Major Hurricanes
Abstract When winds blow at speeds of 50 m s-1 (˜ 100 kt) or higher the storm is called a major hurricane. The central pressure inside a major hurricane is typically less than 965 mb. The hurricane-driven storm surge can be expected to be as high as 3 meters or more. Damage potential ranges from ext...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Book Part |
| Language: | unknown |
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Oxford University PressNew York, NY
1999
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195125085.003.0007 https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/52435221/isbn-9780195125085-book-part-7.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract When winds blow at speeds of 50 m s-1 (˜ 100 kt) or higher the storm is called a major hurricane. The central pressure inside a major hurricane is typically less than 965 mb. The hurricane-driven storm surge can be expected to be as high as 3 meters or more. Damage potential ranges from extensive to catastrophic. Major hurricanes pose a significant threat to life and property in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and the nations of the Caribbean. Historically they are referred to as “great” hurricanes. Today they are called major or intense hurricanes. Most major North Atlantic hurricanes originate as tropical-only hurricanes. The probability of major hurricanes along the U.S. coastline shows large decadal variability in location. Florida is particularly vulnerable to the threat of major hurricanes. Periods of little or no major hurricane activity are interspersed with periods of frequent storms. |
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