Your Name(s): ____________________________
Hurricane Strike!
Goto The Hurricane Strike Learning Module at
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/hurrican/strike/index.htm
Here’s a youtube introduction to the Hurricane Strike Environment. (5 minutes)
(note: the video and this document assume that you are using the multimedia version of this activity. Some
students prefer the text version. )
Science Worksheet 1 (select Sunday)
Watch the Weather Channel News Flash (on the Castillos’ TV) and look in Storm Track (on the
Castillos’ laptop computer) to answer questions 1–3:
1. Where was Tropical Storm Erin at 8:00 PM on Sunday, July 30th? (Fill in the blanks with
latitude and longitude numbers and identify N, S, E, or W for each. If you have a tracking chart,
plot the location.)
Latitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
Longitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
2. Which place was closest to the center of Tropical Storm Erin? (identify one)
Cuba
Florida
Mexico
The Turks & Caicos
3. Tropical Storm Erin’s winds are gusting to 60 mph. How many kilometers per hour (kph) is
that, if 1 mph equals 1.61 kph?
_______ kph
Look in Hurricanes and tropical Cyclones to answer questions 4–11:
4. Tropical storms that begin in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator form near the
… (identify one)
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
5. Hurricanes can’t strike places in the northern part of the U.S., like New York. (identify one)
TRUE
FALSE
6. If you lived in Japan, what would you call hurricanes? (Fill in the blank.)
_______________________________
7. If you were planning your summer vacation on the East Coast of the U.S., which month
would you choose if you wanted to have the lowest chance of having your vacation ruined by a
hurricane? (identify one.)
June
July
August
September
8. If there are 18 Atlantic tropical storms next year and 12 of them become hurricanes, what
fraction of Atlantic tropical storms will become hurricanes? (identify one.)
1/3
1/2
2/3
3/4
9. The storm system in the above picture has rainbands that are spiraling around the storm in a
counterclockwise direction. Which hemisphere is this system in? (identify one)
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Can't tell
Imagine that the eye of the hurricane in the photo above is located exactly halfway between two
islands. The island to the left (or west) of the eye is labeled A. The island to the right (or east) is
labeled B. Now, answer the following questions about this hurricane.
10. If the hurricane is moving quickly toward the north, which island do you think would
probably have stronger winds? (identify one) This video may help
Island A
Island B
Neither island
11. Imagine that you are stuck on Island A and the hurricane is moving directly toward the west..
What would the winds do on Island A? (identify one)
1. First they would blow from the north. They would get stronger and stronger for a while.
Then the winds would suddenly die out. Then, really strong winds would start to blow
from the south.
2. First they would blow from the south. They would get stronger and stronger for a while.
Then the winds would suddenly die out. Then, really strong winds would start to blow
from the north.
3. First the winds would swirl around clockwise. They would swirl faster and faster for a
while. Then the winds would start swirling counterclockwise. They would start out light,
get really strong, and then gradually weaken.
4. First the winds would blow from the north. Then they would gradually shift directions,
blowing from the east, south, and west.
Click on Hugo's Duffel bag and Help Camille put together the disaster supplies kit to answer
questions 12–13:
12. Which of the following is NOT a good thing to include in a disaster supplies kit and why?
(identify one and fill in the blank.)
Batteries
Blankets
Candles
Flashlights
13. What are three other things, aside from those listed above, that are good to include in a
disaster supplies kit? (Write an item in each blank.)
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
******************************************************************************
Science Worksheet 2 (select Monday)
Print out this worksheet so you can fill it out as you go along.
Watch the Weather Channel News Flash (on the Castillos’ TV) and look in Storm Track (on the
Castillos’ laptop computer) to answer questions 1–3:
1. Where was Hurricane Erin at 8:00 PM on Monday, July 31st? (Fill in the blanks with latitude
and longitude numbers and identify N, S, E, or W for each. If you have a tracking chart, plot the
location.)
Latitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
Longitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
2. Hurricane Erin is moving at about 15 kilometers per hour and is approximately 600 kilometers
away from Florida. If it continues to move at the same speed toward the Florida coast, how many
hours will it take before the eye makes landfall?(Indentify one.)
6 hours
10 hours
40 hours
412 hours
3. If Hurricane Erin travels at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour (kph) for 12 hours, 15 kph for 3
hours, and 19 kph for 9 hours, how far will it have traveled in the 24-hour period? (Fill in the
blank.)
_______ kilometers
Look in Hurricanes & Tropical Cyclones (life cycles and categories) to answer questions 4–6:
The satellite picture above shows three storms, Hurricane Edouard, Tropical Storm Fran, and
Tropical Depression #7. What can you say about these
three storms?
4. Tropical Depression #7 has stronger winds than Tropical Storm Fran. (identify one.)
TRUE
FALSE
Can't tell
5. What is the highest wind speed possible in Tropical Depression #7? (identify one.)
38 kilometers per hour
62 kilometers per hour
hour
119 kilometers per hour
100 kilometers per
6. According to the Beaufort Scale, Tropical Storm Fran’s winds are at least strong enough to...
(identify one.)
Knock down power lines
Make small leafy trees sway
Break twigs off trees
Knock down medium-sized trees
Play the Create-a-Cane game:
Play the game and score a 90 or above (try for a 100). When your group is finished show the instructor
your results for his/her initials. The Youtube video
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hurr/grow/home.rxml may help you with the
winds part of create a hurricane. (scroll to the bottom of the window when it opens).
When you are finished paste an image of you screen with all selections and score here.
7. What ingredients were necessary before Tropical Storm Fran (in the picture) could form?
(Check all that apply.)
[ ] Cold sea temperatures
[ ] Warm sea temperatures of at least 26.5°C or warmer
[ ] A very dry atmosphere
[ ] Strong whirling winds
[ ] A strong jet stream blowing right over the storm area
[ ] Light winds from similar directions above the storm area
[ ] Plenty of moisture at low and middle levels of the atmosphere
[ ] A tropical disturbance or group of tropical thunderstorms
Have dinner with the Castillo family(click on Hugo) to answer questions 8–10:
8. What should every family have to help them find each other if they are separated during an
evacuation or emergency? (Indentify one.)
A friend or relative in a safe location that everyone can call
A solar-powered portable radio
An evacuation plan
Directions to the nearest emergency shelter
9. What should you do if you see a serious injury or fire during an emergency? (Indentify one.)
Call 911
Run away
Wait until the storm passes, then call 911
10. Which people usually have to evacuate during a hurricane? (Indentify TWO.)
People in mobile homes
People in the path of tornadoes
People in possible flood zones
People in the high wind area
Science Worksheet 3 (Select Tuesday)
Print out this worksheet so you can fill it out as you go along.
Watch the Weather Channel news flash (on the Castillos’ TV) and look in Storm Track (on the
Castillos’ laptop computer) to answer questions 1–2:
1. Where was Hurricane Erin at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, August 1st? (Fill in the blanks with latitude
and longitude numbers and indentify N, S, E, or W for each. If you have a tracking chart, plot the
location.)
Latitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
Longitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
2.a. At 8 PM on Monday evening, Hurricane Erin was 644 kilometers southeast of Florida. At 5
PM Tuesday evening, it was 177 kilometers southeast of Florida. How many kilometers had it
traveled in that time period? (Fill in the blank.)
_______ kilometers
b. How many hours had passed between 8 PM on Monday evening and 5 PM Tuesday
evening? (identify one)
9 hours
13 hours
21 hours
29 hours
c. What was Erin’s average speed in that same time period? (Fill in the blank.)
_______ kilometers per hour
Look in Hurricanes & Tropical Cyclones (journeys and categories) to answer questions 3–5:
3. Which way do the “Tropical Easterlies” blow? (identify one)
From the east toward the west
From the west toward the east
4. What is the strongest type of hurricane? (identify one.)
Category 1
Category 5
Beaufort Force 5
Beaufort Force 10
5. A hurricane of what Saffir-Simpson category is likely to damage trailers and mobile homes?
(identify one)
1
2
3
4
5
All categories
Ans ____________
Before playing Aim a Hurricane answer the 4 questions below (these questions with answers are
found in Hurricanes & Tropical Cyclones (journeys Highs and Lows)
ANS_______
ANS_______
ANS_______
ANS_______
Play Aim a Hurricane to answer questions 6–8 below. Choose Tuesday, click on the red arrow
down and then the left arrow to get to the den. Once in the den click on the lap-top screen and then the
Aim a Hurricane activity.
You can start your hurricane in 2 different positions and set the both the low pressure system and High
pressure system each in one of four locations to aim your hurricane. Remember air circulates
counterclockwise around a low and clockwise around a high.
In the Aim-a-Hurricane game, which combination
of High, Low, and hurricane positions results in
direct strikes on Kingston, Jamaica; Miami,
Florida; and Wilmington, North Carolina? (identify
one L, one H, and one hurricane start position in
the picture at right.) Low __ High __ Start __
In the Aim-a-Hurricane game, which combination
of High, Low, and hurricane positions keep the
hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, never letting it
move past 75° west longitude? (identify one L, one
H, and one hurricane start position in the picture at
right.) Low __ High __ Start __
6. In the above picture, a low pressure system is centered over Texas, and high pressure is over
Bermuda and the eastern U.S. Which locations are most likely to be hit by a hurricane or tropical
storm starting in the Atlantic? (Check all that apply.)
[ ] Alabama
[ ] Cuba [ ] Florida
[ ] Texas
7. In the above picture, the low is over the Gulf of Mexico and the Midwestern U.S. The high
covers most of the Atlantic Ocean. Which locations are most likely to be hit by a hurricane or
tropical storm starting in the Atlantic? (Check all that apply.)
[ ] Alabama [ ] Cuba [ ] Florida [ ] Mexico
[ ] New York
[ ] Texas
8. From what you’ve learned about how hurricanes move in both Hurricanes & Tropical
Cyclones and the Aim-a-Hurricane game, why do you think it might be difficult to predict
exactly where a hurricane might go? (Fill in the blank.)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Help Camille get some extra emergency supplies form the market (click on Hugo the dog)to
answer question 9:
9. Explain why Camille purchased the following items.
Batteries
Why? _________________________________________________________
Gallon Water Bottles Why?
_________________________________________________________
Canned Food
Why? _________________________________________________________
Help Gilbert prepare the house and yard to answer question 10:
10. Some things in the yard in the above picture could cause safety problems if they aren’t
changed. For each item, write what should be done to prevent problems. (Write a short
explanation in each blank.)
a. What should be done about the windows?
____________________________________________________________________________
b. What should be done about the grill?
____________________________________________________________________________
a. What stuff needs to be put away? (List at least 5 things.)
____________________________________________________________________________
Science Worksheet 4 (select Wednesday)
Print out this worksheet so you can fill it out as you go along.
Watch the Weather Channel news flash (on the Castillos’ TV) and look in Storm Track (on the
Castillos’ laptop computer) to answer questions 1–4:
1. Where was Tropical Storm Erin at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, August 2nd? (Fill in the blanks
with latitude and longitude numbers and Identify N, S, E, or W for each. If you have a tracking
chart, plot the location.)
Latitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
Longitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
2. What is Erin’s geographic location? (Indentify one.)
Atlantic Ocean
Caribbean Sea
Florida
Gulf of Mexico
3. What kind of watch or warning has been issued for Ft. Walton Beach, Florida? (Indentify
one.)
Tropical Storm Watch
Tropical Storm Warning
Watch
Hurricane Warning
Hurricane
4. Do the people in Ft. Walton Beach still have to prepare for damage from the storm even
though no Hurricane Watches or Warnings have been issued? (Fill in the blank.)
YES
NO
Why or Why not? (Write a short explanation.)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Look in Inside the Storm(laptop) to answer questions 5 –6:
5. Your friend calls you from the middle of the eye of a very strong hurricane. Which of the
following things might she tell you? (Indentify one.)
There is so much rain I can't even see across the street.
The sky is dark and ominous.
The wind is so loud I can't hear myself think.
All of the above.
It's hardly raining and there is almost no wind.
6. Where are the strongest rains in a hurricane? (Indentify one.)
In the eye
In the eyewall
In the rainbands
In the feeder bands
All along the outer edges
Help Carla give evacuation advice to Betsy(click on Hugo the dog) to answer questions 7-9:
7. What are four things you should have if you need to evacuate your home? (Write an item in
each blank.)
1._______________________________ 3._____________________________
2.______________________________
4._____________________________
8. What should you do about the following things when preparing to evacuate your home?
(Write a short explanation in each blank.)
What should you do about perishable food?
____________________________________________________________________________
What should you do about utilities such as gas and electricity?
____________________________________________________________________________
What should you do about valuables?
____________________________________________________________________________
9. If, during an evacuation, you come across a flooded road or bridge, what should you do?
(Indentify one.)
Drive through the water if it doesn’t look very deep.
Wait to see if someone else can drive through it; if they can, then you probably can too.
Wait for the water to go down before crossing.
Turn around and take a different route.
Science Worksheet 5 (select Thursday)
Print out this worksheet so you can fill it out as you go along.
Watch the Weather Channel news flash (on the Castillos’ TV) and look in Storm Track (on the
Castillos’ laptop computer) to answer questions 1–3:
1. Where was Hurricane Erin at 9:30 AM on Thursday, August 3rd? (Fill in the blanks with
latitude and longitude numbers and identify N, S, E, or W for each. If you have a tracking chart,
plot the location.)
Latitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
Longitude: __ __ . __ N S E W
2.a. How high is the storm tide expected to be in Navarre Beach? (Fill in the blanks.)
______ feet above normal
How high is that in meters? ______ meters
3.28 ft = 1.0 meter
b. Pretend you have a house at Navarre Beach that sits 2.5 meters above the water level. Will
you expect water damage in the house if the normal tide when the hurricane makes landfall is 0.8
meters? (Indentify one.)
YES
NO
3. Did you notice that on Tuesday and Wednesday there was a hurricane warning for Lake
Okeechobee? What do you think was the main hazard that forecasters were concerned about for
this area? (Fill in the blank.)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Enter the Danger Zone(laptop) to answer questions 4–9:
4. Of the hurricanes that come all the way onto land, how many spawn tornadoes? (Indentify
one.)
Almost all
About half
About a third
Very few
5. What kinds of dangerous weather can hurricanes and tropical storms produce? (Check all that
apply.)
[ ] Earthquakes
[ ] El Niño
[ ] Floods and mudslides
[ ] Hail
[ ] Tides
[ ] Ice storms
[ ] Tsunamis
[ ] Storm surge
[ ] Strong winds
[ ] Tornadoes
6. What is the main cause of storm surge? (Indentify one.)
The hurricane's extremely low pressure ‘pulls’ the ocean water up like a vacuum cleaner.
The hurricane's strong winds 'pile up' the water as it approaches the shore.
7. Consider the hurricane in the picture above. It is just hitting the coast (the S-shaped line in the
middle). The land is to the left and the sea is to the right. Since you know this storm is spinning
counterclockwise, try to guess which place would probably have the strongest storm surge?
(Indentify one.)
The beach to the north of the eye at point A.
The beach to the south of the eye at point B.
Both places would probably be about the same.
8. If you live 80 kilometers away from the coast, you are safe from hazards related to hurricanes
and tropical storms. (Circle one.)
TRUE
FALSE
9. Most hurricane fatalities are caused by flooding, not high winds. (Indentify one.)
TRUE
FALSE
Use the Danger Zone(laptop) to Camille's conversation with her friend Floyd (find the phone
near the light) to answer questions 10-11:
10. Category 1 hurricanes are not very dangerous because they don’t have strong winds or big
storm surge. (Circle one.)
TRUE
FALSE
11. What should you do and avoid doing during passage of a hurricane or tropical storm?
(Choose 'Smart' or 'Not Smart' for each activity below.)
a. Call all of your friends and talk about the storm on the phone.
Smart
Not Smart
b. Go surfing or boogie boarding.
Smart
Not Smart
c. Stay in an interior room away from outside windows.
Smart
Not Smart
d. Drive around in your car.
Smart
Not Smart