of damage to buildings, trees, and cars.

5. Storm Surge

6. Storm surges cause a lot of destruction especially where there is a shallow-water coastline. STORM SURGE VIDEO

8. Hurricane Season The Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, but most hurricanes occur during the fall months. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season is from May 15 to November 30.

9. Naming Hurricanes The World Meteorological Organization uses different sets of names depending on the part of the world the storm is in. Around the U.S., only women's names were used until 1979. Then it was decided that they should alternate a list that included men's names too. There's 6 different name lists that alternate each year. If a hurricane does significant damage, its name is retired and replaced with another.

10. In 2009 the names will be… Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred Grace Henri Ida Joaquin Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda

11. Hurricane Paths for 2005

12. Categorizing Hurricanes-VIDEO Category 1 74-95 mph winds Least amount of damage Category 2 96-110 mph winds Will rip shingles off of roofs Category 3 111-130 mph winds Blows down trees, destroys mobile homes Category 4 131-155 mph winds Extensive damage, high chance of flooding Category 5 156+ mph winds Small buildings are overturned or blown away