The science of how hurricanes form, intensify, and behave. Formation, structure, the Saffir-Simpson scale, storm surge mechanics, and eyewall dynamics, explained from first principles.
NASA · Public domain 4,000+ words covering formation, structure, categories, and behavior, the definitive entry point. Includes embedded diagrams, video, and FAQ.
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How tropical cyclones are classified from tropical disturbance through Category 5 hurricane, including the criteria meteorologists use and how naming works.
How the eyewall drives hurricane intensity, why eyewall replacement cycles occur, and the science behind rapid intensification.
What causes hurricanes to weaken and die: landfall, wind shear, cool water, dry air, and extratropical transition explained in plain language.
Are hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones different storms? They are the same weather phenomenon with different names depending on where they form.
A structural tour of hurricane anatomy: the eye, eyewall, rainbands, wind field geometry, and what each component means for communities in a storm
A complete guide to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: what each category means, the history, limitations, and the Category 6 debate.
Hurricanes are heat engines, and they form only when a precise set of oceanic and atmospheric conditions lines up at once. This explainer covers those conditions and the stages a storm passes through from disturbance to hurricane.