Ten atomic bombs of energy a second, winds of 250mph and diameters of over 1,300 miles: 20 amazing hurricane facts

  • They spin in different directions in the northern and southern hemispheres
  • America ranks 5th in the table of countries with the most hurricane strikes
  • A hurricane has never struck the UK - but it has seen wind speeds over 140mph 

Hurricanes are one of the most jaw-dropping - and destructive - forces on earth.

They can release mind-boggling amounts of energy and span areas the size of small countries.

Here we present 20 incredible hurricane facts. 

The very centre of a hurricane, also known as the eye, can be as big as 200 miles, or as small as two miles

The very centre of a hurricane, also known as the eye, can be as big as 200 miles, or as small as two miles

Tropical storms in the Atlantic and northern Pacific are called hurricanes. In north west Pacific the same storms are called typhoons. But in the south east Indian Ocean and south west Pacific, they are referred to as severe tropical cyclones. In the south west Indian Ocean they are tropical cyclones and in the northern Indian Ocean severe cyclonic storms.

Due to Coriolis Force, which is produced by the Earth's rotation, hurricanes rotate in an anti-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. 

The very centre of a hurricane, also known as the eye, can be as big as 200 miles, or as small as two miles. In this area, wind speeds are often very low. 

The most hurricanes and tropical storms recorded in a single Atlantic hurricane season was 28, in 2005.

Katrina, pictured, was the most costly hurricane on record, causing an estimated $108 billion in damage in Louisiana and Mississippi 

Katrina, pictured, was the most costly hurricane on record, causing an estimated $108 billion in damage in Louisiana and Mississippi 

A Met Office graphic showing the distribution of major storms around the world

A Met Office graphic showing the distribution of major storms around the world

If a hurricane causes utter devastation, the name of the storm will never be used again. Hurricane names that have been retired are Katrina, Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate.

Katrina (2005) was the most costly hurricane on record causing an estimated $108 billion in damage in Louisiana and Mississippi. It also caused an estimated 1,500 deaths.

The most deadly tropical cyclone ever recorded hit Bangladesh in 1970 killing approximately 300,000 people as a result of the storm surge.

Patricia (2015) was a Category 5 hurricane in the eastern North Pacific with one-minute average winds of 215 mph. It was the strongest recorded tropical cyclone in the western hemisphere.

The highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was thanks to Tropical Cyclone Olivia, which smashed into Australia in 1996. It had wind speeds of 253mph. 

The strongest near-surface winds ever recorded over the British Isles occurred on February 13, 1989 - a deep depression resulted in gusts of 142mph at Fraserburgh. 

A mature hurricane can generate wind energy equivalent to about half the world-wide electrical generating capacity. 

Another analogy for the amount of power they generate is that they can release the equivalent of 10 atomic bombs per second. 

The most deadly tropical cyclone ever recorded hit Bangladesh in 1970 killing approximately 300,000 people as a result of the storm surge 

The most deadly tropical cyclone ever recorded hit Bangladesh in 1970 killing approximately 300,000 people as a result of the storm surge 

There is a hurricane spinning on Jupiter that's bigger than the earth itself.

On earth the biggest hurricanes can reach 500 miles in diameter. The most expansive ever was Typhoon Tip, in 1979, which had a wind diameter of 2,220 km (1,380 miles).

The country where you're most likely to experience a hurricane is China - it's been hit by more of them than any other country. The Philippines ranks second for hurricane strikes, Japan third, Mexico fourth and the U.S fifth.

The most powerful hurricanes can reach heights of 40 to 50,000ft.

Forty per cent of the hurricanes that make landfall in America do so in Florida. 

The storm that covered the greatest distance was John in the East Pacific basin in 1994. It blew along for 7,165 miles. 

The 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history have all occurred since 1992. 

Hurricane Harvey (2017) was the wettest hurricane to hit the USA with an observing station in Texas recording over 64in (1640 mm) rain. 

 

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