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How They Form
Hurricanes occur in warm, tropical waters, but they form only under a very specific set of circumstances. First, there must be warm water temperatures. A potential hurricane also needs a combination of low air pressure, moist air over the ocean and a prevalence of tropical winds. When these conditions are met, a hurricane will start to form as a "tropical wave" of low air pressure. Warm air then rises and cold air replaces it, which creates strong winds and heavy rain. As the storm begins rotating counter-clockwise, the air pressure drops and wind speeds increase. If the wind reaches 74 miles per hour or over, the storm can then be classified as a hurricane.
Types
There are five classifications of hurricanes based on their power or, more specifically, the speed of their winds. This rating system is called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The least powerful type of hurricane is designated Category 1 and contains wind speeds between 74 and 95 miles per hour. Categories 2, 3 and 4 are rated by increasing wind levels, with Category 5 as the strongest. These hurricanes feature wind speeds of over 155 miles per hour. Luckily, Category 5 hurricanes are rare, and usually only have those top wind speeds for a short time.
Names
Because many tropical storms can occur each year, often at the same time, meteorologists have devised a naming system to keep track of them annually. Each year, the very first tropical storm is given a name that starts with the letter "A," then the second storm is given a "B" name, and so on. For example, in 2010 the first storm was "Hurricane Alex," while the second was "Hurricane Bonnie." In 2005, when the hurricane season produced more storms than there were letters of the alphabet, scientists switched to Greek letters once they had gotten to "Z."
Safety
If you find yourself trapped in a hurricane with no ability to evacuate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends several safety procedures. First of all, you should stay away from any windows or glass doors in case they break. Make sure to stay inside and close any doors to the outside. Find a small room that doesn't have any walls facing the outside, such as closet, hallway, or room. The lower you can go in your house, the safer you will be from hurricane-strength winds.Finally, if you have access to a table or strong, steady object, get under it to protect yourself.