Tropical cyclones, tornadoes, severe storm systems, and extreme weather.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Sustained winds of at least what speed define a Category 5 Saffir-Simpson hurricane?
At that speed winds can destroy most framed homes and cut power for weeks in affected areas.
In a hurricane eye, what air motion keeps the center calm and clear?
Sinking air warms as it descends and dissolves clouds, leaving the eye clear while storms rage around it.
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale was co-created by which engineer?
Saffir designed the damage categories while Simpson added the wind ranges in the early 1970s.
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale ranks hurricanes by which measurement instead of storm surge?
The scale uses sustained wind speed, so a weaker-category storm can still bring a deadly surge.
What force mainly pushes ocean water ashore to form a hurricane storm surge?
Strong onshore winds pile water against the coast, and low air pressure lets the sea rise a little more.
Which categories qualify as major hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson scale?
Forecasters use the major-hurricane label for storms expected to cause devastating wind damage.
An Atlantic tropical cyclone reaches hurricane status when sustained winds reach what speed?
Hurricane classification starts at sustained winds of 74 mph; the appearance of an eye alone does not set the category.
Which coastal shape raises hurricane storm surges to their highest levels?
Shallow water slows the surge escape, so wind piles more water into funnel-shaped bays.
Where in a hurricane is air pressure lowest?
Pressure falls toward the middle of a hurricane, so deeper low pressure in the eye often marks a stronger storm.
How many categories does the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale include?
The scale runs from Category 1 for minimal damage to Category 5 for catastrophic damage.