Hurricane

(GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History of India, Geography)

Hurricane Milton was a devastating Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Florida in October 2024.

It was one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, with maximum sustained winds exceeding 180 mph.

Image by matt Dominick

The storm caused widespread damage and destruction, including flooding, power outages, and property loss.

Many people were forced to evacuate their homes, and there were numerous reports of injuries and fatalities.

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone characterized by a low-pressure center and thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricanes are often associated with intense storms and can cause significant damage when they make landfall.

Key characteristics of a hurricane include:

Low-pressure center: The center of a hurricane is a region of low atmospheric pressure.

Thunderstorms: Hurricanes are composed of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and strong winds.

Strong winds: Hurricanes can produce winds that exceed 150 miles per hour, which can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Heavy rain: Hurricanes can also produce heavy rainfall, which can lead to flooding and other problems.

Hurricanes are typically classified based on their wind speed.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a five-step scale that is used to categorize hurricanes based on their maximum sustained wind speed.