What is the calm centre of a hurricane called?
AnswerThe eye
The eye is a relatively calm, often clear area surrounded by the violent eyewall.
Nature · Facts & stats
Hurricane facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about hurricanes, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
In the Northern Hemisphere, which way do hurricanes spin?
AnswerCounterclockwise
Because of Earth's rotation, storms turn counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern.
Going deeper
Hurricanes need warm ocean water of at least about what temperature to form?
AnswerAbout 26.5°C (80°F)
Sea surface temperatures of roughly 26.5°C or more supply the heat and moisture that fuel tropical cyclones.
The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to which date?
AnswerNovember 30
The Atlantic season is defined as June 1 to November 30.
The word 'hurricane' comes from the language of which Caribbean people?
AnswerThe Taíno
Spanish 'huracán' was borrowed from the Taíno word for a great storm.
Expert level
Category 5 hurricanes have sustained winds of at least what speed?
Answer157 mph (252 km/h)
Category 5, the top of the Saffir-Simpson scale, begins at 157 mph.
Why do hurricanes almost never form right on the equator?
AnswerThe Coriolis effect is too weak there
Storms need the spin from the Coriolis effect, which is almost zero at the equator.
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