Hurricane Research Project
Name:
Hurricane: _____________________
Dates of your storm: _______________________
Part I: The following questions relate specifically to your own hurricane.
1. What “category” was your hurricane?
2. What was your hurricane’s maximum wind speed and minimum pressure? (If you can’t
locate exact numbers, just use the general ranges given by the Saffir-Simpson hurricane
intensity scale).
3. Describe the path that your hurricane traveled. Also, be sure to mention if your hurricane
made landfall anywhere in the United States? If so, what place(s) did it hit?
4. How many people were killed/injured/evacuated?
5. How much damage (in dollar value) did the hurricane cause?
6. Was your hurricane an:
- Early season storm (June, July)
- Middle (peak season) storm- (August, September)
- Late season storm (October, November)
7. Where did your hurricane form?
- Atlantic Ocean
- Gulf of Mexico
- Caribbean
- Pacific Ocean
8. Was your hurricane’s name retired? (This only occurs for very destructive hurricanes.)
9. What are three interesting, unique factoids about your hurricane?
1)
2)
3)
10. What number of the year was your storm in the Atlantic Basin? What number
Hurricane of the year was your storm?
11. Did your hurricane create a recorded storm surge? If so, describe.
12. Was there a mandatory or voluntary evacuation instituted for your hurricane?
Part II: The following questions relate to all hurricanes in general.
13. All storms go through two distinct stages before reaching hurricane status at stage three.
A) Name the other three stages that storms pass through on their way to becoming
hurricanes. And next to each, record the minimum wind speed.
1) Tropical __________ - _______________.
2) Tropical __________ - _______________.
B) How fast do a storm’s winds have to be (in mph) before it is considered a
hurricane (Category 1)?
14. For hurricanes to form over tropical waters, the water temperature must be at least
______ º F.
15. All hurricanes have a wide range of weather related dangers that can be very deadly
(heavy rain and high winds for example). But, rain and high winds are not a factor in most
hurricane deaths. What is the name for the hurricane force which causes the most deaths
during a storm?
16. In a land-falling hurricane, tornadoes are most likely to occur on the (right, left) side of
the central eye.
17. What is the name given to the part of the hurricane where the strongest winds are
located?
18. Discuss possible safeguards that should be taken near coastal cities if/when a hurricane
is approaching.
Hurricanes List
1. Andrew (1992)
31. Betsy (1965)
2. Hugo (1989)
32. Connie (1955)
3. Camille (1969)
33. Tropical Storm Alberto (1994)
4. Agnes (1972)
34. Carla (1961)
5. Hazel (1954)
35. Dennis (1999)
6. Isabel (2003)
36. Florida- Lake Okeechobee (1928)
7. Gilbert (1988)
37. Fran (1996)
8. Mitch (1998)
38. Erin (1995)
9. Elena (1985)
39. Irene (1999)
10. Audrey (1957)
40. Isidore (2002)
11. Galveston, Texas (1900)
41. Lili (2002)
12. New England (1938)
42. Gustav (2008)
13. Bob (1991)
43. Opal (1995)
14. Carol (1954)
44. Celia (1970)
15. Gloria (1985)
45. Frances (2004)
16. Donna (1960)
46. Ivan (2004)
17. Gracie (1959)
47. Charley (2004)
18. Diane (1955)
48. Katrina (2005)
19. Alicia (1983)
49. Rita (2005)
20. Allen (1980)
50. Ike (2008)
21. David (1979)
51. Igor (2010)
22. Frederick (1979)
23. Joan (1988)
24. Iniki (1992)
25. Georges (1998)
26. Bonnie (1998)
27. Floyd (1999)
28. Beulah (1967)
29. Labor Day Storm- Florida Keys (1935)
30. Eloise (1975)
MultiMedia Project Requirements:
Task: to write a “script” by using the requirements below, which you will use to create a
presentation in your MultiMedia course, using various software and techniques that Mr.
Hughes will introduce to you.
Date: your hurricane research and script, which you will use/read to create your presentation
is due November 16th.
Role: you will play the role of a brilliant chief meteorologist who is warning citizens in
his/her viewing area of the dangers of an oncoming hurricane, and covering the daily path,
damage and progression of that hurricane. You will have to decide in which city you will
be a weathercaster and create a fictional TV alias to be used during your evening news
updates. (Obviously, the city you choose will have to have been affected by the hurricane
which you chose to research).
Specifics: create a seven-day coverage (not necessarily seven consecutive days) of a
specific, historic hurricane as though you are a meteorologist forecasting, covering and then
summarizing a hurricane’s progression as it actually occurred in the past.
Description of your daily forecast: each day you design your evening forecast,
you should include the following information: (this information will all be found on
the Hurricane Tracking website your teacher will show you in class).
-
Current wind speeds
Current pressure
Current category
Location – absolute and in relation to last update
At lease once during your audio recording, you will describe the following
details of your hurricane (you may mention the following during any evening
update you feel appropriate):
Before the hurricane arrives at your coastal city:
- In an evening update before your storm hits landfall, you should mention to
your listeners what safeguards should be taken to protect their lives and their
property.
- Also, you should obviously mention if there was a mandatory/voluntary
evacuation
- Where did your hurricane originate/form?
As the hurricane is approaching/affecting your coastal city:
-
What number of the Atlantic Basin storms was this hurricane?
What part of hurricane season is this storm forming?
At what time and location did your hurricane make landfall?
Is there a storm surge created by the hurricane?
After the hurricane has passed your location and is dissipating:
- What is your prediction of whether this hurricane will be retired?
- What were the total cost and number of casualties associated with your
storm?
- What were the maximum wind speed and classification of your storm, and
what was the minimum air pressure?
- If there was an evacuation, is it safe/recommended for citizens to return?
The interesting facts you found about your storm can be mentioned during any
evening forecast you wish (pre, during or post storm).
*** Your science teachers have put several useful links on their SchoolWires
pages for you to use as you research your hurricane, retired hurricane names
and specific hurricane seasons.