The extreme weather events like Hurricanes, Tornado and Cycles are driven by air pressure, temperature, moisture and rotation of Earth. The strong temperature difference between Polar and Equatorial region gives rise to the largest atmospheric circulations which are globally divided into five cells - the Hadley cell, the Ferrel cell, the Polar cell and the Jet stream. The instability in Jet streamflow sometimes gives rise to extratropical cyclones in the mid-latitude region. Although the events like Hurricanes, Tornado and Cyclones are less common but still important as sometimes it causes heavy loss of life and property. Here we will look into 36 Important Questions about hurricanes, tornado and Cyclones.

36 Important Questions About Hurricanes, Tornado and Cyclones 

Also Read: 32 Important Questions on Cyclones, Air Masses and Fronts

1. What is a Hurricane ?

Ans. A Hurricane is a large and swirling storm system rotating around an area of low pressure region.

2. What is a Tornado ?

Ans. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in some rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud.

3. What is a Cyclone ?

Ans. A cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above.

4. What is Bomb Cyclone ?

Ans. A bomb cyclone is a large, intense mid-latitude storm that has low pressure at its center, weather fronts and an array of associated weather, from blizzards to severe thunderstorms to heavy precipitation.

5. What is a Tropical Cyclone ?

Ans. A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and/or squalls

6. What is a Typhoon ?

Ans. A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere.

7. How fast are Tornado winds ?

Ans. It is generally believed that tornadic wind speeds can be as high as 300 mph in the most violent tornadoes.

8. How does a Tornado form ?

Ans. Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. The denser cold air is pushed over the warm air, usually producing thunderstorms. The warm air rises through the colder air, causing an updraft. The updraft will begin to rotate if winds vary sharply in speed or direction. More on National Geography.

9. How do hurricanes form ?

Ans. Hurricanes form over the ocean, often beginning as a tropical wave - a low pressure area that moves through the moisture-rich tropics, possibly enhancing shower and thunderstorm activity. Hurricanes are fed by the warm ocean waters and thunderstorms. More on NOAA official website.

10. When did hurricane Katrina hit Florida ?

Ans. At 2230 UTC on August 25, Katrina made landfall near the border of Miami-Dade and Broward counties with winds of around 80 mph (130 km/h).

11. What is the difference between a Cyclone and a Hurricane ?

Ans. Called hurricanes when they develop over the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, these rotating storms are known as cyclones when they form over the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

12. When was hurricane Katrina formed ?

Ans. Hurricane Katrina formed on August 23, 2005.

13. What category was hurricane Katrina ?

Ans. Category 5 Hurricane (SSHWS)

14. What are Mid-latitude Cyclones ?

Ans. mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the weather over much of the Earth.

15. When is hurricane season in Florida ?

Ans. The official hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1st to November 30th.

16. When was hurricane sandy made landfall in US ?

Ans. On Oct. 29, 2012, Sandy made landfall over the U.S. near Atlantic City, New Jersey, with hurricane-force winds of 90 mph.

17. What was the worst hurricane in history ?

Ans. Hurricane Mitch occurred in the year 1998 was known as the deadliest hurricane with at least 11,374 deaths.

18. When did hurricane Ida hit Louisiana ?

Ans. Hurricane Ida made landfall in US state of Louisiana on 26th August 2021.

19. Where do hurricanes occur ?

Ans. Hurricanes occur in the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern north Pacific Ocean.

20. How long do hurricanes last ? 

Ans. A typical hurricane lasts anywhere between 12 to 24 hours. But a hurricane can sustain itself for as long as a month, as Hurricane John did in 1994.

21. What year was hurricane Andrew hit Florida ?

Ans. 1992

22. When was hurricane Irma hit Florida ?

Ans. 10th September, 2017

23. When is hurricane season in Puerto Rico ?

Ans. Puerto Rico's hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with most of the risk concentrated in August and September.

24. When is hurricane season in Jamaica ?

Ans. Jamaica has a hurricane season that officially runs from June 1st to November 30th.

25. When is hurricane season in Hawaii ?

Ans. Hurricane season in Hawaii occurs roughly between June 1 and November 30.

26. When is hurricane season in Cancun ?

Ans. Atlantic hurricane season in Cancun occurs between the start of June and the end of November.

27. What category was hurricane Sandy ?

Ans. Category 3 Hurricane (SSHWS)

28. When is hurricane season in Texas ?

Ans. the official Texas hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

29. Why do hurricanes spin as they are moving ?

Ans. Hurricanes area essentially areas of low pressure. Air always tends to travel from high to low pressure, so it will move toward the storm. As the air moves to the storm, in the northern hemisphere, it will get turned to the right. This then creates a spinning motion that is counter clockwise.

30. Where are tropical cyclones found ?

Ans. Tropical cyclones occur both in the south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

31. How long does a tornado last ?

Ans. Strong tornadoes last for twenty minutes or more and may have winds of up to 200 mph, while violent tornadoes can last for more than an hour with winds between 200 and 300 mph. These violent tornadoes are rare in occurrence.

32. When is tornado season in Oklahoma ?

Ans. The month of May sees the most tornadoes in Oklahoma, followed by April then June.

33. When is tornado season in Texas ?

Ans. Tornado season in Texas happens between April and June.

34. What is the difference between a Typhoon and a Hurricane ?

Ans. If it's above the North Atlantic, central North Pacific or eastern North Pacific oceans (Florida, Caribbean Islands, Texas, Hawaii, etc.), we call it a hurricane. If it hovers over the Northwest Pacific Ocean (usually East Asia), we call it a typhoon.

35. What is Tornado Alley ?

Ans. Tornado Alley is a loosely defined area of the central United States where tornadoes are most frequent. The term was first used in 1952 as the title of a research project to study severe weather phenomenon in the areas of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.

36. What states are in Tornado Alley ?

Ans. According to National Severe Storms Laboratory(NSSL), below are the tornado alley states:-

• Texas
• Oklahoma
• Kansas
• South Dakota
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• Minnesota
• North Dakota