The biggest storms on earth are tropical cyclones. These storms start over water, not land. In the Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclones are called typhoons. In the Atlantic Ocean, they are called hurricanes. Hurricanes are the storms that hit Florida. A hurricane has very fast winds, and it is full of huge clouds and very heavy rain. Click here to see what a hurricane looks like from space.

Most hurricanes happen between June 1st and November 30th. This is when the air and water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are warmest. The warm, humid air over the ocean rises into great big storm clouds, and cool air rushes in to take its place. This makes things very windy, and then the Coriolis Effect makes the wind spin around the center, or the eye, of the storm.

Some hurricanes are bigger and stronger than others. The smallest hurricanes, called Category 1, have winds of at least 74 miles per hour. The biggest hurricanes, called Category 5, have winds of at least 155 miles per hour, and some Category 5 hurricanes have had winds over 200 miles per hour. Hurricane winds can cause terrible damage to trees and buildings.

Hurricanes carry a huge amount of rain with them. The rain can flood streets and homes, and cause rivers and lakes to overflow. Storm surge also causes damage in areas near the beach. The storm surge is water that is pushed ashore by the strong winds, and it can flood places that are usually high above the water. Click here to see a storm surge simulation that shows what can happen during a hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC), in Miami, is where a group of weather scientists, called meteorologists, keeps track of hurricanes. It is very difficult to tell exactly where hurricanes will hit land, but the NHC uses radar, airplanes, and computers to predict where they will go. During hurricane season, the weather reports on the news will let you know if there are any hurricanes nearby.

If a hurricane is coming this way, the safest thing for you and your family to do is to evacuate. That means you pack up your car and drive to someplace safe away from the hurricane. If you wait too long, you may not be able to leave! The next best thing is to go to a local hurricane shelter. A hurricane shelter is a building that is strong enough to keep you safe during the storm.