Living on the Southern coast, we are subject to more than just a few storms throughout the year. Depending on the season, we can expect either hurricane warnings or tornado warnings. But, a lot of the time, it’s hard for people to easily differentiate between the two. Read on for an explanation on both – and how you can best prepare yourself and your family to stay safe during the storms.
What is a Hurricane?
According to the National Hurricane Center, a hurricane is a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is at least 74 MPH. The term “hurricane” is used for Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones east of the International Dateline to the Greenwich Meridian, while the term “typhoon” is used for Pacific tropical cyclones north of the Equator west of the International Dateline.
What is a Tornado?
According to the National Weather Service, a tornado is a violently rotating column of air touching the ground, usually attached to the base of a thunderstorm, with winds of up to 300 MPH. Because tornados form so quickly from thunderstorms, they are known as nature’s most violent storms and can cause fatalities and devastate neighborhoods in seconds.
How are they different?
- Hurricanes are formed over water in tropical oceans, while tornadoes are formed over land.
- Hurricanes are developed when they’re still far away from a jet stream, while tornadoes form when they’re extremely close to jet streams.
- Hurricanes are usually several hundred miles wide, while tornadoes only get to be as big as 1/4 of a mile wide.
- Tornadoes only last around an hour, while hurricanes can last for up to three whole weeks.
- Hurricanes can vary in wind speed according to their category, but as a whole, they’re usually less than 180 MPH. The most severe tornadoes can be as powerful as 300 MPH.
- Tornadoes are much more common than hurricanes, with up to 1000 occurring in the United States every year. While there are usually only around 10 hurricanes that develop each year, and not all of them even make landfall.
While hurricanes are less common than tornadoes, their staying power and duration are what make them so catastrophic to homes and neighborhoods. No matter the season, it’s important to make sure your home is safely sheltered from the storm.
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