Hurricane

Weather news stories have focused recently on the hurricanes hitting Florida this year, one after another.

Japan has also been suffering from a series of tropical cyclones. In the past month, seven typhoons have made landfall there.

In much the same way that Florida is keeping a wary eye on Ivan, Japan has been watching the development of Sarika in the Pacific Ocean. Today Sarika has been downgraded to a tropical depression. No doubt there were many sighs of relief, accompanied by the hope that re-strengthening not occur.

A hurricane is a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 74 mph or more.

The difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is one of location.

Both hurricanes and typhoons are found in the Northern Hemisphere, but »hurricane« is used for tropical cyclones east of the International Dateline to the Greenwich Meridian while »typhoon« is used for Pacific tropical cyclones west of the International Dateline.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used to rate a hurricane's intensity. It is useful in estimating the flooding and property damage that may occur.

A Category One Hurricane has winds of 74-95 mph. This is equivalent to 64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr.

A Category Two Hurricane has winds of 96-110 mph. This is equivalent to 83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr.

A Category Three Hurricane has winds of 111-130 mph. This is equivalent to 96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr.

A Category Four Hurricane has winds of 131-155 mph. This is equivalent to 114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr.

A Category Five Hurricane has winds of greater than 155 mph or 135 kt or 249 km/hr.

On this date, Hurricane Frances is approaching Florida. Frances was a Category Four Hurricane yesterday but has weakened slightly to a Category Three overnight. Earlier forecasts had mentioned the possibility that Frances would strengthen to a Category Five Hurricane before landfall. Strengthening during the warmer daylight hours today may still occur.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the eastern Florida coast. Hurricane force winds are expected within twenty-four hours. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

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This morning Jeanne and Karl are the two tropical storms being tracked.

Jeanne is moving along the northern coast of Hispaniola. This tropical storm is expected to strengthen again to hurricane status by Saturday before reaching the Bahamas. The projected track shows Jeanne making a turn to the west on Tuesday and heading to a possible landfall in the upper Florida coast or the Carolinas later in the week.

Karl is strengthening quickly in the Atlantic and is forecast to reach hurricane strength within the next twelve hours.

Ivan has been downgraded to a tropical depression. This system will be monitored as long as it remains a flood threat. Flash flood watches are in effect throughout areas of the eastern United States.

Ivan made landfall in Alabama as a Category Three Hurricane at approximately 0700Z this morning.

Hurricane force winds continue and there are numerous tornado warnings and watches throughout the Gulf Coast region.

At last report seven people in Florida have been killed by tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Ivan.

Flooding events are predicted for the Appalachians as Ivan continues inland.