Hazards, Terrorism, and Weapons of Mass Destruction ◾ 75
2.9.4 Hurricanes
Hurricanes (cyclones, typhoons, and other tropical storms) are giant, spiraling
tropical storms that can pack wind speeds of over 160 miles per hour (mph) (257
km/h) and unleash more than 2.4 trillion gallons (9 trillion liters) of rain a day
(NG 2013c). ese same tropical storms are known as cyclones in the northern
Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, and as typhoons in the western Pacic Ocean
(NG 2013c). Hurricanes begin as tropical disturbances in warm ocean waters
with surface temperatures of at least 80°F (26.5°C). Tropical cyclone is a generic
term for a low-pressure system that usually forms in the tropics (NOAA 2013d).
e cyclone is composed of powerful thunderstorm ...