Hurricane Basics

Latest NOAA Hurricane Update

Understanding Hurricane Basics

What is a Hurricane?

Hurricanes are massive storm systems, also known as tropical cyclones, that form over the water and produce winds of 74 mph or higher. There are five types, or categories, of hurricanes based on a scale of categories called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.  The categories are based on wind speed:

•    Category 1: Winds 74-95 mph

•    Category 2: Winds 96-110 mph

•    Category 3: Winds 111-129 mph

•    Category 4: Winds 130-156 mph

•    Category 5: Winds 157 mph or higher

Why Hurricane Categories Matter    Parts of a hurricane include the Eye, the “hole” at the center of the storm.  Winds are light in this area and skies are sometimes even clear; the Eye Wall is a ring of thunderstorms that swirl around the eye where winds are strongest and rain is heaviest; and Rain Bands which are bands of clouds and rain that extend far out from the hurricane’s eye wall that can also contain tornadoes.  What is a tornado?  Lightning Up Close    More Hurricane Terms about undefined  about undefined  about undefined 

Hurricane Watch vs Hurricane Warning

Hurricane Watch = conditions possible within the next 48 hours

Hurricane Warning = conditions are expected within 36 hours

Cone Confusion – a Closer Look

The National Hurricane Center launched a new hurricane cone last year. This new experimental cone runs together with the traditional cone that’s been used each season and includes tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for the counties in the hurricane’s path, so they are in a single graphic. This allows residents to understand the hazards and potential wind impact of a hurricane that can spread dozens of miles in all directions. Adding this information also helps draw attention to the full scope of a hurricane and its hazardous conditions rather than focusing solely on the center line of the cone. 

The cone is actually an average of errors and a best guess of where the center of a hurricane may land.  The size of the cone is not an indication of how strong a storm will become.  Despite being called the “Cone of Uncertainty,” hurricane tracking has become extremely accurate, however, the further out the storm, the less accurate it will be because many factors must be considered.

The National Hurricane Center has classes, workshops, presentations, and resources available on its website at www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach for anyone interested in learning more.  The City of Pembroke Pines “Pembroke Pines Prepared” section on its website at www.ppines.com/hurricane is also filled with important information.   Residents are encouraged to learn how to be prepared and to understand warnings and hurricane information before a storm approaches.

2026 Hurricane Names 

This Hurricane Supplemental Names list will remain the same each year, following the use of the season's 21 names: