Category: Catastrophic Weather

How Are Hurricanes Formed? Hurricanes form when warm air masses over tropical sections of the ocean rise to create an area of low pressure. Air from the surrounding region …

How Are Tornadoes Classified? Since 2007, the United States has classified tornadoes using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, also called the EF Scale, which employs estimates of tornado strength based …

How Are Hurricanes Categorized? Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson scale, which was developed back in 1975. The scale rates the severity of hurricanes by predicting how much damage …

How Are Tornadoes Measured? Tornadoes are measured by how much damage they cause. Tornado damage is determined by the Fujita Scale, which was originally developed in 1971 by Theodore …

Why Do Hurricanes Weaken Over Land? Hurricanes weaken when they pass over land because they lose access to the excessive heat and moisture collected from the ocean required to …

Are Hurricanes and Typhoons the Same? Hurricanes and typhoons are the same. The only difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is where it originated. A tropical cyclone is …

Do Hurricanes Form Over Water? Hurricanes do form over water. Hurricanes can only form over very warm, humid water, such as that found in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific …

Can Hurricanes Form Over Land? Hurricanes cannot form over land. Hurricanes require warm, humid air, found only over the ocean in tropical areas, in order to form and to …

What Is the Difference between a Cyclone and a Tornado? The main difference between a cyclone and a tornado is its origin. Tornadoes form on land, whereas cyclones form …

How Are Hurricanes Measured? A hurricane’s strength is measured using various methods, including aircraft reconnaissance, ocean buoys, and satellite imagery. The official means of determining the intensity of a …