Important Facts For Prelims
Hurricane Dorian
- 02 Sep 2019
- 2 min read
Recently the Hurricane Dorian became the strongest storm in modern records to hit the northwestern Bahamas (a country in the Caribbean Islands).
Hurricane Dorian
- It is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone currently affecting the Bahamas and threatening the Southeastern United States.
- It is developed from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic.
- It is categorised as a Category 5 storm on Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS) with maximum sustained winds of 285 km per hour.
Hurricanes
- A Hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
- These are formed over the warm ocean waters near the equator.
- Hurricanes typically form between 5 to 15 degrees latitude north and south of the equator.
- Hurricanes are known to be one of nature's most destructive storms as they bring heavy rains, deadly waves and fierce winds.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
- The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage.
| Category | Sustained Winds | Types of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds |
| 1 | 119-153 km/h | Very dangerous winds will produce some damage |
| 2 | 154-177 km/h | Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage |
| 3 (major) | 178-208 km/h | Devastating damage will occur |
| 4 (major) | 209-251 km/h | Catastrophic damage will occur |
| 5 (major) | 252 km/h or higher | Catastrophic damage will occur |
