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Hurricanes
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Tropical storms with fast spiralling winds are called Hurricanes. In the North Pacific Ocean, they are called typhoons and in the Indian Ocean they are called cyclones. They are also called tropical cyclones. The spiralling winds in hurricanes blow anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. A hurricane has an eye, which is the centre of the hurricane. The eye is a low pressure core of warm air at the centre of the storm. The weather is calm in the eye of the hurricane unlike the rest where winds can blow from 75 mph up to 200 mph.
How much can you find out about the hurricanes and cyclones listed below?
Hurricane
Andrew - USA:
In 1992 a tropical cyclone rampaged across southern Florida USA, causing
about 25billion dollars worth of damage.
Cyclone
Tracey - Australia:
In the early hours of
Christmas Day, 1974, Cyclone Tracey struck Darwin a northern Australian
town. Nearly 90% of the town's buildings were damaged or completely
destroyed. More than half of its residents were left homeless.
Hurricane
Gilbert - Jamaica:
Hurricane Gilbert rampaged
across Jamaica for eight hours in September 1988. The Kingston airfield and
many other parts of the island were badly damaged or destroyed.
