Hurricanes form in the tropics, over warm ocean water and close to the equator. Hurricane season begins June 1st and ends November 30th. Hurricanes are placed in categories based on the strength of their winds.
Hurricanes need four conditions to form:
- low air pressure
- warm temperatures
- moist ocean air
- tropical winds (near the equator)
|
CATEGORY
|
SUSTAINED WINDS
(MPH)
|
DAMAGE
|
|
1
|
74-95
|
Minimum
|
|
2
|
96-110
|
Moderate
|
|
3
|
111-130
|
Extensive
|
|
4
|
131-155
|
Extreme
|
|
5
|
Over 155
|
Catastrophic
|
Gulf Islands National Seashore experienced the fury of four major hurricanes during 2004-2005. Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis were Category 4, Hurricane Katrina, Category 3 and Hurricane Cindy was a Category I.
Hurricane Gustav glanced Gulf Islands and went ashore in coastal Louisiana, southwest of New Orleans on September 1, 2008. Tropical Storm Ida, a late tropical weather system, moved inland near Mobile, Alabama on November 10, 2009.
