Storm Season! How, When & Where Hurricanes Form

ourAmazing Oplanet www.OurAmazingPlanet.com STORM SEASON Major hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin tend to form from June 1 through Nov. 30th. The North Atlantic Basin includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. 2011's HURRICANE IRENE SEEN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (PHOTO: NASA) Hurricane Activity Peaks Around Sept. 10 Historically, the frequency of tropical weather systems in the Atlantic basin peaks around mid-September. However, deadly hurricanes can occur at any time during hurricane season. 100 F80 - 60 - 40 - 20 TROPICAL STORMS HURRICANES Where the Storms Are: Typical Tracks Average zones of origin and storm tracks for September, near the peak of the hurricane season. Hurricanes can originate in different locations and travel much different paths from the average. LIKELY MORE LIKELY NORTH AMERICA MOST LIKELY PREVAILING TRACKS ATLANTIC OCEAN AFRICA SOUTH AMERICA SEPTEMBER Map shows recorded Atlantic Ocean storms since 1851 and Pacific Ocean storms since 1949. MAJOR HURRICANE TROPICAL CYCLONE Major Hurricanes, 1851-2010 Number of annual hurricanes ranked 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Scientists know that hurricane activity waxes and wanes on decades-long cycles related to global climate patterns. 8 7 3 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s SOURCES: NOAA, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KARL TATE / OurAmazingPlanet.com MAY 10 JUNE 1 JUNE 20 JULY 10 AUG 1 AUG 20 SEPT 10 OCT 1 OCT 20 NOV 10 DEC 1 DEC 20 NUMBER OF STORMS PER 100 YEARS