A hurricane is a powerful, rotating storm that forms over warm ocean waters.

• Eye: The center of the hurricane is the eye, which is a relatively calm area of low pressure. This is where the winds are lightest and the sky is often clear.
• Eye wall: Surrounding the eye is the eye wall, which is the most intense part of the hurricane. This is where the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall occur.
• Rain bands: Bands of clouds and rain spiral out from the eye wall. These bands can be hundreds of miles long and produce strong winds and heavy rain.
• Storm surge: As a hurricane approaches land, it can create a storm surge, which is a wall of water that is pushed ashore by the storm’s winds. This can cause significant coastal flooding.
• Tropical depression: A tropical depression is the first stage of a hurricane, with sustained winds of up to 38 mph.
• Tropical storm: A tropical storm has winds between 39-73 mph.
• Hurricane: A hurricane has sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. Hurricanes are classified on a scale of 1-5 based on wind speed, with Category 5 being the most powerful.