A hurricane is a severe tropical storm, sometimes referred to as a cyclone, whose winds exceed 74 mph. Hurricanes originate over tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, where there is high humidity and light wind. Hurricanes are non-frontal low pressure systems with organized convection or thunderstorms. Hurricanes are much wider than tornadoes, on the scale of 100s of kilometers in diameter, and are comprised of up to dozens of convective storms. Hurricanes are purely an oceanic phenomena and die out over land.

QUESTIONS - BACK

Please send any comments to:
Curator: Tom.Benson@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible Official: Kathy.Zona@grc.nasa.gov