Extreme Weather: Hurricanes

During this past unit we have learned about several extreme weather events including tornadoes, acid rain, blizzards, monsoons, etc. The one that stuck out most to me was hurricanes. Hurricanes are increasingly more common and the US experiences at least disastrous one ever year for the past couple of years. Hurricanes are tropical storms that average about 75 mph winds and cause major damage to houses, buildings, roads, and power lines. Hurricanes also cause major damage from flooding that occurs due to the heavy rain it brings.

The most recent hurricanes to have hit the United State were Hurricane’s Florence and Michael which hit the summer of 2018. Florence produced over 40 inches of rain within a 24 hour period in the Carolinas. It damaged some roads so badly that it took weeks to reopen 100 miles worth of freeway. Hurricane Michael caused similar damage in Florida and Georgia. The storm was only one mph away from being categorized as a level 5 storm. It is considered one of the four most powerful hurricanes to ever have hit the United States.