What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a powerful storm system with a large low pressure center that produces intense winds and heavy rainfall.

How Do Hurricanes Form?

Hurricanes form over a large mass of warm ocean water during the warmer months. Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low pressure area. Then that “new” air becomes warm and moist and rises, too. As the warm air continues to rise, the surrounding air swirls in to take its place. As the warmed, moist air rises and cools off, the water in the air forms clouds. The whole system of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the ocean’s heat and water evaporating from the surface.

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