Part 3 Outside of the eye of the hurricane, is the eye wall. This is where the most dangerous winds are found. Further outside that are the rain bands. The rain bands are a group of thick clouds. These clouds create the unique look of the hurricane. Hurricanes start out as tropical storms. They are known as hurricanes once their winds reach 74 miles per hour. The speed of the wind determines the category. Category 1 hurricanes have wind speeds of 74-96 miles per hours. Category 5 hurricanes move at 157 miles per hour or higher.

Once hurricanes hit land, their speed lowers. This is because they are no longer being given energy, or fuel, from the warm ocean waters. As hurricanes move inland, they bring heavy rains and cause wind damage. The amount of rain and wind damage depends on the size and speed of the hurricane. Hurricanes can reach over 300 miles in width.

While hurricanes are known as typhoons and cyclones in different parts of the world, they are all the same type of storm. These tropical cyclones all form the same way. They form above warm ocean waters near the equator and use warm, moist air as fuel. This fuel allows them to continue to grow and rotate at faster speeds until they hit land. Once they hit land, they usually slow down because they no longer have the warm, moist air to fuel them. Although they slow down, they still move at speeds that allow them to cause great damage.

Hurricane Irma is a recent storm that touched down in the United States, forming from a tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean. This wave lead to rain showers and thunderstorms, and eventually, the showers and thunderstorms became organized into a system. This created a low pressure area, allowing a hurricane to form. Hurricane Irma continued to grow as it moved across the ocean. By the time it hit the Caribbean, it was a Category 4 hurricane. It continued to change in size and speed. Finally, it touched down in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane before gradually weakening in power and dying in Missouri.