Destructive Forces in a HurricaneStrong windsStorm surgeInland floodingTornadoesSaffir-Simpson ScaleDetermined by maximum sustained wind speedDon’t memorize wind speeds, etc. for exam!Hurricane AndrewMade landfall just south of Miami, FL, during early morning of August 24, 1992Winds: 160 mph; pressure 926 mbFourth lowest landfall pressure in US historyDamage: $26.5 billion (1992$)Deaths: 65Made second landfall in Louisiana on August 26, 1992 with 115 mph windsStorm SurgeStorm surge is a rise in the sea level due to a tropical cycloneWinds pile up water against the coastLow pressure allows sea level to riseThere is less force pressing down on the ocean surfaceStorm surge is most intense in the right-front quadrant of a hurricaneStorm surge winds pile up water against coast.Effect strongest in right-front quadrant of storm.Storm surge pressure is weight of atmosphere above youLower pressure means less weight of atmosphere pushing downwardThis allows ocean to bulge upward beneath region of lowest pressureHurricane KatrinaMade landfall east of New Orleans, LA, on August 29, 2005Winds: 125 mph Pressure: 920 mbThird lowest landfall pressure in US historyDeaths: 1836 (most in US from hurricane since 1928)Damage: $81.2 billionCostliest natural disaster in US historyFlooded New Orleans and much of SE LouisianaWater came into New Orleans from NORTHNew Orleans sits below sea levelDevastated Mississippi coastlineKatrina was a well forecasted storm. Its intensity, and failure of government AT ALL LEVELS led to the disasterTornadoes and HurricanesTornadoes most common to right of eyeSpiral bandsHurricane ForecastingEntire cone is danger area; do not only pay attention to center lineHurricane Watch – Issued when hurricane conditions are expected, generally within 48 hoursHurricane Warning – Hurricane conditions are likely, generally within 36 hoursIf you are told to evacuate – do it!Track forecasts have improved greatly; intensity predictions still need workSubject of current researchHurricanes: Devastation and Forecasting 11/12/2012Destructive Forces in a Hurricane-Strong winds-Storm surge-Inland flooding-TornadoesSaffir-Simpson ScaleDetermined by maximum sustained wind speedDon’t memorize wind speeds, etc. for exam!Hurricane Andrew-Made landfall just south of Miami, FL, during early morning of August 24, 1992oWinds: 160 mph; pressure 926 mboFourth lowest landfall pressure in US history-Damage: $26.5 billion (1992$)-Deaths: 65-Made second landfall in Louisiana on August 26, 1992 with 115 mph windsStorm Surge-Storm surge is a rise in the sea level due to a tropical cyclone-Winds pile up water against the coast-Low pressure allows sea level to riseoThere is less force pressing down on the ocean surface-Storm surge is most intense in the right-front quadrant of a hurricane-Storm surge winds pile up water against coast.oEffect strongest in right-front quadrant of storm.-Storm surge pressure is weight of atmosphere above youoLower pressure means less weight of atmosphere pushing downwardThis allows ocean to bulge upward beneath region of lowest pressureHurricane Katrina-Made landfall east of New Orleans, LA, on August 29, 2005oWinds: 125 mph Pressure: 920 mboThird lowest landfall pressure in US history-Deaths: 1836 (most in US from hurricane since 1928)-Damage: $81.2 billionoCostliest natural disaster in US history-Flooded New Orleans and much of SE LouisianaoWater came into New Orleans from NORTHoNew Orleans sits below sea level-Devastated Mississippi coastline-Katrina was a well forecasted storm. Its intensity, and failure of government AT ALL LEVELS led to the disasterTornadoes and Hurricanes-Tornadoes most common to right of eye-Spiral bandsHurricane Forecasting-Entire cone is danger area; do not only pay attention to center line-Hurricane Watch – Issued when hurricane conditions are expected, generally within 48 hours-Hurricane Warning – Hurricane conditions are likely, generally within 36 hours-If you are told to evacuate – do it!-Track forecasts have improved greatly; intensity predictions still need workoSubject of current